The American cranberry which is cultivated is a member of the Ericaceae family, evergreen creeping shrubs. The cranberry is native to environmentally sensitive habitats known as wetlands, but more commonly referred to as bogs, with an acidic soil reaction.
Cultivation of the crop has developed in its natural habitat in north-eastern and north-central North America or where very similar environmental conditions exist in the Pacific Northwest or other parts of the world.
Peat for cranberry plantings should be acid with pH between 4.2 and 5.0 is considered with upper limit for successful production.
Although the cranberry requires an abundant of moisture, good drainage is also needed. Adequate drainage for the growing season is usually assured if the water table can be kept about 2 feet below the soil surface.
A growing season stretches from April to November and is followed by a period of dormancy in the winter months that provides an extended cold period, necessary for fruiting buds to mature.
The cranberry is grown from cuttings planted directly in place without prior rooting. Planting machines for this purpose are used.
Cultivation of cranberries
