Cranberries

Dense low lustrous evergreen ground cover, reddish purple in fall and loaded with large red berries. Once established, makes a beautiful and edible “lawn.” Handpick or rake like blueberries before hard frost. Use fresh, freeze or store in a cool basement or root cellar for months. Bitter and alkalizing effects make it one of the most common remedies for bladder infections. An excellent source of vitamin C. Annually flooded for frost protection and harvesting convenience in commercial operations, but not necessary in home plots. Self-fertile. Native to northeastern U.S. and Canada.

Growing Cranberries

• Soil: Prefers acidic cool moist soil high in organic matter; adaptable to everything from bogs to dry rocky outcroppings.
• Sun: Full.
• Pollination: Self-pollinating: you only need one.
• Planting: Plant comes in a bushy 6" clump, which can be carefully divided or planted as a whole and divided in future years.