Cranberry
Vaccinium macrocarpon
Cranberry is a low, creeping evergreen shrub that bears tart red berries in fall, essential for Thanksgiving sauce. In gardens it grows well in containers or beds of very acidic, moist soil.
Photo: Photo by Keith Weller · Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
High
Keep the soil constantly moist with rainwater.
Soil
Very acidic, peaty or sandy soil; pH 4.0–5.5.
Temperature and humidity
-30–30 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed lightly with an ericaceous fertilizer in spring.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by stem cuttings, layering
Trim runners in spring to keep plants dense.
Cranberries are safe to eat.
Top Cultivation Tips
Grow in a container of ericaceous compost if your soil is not acidic.
Top-dress with sand every few years.
Needs a cold winter.
Hardy in USDA zones 2–7.
Common problems
Caterpillars
The larvae of moths and butterflies, which chew holes in leaves, flowers and fruit and can strip a plant in days.
How to treat it →DiseaseIron chlorosis
Young leaves turn yellow while the veins stay green, usually because alkaline soil stops the plant taking up iron.
How to treat it →DiseaseRoot rot
Roots decay in waterlogged soil, so the plant wilts and yellows even though the soil is wet.
How to treat it →
