Winter-hardy and large-fruited cranberry varieties

When choosing planting material, the main directions are winter-hardy and large-fruited varieties of cranberries. The productivity of the shrub largely depends on the correctly selected variety, taking into account climatic conditions.

Cranberries are distributed throughout almost the entire territory of Russia, Europe, North America and Canada. Under natural conditions, it grows in damp places: swamps, lowlands or mountainous areas with fertile soil. Swamp cranberry is the most winter-hardy compared to other varieties. The first cultivated representatives of this plant appeared only in the twentieth century. Earlier attempts to grow cranberry bushes were unsuccessful, because the plant, cut off from its usual habitat, stopped bearing fruit and died.

Representatives of swamp cranberries with good winter hardiness are:

• Scarlet Reserve. High-yielding variety with large spherical berries. The fruits ripen in early September and reach a weight of 2 g.
• Beauty of the North. High-yielding late-ripening variety. The fruits are very large - up to 4.5 g. The oval-shaped berries have a red-raspberry hue.
• Severyanka. The variety is characterized by large oval berries up to 3 g. A waxy coating predominates on dark red berries. The yield of the variety is good. The fruits ripen at the end of August.
• The Gift of Kostroma. Large-fruited variety with average yield. The fruits ripen at the end of August. The berries are large, round, ribbed. The berries are well preserved.

Large-fruited cranberry varieties include:

• Ben Lear. Early ripening variety. The fruits are large, red-pink in color, intended mainly for processing.
• Searles. American variety with good frost resistance. The berries are well stored and can withstand transportation.
• Stevens. High yielding variety with dark red berries. The fruits ripen at the end of September and have a long shelf life.

Antipyretic properties of cranberries

The antipyretic properties of cranberries are possible due to the content of acetylsalicylic acid in the fruit. It is aspirin that helps reduce fever. For medicinal purposes, cranberries are used in their pure form or as drinks or jam. Berries can be used both for the prevention of colds and for their treatment.

The consumption rate for cranberries is a tablespoon three times a day. You should not overeat with cranberries, since the acid it contains in large quantities can negatively affect the stomach and intestines.

It must be remembered that there can be many reasons for elevated body temperature. If fever is observed during colds and the temperature rise is slight, then cranberries are recommended to be used as a medicine.

If the nature of the temperature increase is unknown or it is too high, it is best to consult a doctor.

Green cranberries - beneficial properties

The beneficial properties of green cranberries are fully revealed if you observe the harvest time. It is not worth collecting it completely green, since the necessary vitamins and minerals have not yet formed in the required quantities. The earliest harvest time is late summer - early autumn. You should not pick cranberries before August 25 - such berries most likely will not ripen.

Early picking of berries allows you to increase the duration of their storage. The collected berries can be used to prepare various dishes. Pickled berries, pureed with sugar or frozen, are well stored. After any processing, cranberries almost do not lose their beneficial properties.

Cranberries are used as an antipyretic for colds. In addition, they perfectly strengthen the immune system and help with oral diseases.

Cranberry is indispensable for the gastrointestinal tract, as it improves digestion, normalizes microflora and promotes weight loss and normalization of metabolism.

Cranberry is indicated for diseases of the lungs, liver and kidneys, as well as for the prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Cranberry regulates emotional state, improves the nervous system and promotes a good night's rest.

How to plant cranberries in the garden

Most gardeners grow cranberries solely for their usefulness and medicinal properties. In order to find out how to plant cranberries in the garden, you need to understand what conditions this berry likes and what should not be on the plot.

First you need to decide on the landing site. It is good if it is located near reservoirs or artificial ponds. This will create increased humidity and a suitable microclimate for this plant. The proximity of groundwater to the soil surface is also an additional source of nutrition. Ideally, groundwater should not lie below 50 cm, otherwise more frequent watering of cranberries will be required.

In some cases, it is permissible to create small ponds specifically for growing cranberries nearby. Cranberries get used to the chosen place, so it is not recommended to replant them.

The soil for growing cranberries must be peaty, fertile and acidic. Peat is mixed with sand and covers the soil on the site. A little soil can be taken from the area where cranberries grow naturally.

In the case of sandy and sandy loam soils, you need to add about 20 buckets of peat to each planting site and dig it up. Cranberries can be grown in horizontal trenches up to 150 cm wide and up to 35 cm deep. The trench is filled with a mixture of peat and sand, watered and cranberries are planted, 2 seedlings per planting. This method is well suited for young shoots about 12 cm long.

Cranberries prefer acidic soils with a pH of 3.5 to 5.5. To do this, the beds are covered with a 20 cm layer of acidic peat, and the upper part with sand. The area is loosened, weeds are removed and cranberries are planted. Planting can be done both in spring and autumn. Young seedlings are carefully placed in 15x15 cm planting holes so that no more than 4 cm remains on the surface. The distance between the holes should be about 20 cm. Next, the soil must be mulched with sand or pine needles and the plants watered.

Important: It is necessary to ensure that the soil always remains moist, since the yield depends on the amount of moisture.

Cranberries cannot be planted in close proximity to potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes and other nightshades - the composition of their soil is radically different. Cranberries love proximity to coniferous trees, as well as lingonberries.

Canadian cranberry - cultivation

Growing Canadian cranberries allows you to obtain valuable berries with high taste characteristics, large size and universal use.

The most productive varieties of Canadian cranberries:

• Ben Lear. A medium-height shrub with large dark burgundy berries. The berries ripen in early September, but storage is short. Fruit weight no more than 2 g
• Stevens. An early ripening variety with large oval berries. The yield of the variety is good.
• Wilcox. Frost-resistant variety that ripens in mid-September. The berries are oval, bright red, medium size.
• Pilgrim. The variety has a medium ripening period, is vigorous with numerous shoots. The berries are oval in shape and have an uneven burgundy color. Productivity is good. The variety is frost-resistant.

When growing, it is necessary to create a special microclimate with high humidity for cranberry seedlings. Proper maintenance of soil quality will allow the bush to grow healthy and bear fruit well. Watering plants plays an important role. It should be carried out regularly, moistening the entire root system to a depth of about 40 cm from the soil surface.

Cranberries need weeding and fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. Young seedlings need to be fed twice a season to stimulate their growth. In autumn, it is necessary to carry out preventive treatment against diseases and pests.

Pruning can be done to form bushes. By pruning the horizontal branches, you will get a more compact bush, from which it is more convenient to harvest. Pruning vertical branches will reduce the height of the bush, allowing creeping branches to spread freely along the ground.

Tip: It is best to prune young plants. After 4 years, a shrub does not respond well to pruning.

It is best to purchase cranberry seedlings from a nursery. This way you will get high-quality material that will easily take root on the site. Resistance to frost and disease, as well as yield, will no longer be a surprise. A healthy plant will produce high-quality fruits without special costs.