Large-fruited cranberryis an evergreen shrub that gives very he althy fruit rich in nutrients. Due to the high content of vitamin C, pectins and organic acids, cranberries are perfect for preserves - jams, jellies, soups, juices and syrups. Learn more about theproperties of cranberry , see whatgrowing cranberry on the plot looks likeand choose the bestamateur cranberry varieties
Large fruited cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)
Cranberry - nutritional and healing properties
Large-fruited cranberry(Vaccinium macrocarpon) is an evergreen shrub with creeping shoots, belonging to the heather family, which is the same as the American blueberry. Cranberries, however, are not so good in taste and cannot be eaten raw. However, they are an excellent raw material for preserves, including the well-knowncranberry sauce , which is an excellent addition to game and turkey.
The nutritional properties of cranberries are appreciatedThese fruits are a rich source of fiber, vitamins C, B1 and B2, numerous mineral s alts and tannins. The tart-sweet taste of cranberry fruit is due to its citric and malic acids, while benzoic acid is a natural preservative. Thanks to it,cranberriesstay fresh for a long time after picking. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to several weeks and in a freezer for up to a year! urinary tract.Cranberry is used in the treatment of kidney and bladder diseases. Drinking plenty ofcranberry juice
prevents the formation of kidney stones. Cranberries also help fight bacteria that contribute to tooth decay and cause stomach ulcers. Drinking cranberry juice can also reduce the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
When deciding to grow this plant in the garden, it is also worth appreciatingdecorative properties of cranberriesIts shiny, red fruits are a bright accent to the garden in autumn, and the white-pink flowers can be admired from June to the end of July. Cranberry is also a honey plant.
Fun fact!Cranberry owes its name to flowers, placed on long stalks, resembling the head of a crane. It is also worth knowing that cranberry leaves change color in cold weather, and turn green again when it is warm. The leaf has lived this way for 2-3 years.
Large-fruited cranberry - varieties
Onlylarge-fruited cranberry varieties are grown , due to the greatest usefulness of the fruit of this species. Large-fruited cranberries have a diameter of 1-2 cm. In early varieties they ripen from the end of September, and in later - in October. The strong color of the rind proves the harvest maturity of the cranberry fruit.Cranberry fruitcan be harvested until the first frost.
Large-fruited cranberry 'Pilgrim'- this is probably the most common type of cranberry among gardeners, it is a late variety, very fertile, with strong growth. The fruits are large, oval, covered with a waxy coating, purple-red when fully ripe.
Large-fruited cranberry 'McFarlin'- late variety with dark red, slightly oblong fruits. They are great for preserves, but it is better not to store them raw, because then they lose their color. It is acranberry variety recommended for growingin home gardens.
Large fruited cranberry 'Howes'- this is another late variety of cranberry, unfortunately less fertile than the previous ones. Its fruits, however, bear best storage. They are medium-sized, spherical and shiny. The plant creates a lot of fruit-bearing shoots, which makes this variety of cranberry particularly decorative. It blooms from June to July.
Large-fruited cranberry 'Early Black'- this variety is distinguished by a very early fruiting date - already at the end of August, the fruits are small, pear-shaped, with a dark red and shiny skin.
Cranberry - cultivation on the plot
Cranberry requirements, cultivation position preparation
Growing cranberries on the plotrequires proper preparation of the site before planting this shrub. When deciding to grow cranberries, it is worth knowing that in its natural environment, this plant inhabits raised bogs in Europe, Asia and North America.On the plot, we must at least partially recreate the conditions there. Cranberry grows best in sunny positions and in humus soils, airy and necessarily acidic (pH 3.0 - 4.0), moderately moist to moist. When preparingstand for cranberry cultivation on plot , first remove the weeds thoroughly and then sprinkle a 10-15 cm layer of acid peat. Acid garden peat will ensure a sufficiently low pH of the soil and enrich the soil with organic matter, which has a positive effect on the acceptance of cranberry seedlings at the place of cultivation. Sawdust and finely ground, composted pine bark are also good additions. Dig the added organic matter with the soil to a depth of 20 cm. If we do not have the possibility to prepare the entire field or we only plant single specimens of cranberries, a hole should be dug at least 20 cm deep under each plant and filled with a mixture of acid peat, sand and garden soil.
Planting cranberries
Cranberry seedlingsof the so-called open root (dug from the ground) can be planted in early spring or fall. Usually, however, for sale arepotted cranberry seedlings , suitable for planting throughout the season from spring to autumn. If we care about the certainty of acceptance of the plants, remember, however, that the most frequently recommendedplanting date for cranberriesis early spring, from the beginning of April.
Cranberries are plantedspaced 50 x 50 cm. Such a loose planting promotes the production of a large number of long vegetative shoots. This is important because in the first two years ofgrowing cranberries on plot , you need to get as many of these shoots as possible so that they cover the entire surface of the soil and produce shorter fruiting shoots. However, if we want to plant the cranberries as densely as possible, the spacing between the seedlings must not be less than 30 cm. The firstfruiting of cranberrycan be expected in the 3rd year of cultivation, and the plants will reach full fruiting in the 4-5th year of cultivation. After planting, the soil under the shrubs is mulched with peat or pine bark.
Cranberry care and fertilization
During the growing season, the cranberry plot is watered regularly, remembering that cranberry likes moist soil. In periods of drought and hot weather, we even water it every day. After the start of growth, you can either apply nitrogen fertilizer (preferably multi-component fertilizer for acidophilic plants) or break this dose into 3 portions, administered after the start of growth in early spring, and then during fruit setting and flower buds. However, you should not overdo it with fertilizers, becausethe fertilization requirements of cranberriesare not high and too high nitrogen content in the soil may paradoxically reduce the abundance and quality of the crop instead of favoring it (intensive growth of leaves occurs at the expense of flowers and fruit). In autumn, it is worth sprinkling autumn fertilizer under the cranberries, with a low nitrogen content, but rich in phosphorus and potassium, which will allow the plants to better prepare for winter.After the first autumn frosts, the plants are covered with straw or sawdust to protect them from freezing.
Pruning cranberries
The deadline for cutting cranberriesis February to March. Sick, withered and broken shoots are cut out of young plants. You can also gently shorten the long shoots. Old specimens, which bear fruit poorly, require a radical cut. In order to rejuvenate them, we trim the shoots just above the ground.
