Know before you grow:

Up-Potting

It is very important that you up-pot your plant to a larger container as soon as possible when it arrives. Your plant's new container should have a couple of drainage holes, and should be at least a couple gallons larger than the nursery pot. Check out our up-potting video for detailed instructions on how to ensure a happy healthy new home for your plant.

Pollination

Cranberries are self-fertile, so they do not require a pollinator. That being said, they will produce a more pleantiful harvest if they have a friend blooming around the same time.

Let the sun shine

Sunlight

Cranberries need a minimum of 6 hours direct sunlight per day. Sufficient sun exposure triggers the initiation of new flower buds for the next growing season, without which there will be no fruit. Fruit ripening and flavor development are also benefited by the carbohydrate production stimulated by the sun, as well as it’s heat.

Up-Potting

Overheating Cranberries are cooler-weather plants, and don't love to be over-heated. When your local temperatures get above 80°F, you may notice your plant's growing progress slow, and it could negatively impact fruit production.

Get this girl a drink!

Watering

Cranberries should be watered deeply once to twice a week. Water until the soil is saturated and water comes out of the drainage holes. Let the container dry until the soil is dry to the touch 1 inch down. During particularly hot temperatures, your plant may need water every other day.

Fertilizer

Your plant should have come with both a compressed potting soil, and a soluable fast-acting plant food. Fertilize your plant once in spring (during re-potting can be a great time) by mixing ½ tablespoon of fertilizer with ½ gallon of water, and again at the end of spring.

Chill Out

Overwintering (down to -30°F)

Cranberry bushes are happy to stay outside in winter, unprotected, down to temperatures as low as -30°. During winter, the cranberry bush goes dormant and doesn't require regular watering or fertilizing.

Up-PottingOverwintering (below -30°F)

If you are experiencing particularly cold temps, group all your plants together and cover them with bags of leaves or old burlap sacks. If your winters are extensively long and cold, consider bringing your cranberry into an unheated garage for it's first winter so the roots don't freeze.

Yummy Stuff

Ripening and Harvest

Cranberries will still be firm when you harvest them in late fall, and have just a very slight tenderness to them. They should be completely bright red, and if you pick one, drop it, and it sounds hollow, it is probably time to harvest.

Pests and Disease

Your fruit isn't just delicious for you, lots of other critters would be happy to get their hands on your hard work. Pests and diseases vary greatly depending on region, so we suggest you take advantage of your local resources. If you can't determine what is ailing your plant by googling the symptoms, give a call to your local county agricultural extension office.