The Cranberry
is a native shrub that produces the red cranberries that are so widely used in
deserts, cranberry sauce and juice. Vaccinium macrocarpon is native to bogs,
swamps, and wet shorelines in parts of northern and eastern North America. It
is a low-growing vine or trailing shrub (to 6″ tall and spreading) with
small, glossy leaves. Small, nodding flowers with white to pink, recurved
petals bloom from late spring into early summer. The flowers are followed by
plump, red to dark purple, ovoid to round, 0.5″ diameter fruits. The
leaves of this plant are a larval food source for the bog copper butterfly, the
flowers are visited by bees, and the fruits are eaten by birds and occasionally
small mammals. Grow in the fruit or vegetable garden for the food crop.
Ornamentally, may be grown as a small scale ground cover for sunny areas or in
the shrub or mixed border in front of other acid-loving plants such as azaleas
and rhododendrons. Best grown in damp to boggy, acidic (pH 4.0-5.2),
organically rich, well-drained soil in full sun. Hardy in zones 3-7.
Growing
Instructions for the Cranberry
The seeds have
a period of dormancy. They can be planted outdoors in the fall or winter for
spring germination or they can be cold stratified to simulate winter conditions
and to break their dormancy at any time of the year. 1. Place the seeds in a
plastic bag and seal it. Store the bag in a refrigerator for 3 months. 2. The
seeds like moist soil. Plant the seeds in a rich peat-based starting
mixture. Cranberries like acidic soils and peat helps to mimic their
natural environment. Keep them warm, around 70 degrees and the cranberry
seeds should sprout in about 3 weeks, but sometimes it can take much
longer. Be patient, and keep the soil moist but not soggy. 3. The
seedlings can be transplanted when they are a few inches tall.
Owen (verified owner) –
Great germination.
Hayden (verified owner) –
Good service.
David (verified owner) –
Good service.
Isaac (verified owner) –
Very healthy seeds! Well worth it.
Ryan (verified owner) –
Great seeds, I now have squash everywhere from this one pack of seeds