Thinking ahead to planting this fall, early October to mid November? Why not try a Cranberry Bush right in your backyard. Yes it is a myth that Cranberries can only grow in bogs. Yes they actually do grow in bogs but can very well grow in your garden at home just as easily as a blueberry or Blackberry Bush. Follow me to learn how.
The first thing that you must consider is the Zone that you are living in. Cranberries can only be grown in cool weather climates. So USDA Zone 2-6. For a true Cranberry, it cannot be planted from a seed. Yes seeds are sold online, but they are for a species or variety that is not a true cranberry, such as a high Bush variety. They must be started from a seedling. You can purchase 1 year old seedlings which are typically cheaper or 3 year old seedlings.
Cranberry seedlings are best planted in Early Spring or late Fall. Mid April to end of May or early October to Mid November.
You may plant a single seedling in a container and it will grow well, however you will have to replace the plant every 3-4 years as it does not allow adequate space for it's runners to root. The best location in your garden is in a 4 X 8 ft plot. I would suggest a raised bed as the runners will root outside of the plot, making an invasive plant. Cranberries are a full sun to partial sun plant. These plants are self pollinating, however with any self pollinator 2 plants are always better than one for better yeilds.
Now onto the PLANTING!
Soil -Cranberries absolutely need a low PH level of soil. So when setting up your plot, it's best to start fresh by filling with Peat Moss, then adding 1/2 pound of bone meal and 1 pound of Blood Meal. This is ideal for a 4 X 8 plot or raised bed. You can as an option add 1 cup of Epsom salt as well. Before planting your seedling you will want to just mist the surface of the bed, and turn your soil over a few times just to moisten the soil. The take your seedling and plant it. Plant spacing for a 1 year old seedling should be 1 ft apart and make sure your root ball is 2" below the surface. If you are planting a 3 year old seedling then you will want to put a 3 ft space apart from the next seedling. In the first year you will want to fertilize 3 times. Once at the beginning, then when it produces a flower, and lastly when it produces a fruit (which may or may not happen the first year). At the beginning of the 2nd year sprinkle the soil with about 1/2" of sand, this helps prevent weeds which cranberries do not do well competing with. Cranberries produce runners, so after the 3rd year you will want to prune those runners. Cranberries love love water and the soil should always be moist to the touch, but not saturated. If you produce berries that turn black, then you have either watered too much or not enough.
Cranberry plants will take some time to produce fruit. So a 1 year old seedling will produce in about the 3-4 years. You will typically harvest your berries sometime in late September early October each year. It is important to harvest before the first winter frost sets in. You will need to protect your plants over the winter, so cover them, but do not cover with black plastics or dark plastics as it will hold heat which will kill your plant. Also you should not use pine needles or leaves on these plants.
Cranberries stored in a container in the Fridge or cold dry place will last 2-3 months. I do hope that you will try growing these delicious fruit served traditionally on Turkey at Thanksgiving. If you already do grow cranberries at home please share your experience and any advice that you may have.
Happy Trails
Cranberry Seedlings are for sale online for at:
https://www.starkbros.com/products/berry-plants/cranberry-plants
https://www.fast-growing-trees.com/AmericanCranberry.htm
Image Sources:
https://www.evergreennurseryco.com/cranberries.php
http://science.unctv.org/content/whats-my-story-food-scientist