Growing, planting and caring for cranberries - questions and answers
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10 QUESTIONS ABOUT CRANBERRY - PLANTING AND CARE OF IT
Cranberries are still uncommon on plots. And those gardeners who wanted to plant it face difficulties. We have collected several questions from our subscribers and answer them. We hope that now cranberries will grow without problems in your garden.
“Can I get seeds from frozen cranberries and plant them?” - A. Kartavina (St. Petersburg).
In principle, it is possible to do so. The seeds have been stratified and are ready for sowing. But the question arises: what do you want to get from such seedlings?
Let's start with what kind of cranberries do you have frozen? If you picked it in the forest or bought it in the market, then most likely it is a swamp cranberry with small berries. It can be grown on the site, it is even more resistant to any vagaries of the weather in Russia than large-fruited garden cranberries.
Keep in mind that the seedling will bear fruit in a few years. And if you buy a seedling, then much faster.
Even with seed propagation, plants turn out to be very different - both in terms of yield, and in the size of the berries, and in the content of nutrients. You will then have to select the best copies. Whereas during vegetative propagation, all the qualities of the mother plant are completely transmitted.
Answer all these questions and then make a decision. But in general, seed propagation of cranberries is quite possible.
“When planting cranberries, I filled the planting hole with a special acidic substrate for heather. But as time goes on, the acidity is likely to decrease. How can I acidify the soil under the already growing cranberries? – I. Lapina (Nizhny Novgorod region).
We recommend using the safest possible acid. After all, cranberries are a living organism, and you can do harm. For example, dilute 10 g of citric acid in 100 liters of water and pour this volume into 1 sq. m landings.
Carry out acidification annually - in spring, in early May, and in autumn, in September. In addition, we recommend using mulching materials - sour peat, needles. They also slightly acidify the soil.
Colloidal sulfur is also a good option. It will not burn the roots, it will work for a long time, only acidification will not occur immediately, but after 6-8 months. When making 100-150 g of sulfur per 1 sq. m acidity is reduced by 2.
The optimal soil acidity for cranberries is pH 3-5.
Reference by topic: Cranberry cuttings on the site - planting and care
“Can I acidify the soil with electrolyte?” - N. Karbyshev (Kaluga).
If you believe the gardeners on the forums, many do just that. Take electrolyte for car batteries. Dosage - 50 ml per 10 liters of water. And the obligatory control of soil acidity with litmus.
However, we will not advise to acidify with an electrolyte. This is dangerous. You can burn the roots. You can go overboard with the dosage. In addition, technical sulfuric acid is used in its production, so that in addition to the acid itself, heavy metals may be present in the composition.
It is better to use the safest option, as mentioned above - a solution of citric acid.
“What is the best place to choose for cranberries and how to care? I proceed from the fact that this is a resident of swamps and forests,” N. Afanasyeva (Moscow Region).
Do not forget that swamp cranberries do not grow in water, but on bumps. The root system loves moisture, but it needs air. Therefore, do not plant cranberries where groundwater is closer than 30 cm to the surface and where water stagnates during snowmelt and rain. If the heat and drought have come, we advise you to provide watering.
Shade-tolerant cranberries, but give the maximum yield in a sunny place. Certainly not where it will burn. But in the middle lane and northern regions, it is better to plant in the brightest place. Only in this way will the maximum number of flower buds be laid.
For successful growth and fruiting, provide the right acidity (pH 3-5) and nutrition. It is best to feed with specialized fertilizer (now produced for cranberries and blueberries, for heather). If it is not there, feed the usual ones. At the same time, give preference to sulfate forms (potassium sulfate) and avoid adding potassium chloride and potassium salt (chlorine is very harmful to cranberries).
From nitrogen fertilizers, urea (8-10 g per 1 sq. M) can be used in the first half of the season, then nitrogen fertilizing is stopped to allow shoots to ripen and prepare for winter.
We do not recommend manure.
See also: Cranberry cultivation - planting and care, variety selection
“I saw garden large-fruited cranberries for sale. But what if you try to bring cranberries from the swamp to the site? Will grow?" - N. Kharchenko (Leningrad region).
Cranberries that grow in the forests are a type of marsh cranberry, and they are also grown on plots, like the large-fruited American. Yes, you can bring cranberries from the swamp, but we advise you to pay attention to the swamp cranberry varieties - they are more productive, large-fruited and better suited for growing in garden plots in all regions of Russia. Now in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation there are 8 varieties of swamp cranberries, all of them were obtained in Russia, at the Kostroma Forest Experimental Station: Alaya Zapovednaya, Dar of Kostroma, Krasa Severa, Sazonovskaya, Severyanka, Sominskaya, Khotavetskaya and the variety Fomich, which was included in the register in 2022.
“I planted Pilgrim cranberries, but the harvest is very small. The berries do not have time to ripen in any way, you have to pick them green. What am I doing wrong?" – L. Kachurova (Veliky Novgorod).
The fact is that the Pilgrim variety is late-ripening. In Russia, you should not plant that
some varieties, they really do not have enough growing season to return the crop. So it's not your fault. You can try to install arcs above the bush and cover with a film - to prolong the growing season, then the berries will have time to ripen. And for the future, choose early-ripening and mid-ripening varieties. They ripen in early-mid September and yield up to 0-9 kg per 1 sq.m.
In Russia, varieties of US breeding Ben Lear, Black Weil, Franklin, Crowley, Airlie Black, Washington, Wilcox are popular. And in 2022, Russian varieties of large-fruited cranberries bred by the same Kostroma forest experimental station - Volzhanka, Meryanka, Slavyanka - were entered into the State Register. We definitely recommend trying them out!
“Which cranberry is best suited for a garden plot - swamp or American large-fruited?” - N. Khotko (Novosibirsk).
You can grow both types, but of course, there are differences between them.
Swamp cranberries are frost-resistant, do not get wet, are not affected by pests and diseases. It blooms at the end of May, and the harvest can be harvested from the end of August.
Large-fruited cranberries bloom later - in June, and ripen in September-October (depending on the variety). Therefore, plant early and medium varieties.
This species is more thermophilic, if not covered with snow, then it freezes already at minus 17 °. Although in the spring the shoots grow back quickly. For the same reason, plant large-fruited cranberries in a sunny, warm place, while marsh cranberries tolerate shade well.
Swamp cranberries endure winter troubles (thaws, frosts, soaking) more easily than large-fruited ones.
The berries of large-fruited cranberries are larger (0-6 g) than those of the swamp (2-8 g). There are also differences in composition, but small. The marsh has more acids and sugars than the large-fruited one (which is why the berries taste sour). And, for example, chlorogenic and benzoic acids have an antiseptic effect. Large-fruited more beta-carotene (vitamin A) and vitamin P (increases the strength of blood vessels, good for the heart). Vitamin C is about the same. And in general, the berries of these two types are equivalent in terms of benefit.
So when choosing, be guided by the climate in your region and how cranberries will tolerate it, as well as the size of the berries, if this is important to you.
“I have heavy loam on the site. Will it be possible to grow cranberries in such conditions? - N. Panaev (Kostroma region).
Most of all, cranberries love peaty soils, but they can be grown in any area. If you approach it on a large scale, we advise you to first sow green manure (lupine, mustard, clover) on heavy soil, and in the fall to plant them in the soil. This will help loosen it up. Also add sand or gravel.
You can act pointwise - for each bush, dig a hole wider and deeper (3 diameters of an earthen coma of a seedling), lay a layer of drainage on the bottom, fill the hole with soil with the addition of peat. Do not forget that cranberries need acidic soil.
“I planted cranberries, but they show no signs of life. The leaves have turned red. Yes, we have the south, and the berry is northern, but it is grown not far from us. Maybe there are some tricks? - N. Kovalkov (Essentuki).
Of course, growing cranberries in the Stavropol Territory is not an easy task. It will take effort, and success is not guaranteed. Try planting a bush in the shade and not directly in the soil, but in a box. Lay a film under it so that acid does not quickly wash out of the soil (red leaves are an indicator that the soil is neutral, but acidic is needed). Fill a box measuring 1 × 1 m with peaty soil (with the addition of acidic high-moor peat). Check acidity regularly. When lowering, water with a solution of citric acid. And add colloidal sulfur - it is "long-playing" to maintain acidity.
“I want to create a mini forest berry garden and plant cranberries, blueberries, blueberries and lingonberries together. Tell me, are they compatible? - N. Shatrova (Kaliningrad region).
All of these plants love acidic soil and will pair well with each other. We only advise you to take into account the height of the plants. For example, do not plant blueberries next to cranberries so that the latter will not be in the shade of blueberries in a few years. Remember that in shading, cranberries give a low yield.
But blueberries with lingonberries and cranberries can be combined, only again, cranberries are more moisture-loving than the first two plants.
You can dig a trench 1 m wide and 2-3 m long. Lay a black film on the bottom, cutting holes in some places. Then - a layer of rubble, along with sand and branches of spruce and pine. This is drainage. Lay out the walls of the trench with pine boards impregnated with an antiseptic. Fill with peat along with nutrient soil or humus, sand, needles.
On a bed of this length, 9-10 bushes will fit: for example, from left to right - 3 bushes of cranberries, blueberries and lingonberries. And be sure to mulch the plantings with coniferous litter, cones or sour peat.
And along the perimeter for beauty, you can plant heather and erica. It will turn out not only a berry garden, but also a decorative one.
THE MOST DELICIOUS BAKING WITH CRANBERRY
Have you frozen your cranberries yet? Or maybe just keep it in the fridge?
In the period of colds, it is indispensable - it will quickly put you on your feet!
And if you suddenly want something delicious for tea, bake amazing muffins and a pie with cranberries.
SPICY PIE WITH CRANBERRY, COWBERRY AND CURRANT
A recipe that can be modified to your taste and possibilities. No lingonberries and currants? Take only cranberries or add berries as you have them. And add the spices you like. Here is the classic recipe. The pie with its aroma is similar to mulled wine - the very thing on a winter snowy evening.
Dough: 100 g butter, 50 g sugar, 200 g flour. 5 st. spoons of milk.
Berries: 300 g of large-fruited cranberries (or 150 g of marsh forest - it is more sour), 100 g of lingonberries and black currants. You can add 2 more apples to the swamp cranberries.
Filling: 100 g of sugar, lemon and orange zest (1 each), 5 cloves, 5 cardamom pods, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, a quarter of nutmeg. You can also add anise, allspice and in general any spices for gingerbread or to your taste.
Grind cold butter with flour and sugar in a blender - you will get fine crumbs. Pour in cold milk and knead the dough. Remove to refrigerator.
Rub the cloves, cardamom seeds and nutmeg in a mortar. Grate the zest on a fine grater. Mix everything with sugar.
Grease a 20cm mold with oil. Roll out the dough and put into a mold. Now a layer of spices with sugar. Above are berries. You can sprinkle with orange liqueur or fragrant cognac.
Bake in the oven at 180-200° for 30 minutes.
If desired, you can decorate the cake with sweet egg white meringue, custard or just ice cream.
NON-CALORIENT CAKE WITH CRANBERRY
The dough without butter, on sour cream, so even losing weight will like the cupcakes.
You will need: 1 egg and 1 yolk, 75 g of sugar, 100 g of sour cream, 125 g of flour, 1/4 teaspoon of soda, 100 g of cranberries.
Beat eggs with sugar until thick white mass, add sour cream. Stir and add flour and soda. Knead the dough. At the end - cranberries. By the way, often in such a dough, when baking, the berries settle and accumulate at the bottom of the cupcakes. Try rolling the berries in flour - so they will settle less.
Portion molds for muffins grease with oil and sprinkle with flour, lay out the dough and bake at a temperature of 200 ° for 15-20 minutes.
Take the cupcakes out of the molds while hot, brush with butter and dip in powdered sugar.
© Author: N. SOLOMATINA
Reference by topic: Growing cranberries in the garden - our tips
GARDEN CRANBERRY - ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON VIDEO
© Author: V. SOLOVIEVA, agronomist
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We have acidic soil in our area. I heard that large-fruited cranberries can grow in such a place: I saw it on sale. Can you tell me how to take care of her?
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To grow cranberries on ordinary soil, you need to prepare a bed with a special substrate. But if your soil is already acidic, you need to add sphagnum and horseback peat (5 parts), coarse sand and sawdust (one part each). The pH reaction should be between 4 and 5.
Cranberry seedlings are planted according to the scheme 25 × 25 cm, then the plantings are watered and later constantly maintain high soil moisture. Manure and compost are not put under cranberries. But annually this plant is fed with small doses of fertilizers: at the end of April, ammonium sulfate (3-4 g), double superphosphate (6 g) and potassium sulfate (3-4 g) per 1 m2.
Although cranberries love moisture, there should be no stagnant water in the root zone. Watering is carried out with acidified water, otherwise the plant will cease to bear fruit. You can acidify water with apple cider vinegar at the rate of 100 ml per 10 liters of water.
Large-fruited cranberries are resistant to sub-zero temperatures and comfortably survive frosts under snow. But it is better to mulch young plantings with wood chips or bark of conifers, pine litter, and for the winter the plants are covered with coniferous spruce branches.