Cranberry Plants

Info

Cranberries are a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs or trailing vines in the genus Vaccinium subgenus Oxycoccus, or in some treatments, in the distinct genus Oxycoccus. They are found in acidic bogs throughout the cooler parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

Cranberries are low, creeping shrubs or vines up to 2 m long and 5 to 20 cm in height, with slender, wiry stems, not thickly woody, and small evergreen leaves. The flowers are dark pink, with very distinct reflexed petals, leaving the style and stamens fully exposed and pointing forward. They are pollinated by domestic honey bees. The fruit is a false berry that is larger than the leaves of the plant; it is initially white, but turns a deep red when fully ripe. It is edible, with an acidic taste that can overwhelm its sweetness.

Varieties

  • Viburnum Trilobum

    Early season. Highbush cranberry. Large clusters of scarlet fruit are edible but tart. Grows 8-12’ tall. Covered with showy white blossoms in spring. Beautiful, vivid, red fall color. Fruit hangs on all winter. Attractive to birds.

Care and Maintenance

  1. Selecting Varieties

    Blueberries bring a unique combination of delicious fruit and striking ornamental beauty to the garden and landscape. Blueberries are easy to grow, require little care, and are seldom bothered by pests. Blueberry varieties are distinguished by their climate suitability and ripening season. Be sure to choose varieties suited to your area. One of the most important growing requirements of blueberries is their need for cross-pollination in order to set fruit. You will need to plant more than one variety for cross-pollination. You should select varieties that ripen at different times to extend your harvest. Blueberry bushes produce brilliant fall colors which make them a great choice for landscaping.

  2. Site Selection and Planting

    Select a location with partial to full sun. Spacing should be no closer than 4-6 feet between plants. A fail safe way to grow blueberries in almost any soil is to incorporate peat moss into top soil. Dig a hole at least 2 times the width and the same depth of the plant container. Mix 75% peat moss to 25% top soil and set aside. Remove plant from container and lightly roughen up the outside surface of the root ball. Place plant in hole and fill with peat moss and top soil mixture and pack firmly. Surround your plant with 2-3 inches of mulch to conserve moisture, prevent weeds and add organic matter. Pine needles and pine bark work very well. Repeat mulching every other year.

  3. Watering and Fertilizing

    Water is one of the most important needs in establishing and maintaining productive blueberries. Water plants thoroughly at planting. Blueberries require about 1-2 inches of rain or irrigation per week. It is better to water plants for a longer time once or twice per week, rather than for a short time each day.

    You do not need to apply fertilizer at planting. In early spring, apply a fertilizer designed for acid-loving berry plants. Avoid using manures. It is important that your blueberry plants receive adequate moisture during fruit production, it is essential to producing plump, juicy berries.

  4. Harvesting

    Blueberries are easy to pick. Berries are ripe when they fall readily from the stems. Just because they are blue does not mean they are ripe. You will get use to testing your own berries. To freeze blueberries, spread them out and let the berries dry. Store in plastic containers or freezer bags. This keeps berries from sticking together. You can remove berries from freezer and wash them before using. You will have berries anytime you want to add to your favorite recipes.

  5. Pruning

    While blueberry plants need less pruning than many other fruit plants, pruning is still important. Prune blueberry plants to keep them producing new growth and large fruit. Blueberries produce fruit on the growth from the previous season (1-year-old wood). To keep plants vigorous and productive, prune in early spring to remove dead wood and low, spreading branches. When plants reach a mature size (8 to 10 years old), you will need to remove some of the old canes each year so they can be replaced with new growth.