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Vaccinium macrocarpon
Cultivation Notes
This article was provided care of 'Plants For A Future'
| Latin Name: | Vaccinium macrocarpon |
| Common Name: | American cranberry |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Synonyms: | Oxycoccus macrocarpus. (Ait.)Pursh. |
| Known Hazards: | None known |
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Author: Ait.
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| Habit: A Medium Growing Evergreen Shrub |
| Habitat: Acid boggy ground[11, 43]. |
| Height: 0.2 Width: 2.0 |
Cultivation Details:
Requires a moist or semi-boggy lime free soil, preferring one that is rich in peat or a light loamy soil with added leaf-mould[11, 200]. Prefers a very acid soil with a pH in the range of 4 to 4.5, plants soon become chlorotic when lime is present[200]. Plants grow best in a poor soil, richer soils result in extra foliage production at the expense of fruit[200]. Succeeds in full sun or light shade though it fruits better in a sunny position[200]. Requires shelter from strong winds[200].
A very dwarf shrub producing long slender creeping stems that root into the soil. Upright stems grow from the axillary buds in the second year and these upright stems flower and fruit the following year[200].
Widely cultivated for its edible fruit in N. America, there are many named varieties[11, 183, 200]. Cultivated plants are usually grown in artificial bogs that are often flooded in the winter[200]. Plants can self-fertilize but cross-fertilization by insects results in higher yields[200]. Cultivated plants take about 5 years to come into full bearing but will then crop well for 60 - 100 years[200].
Dislikes root disturbance, plants are best grown in pots until being planted out in their permanent positions[200].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200].
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Propagation Notes:
Seed - sow late winter in a greenhouse in a lime-free potting mix and only just cover the seed[78]. Stored seed might require a period of up to 3 months cold stratification[113]. Another report says that it is best to sow the seed in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe[200]. Grow on in light shade and prick the seedlings out when they are 5cm tall. Overwinter for the first year in a greenhouse.
Cuttings in April of shoots 15cm long, in a snady mix in a frame covered in plastic to keep them moist[200].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 8cm with a heel, August in a frame[78]. Slow and difficult.
Layering in late summer or early autumn[78]. Another report says that spring is the best time to layer[200]. Takes 18 months[78].
Division of suckers in spring or early autumn[113].
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