Cranberry & Soil PH

calleyw

I bought a cranberry today (reduced to 75p :j) Any how I have just been reading up on it.

It is macrocarpon which is an American cranberry. And it says that it likes ph as low as 3.5.

I was just going to put it up in normal compost. Now I am a little bit worried about that now.

Do I need to buy special compost?

Thanks in advance.

Yours

Calley

peter_the_piper

Ericaceous compost is the way to go.

lunar

I have just got one cranberry today. Do you need more than one for them to fruit?

conradmum

No, they fruit well just by themselves.

They do have a funny form, though. They basically spread out to cover the ground, so if you grow them in a pot, the plant hangs all over the edge and you end up treading on it if you aren't careful.

lunar

Thanks conradmum. Do you think they would go in a hanging basket or window trough? or should I just put them in a large pot and be careful.

ALIBOBSY

A little off topic, but I remember watching a programme where they showed cranberry harvesting in the US. They flood the field so the cranberries float. Use a machine that churns up the water (imagine a smaller version of a paddle boat) so the cranberries pop off the stems. Then they just scoop em up off the water.

Probably only works as the berries are pretty tough and float lol.

ali x

conradmum

lunar wrote: »

Thanks conradmum. Do you think they would go in a hanging basket or window trough? or should I just put them in a large pot and be careful.

I think a hanging basket or something like that would be a very good idea. I seem to remember they need to be kept well watered though.

lunar

Ok I am going to put it in a basket, I might get a second one to have one fall either side. I have a tray growing rooty moss in the greenhouse so I will add plenty to help with water retention.

Just one more question, when can I put it out, are they frost hardy or do I need to wait a while? It had lots of leaves when I bought it.

conradmum

lunar wrote: »

Ok I am going to put it in a basket, I might get a second one to have one fall either side. I have a tray growing rooty moss in the greenhouse so I will add plenty to help with water retention.

Just one more question, when can I put it out, are they frost hardy or do I need to wait a while? It had lots of leaves when I bought it.

They're completely hardy, but if it's been kept indoors it'll need hardening off again before being put outside permanently - left outside and brought in at night for a few days.