Stevens Cranberry (Vaccinium Macrocarpon)

Stevens Cranberry

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Vaccinium macrocarpon (Cranberry) is a low-growing evergreen trailing shrub forming a carpet of green foliage, spreading and rooting from stems to indefinite width. Attractive pinkish-white tiny flowers appear in late spring to early summer. Commercial growers grow this plant in wet bogs that can be flooded to control weeds and pests and facilitate the harvesting of the crop.

I. Appearance and Characteristics

Vaccinium macrocarpon, also called large cranberry, American cranberry and bearberry, is a North American species of cranberry in the subgenus Oxycoccus.

Vaccinium macrocarpon is native to central and eastern Canada (Ontario to Newfoundland) and the northeastern and north-central United States (Northeast, Great Lakes Region, and Appalachians as far south as North Carolina and Tennessee). It is also naturalized in parts of Europe and scattered locations in North America along western Canada (British Columbia) and the western United States (West Coast).

Stevens Cranberry (Vaccinium Macrocarpon)
Large Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) wackybadger CC BY-SA 2.0

The name cranberry, comes from shape of the flower stamen, which looks like a crane’s beak.

Vaccinium macrocarpon is a perennial shrub, often ascending (trailing along the surface of the ground for some distance but then curving upwards). The leaf blades are abaxially glaucous and green adaxially. The leaf blades are narrowly elliptic to elliptic, and in rare cases oblong. The pedicels are nodding and slender, measuring 2-3 cm. It produces white or pink flowers followed by sour-tasting red or pink berries 9–14 mm (0.35–0.55 in) across.

II. How to Grow and Care

Sunlight

The large cranberry is a full sun plant. Insufficient sunlight affects its flowering and fruiting. When selecting a growing location, try to avoid placing your plants near large trees. The tree crown coverage not only affects light, but also reduces air circulation, making diseases much more likely.

Temperature

Stevens Cranberry (Vaccinium Macrocarpon)
Vaccinium macrocarpon Carl E Lewis CC BY 2.0

The large cranberry has many cultivated species that have a wide adaptability to different temperatures. However, cold temperatures (T < 7 ℃) during dormancy are vital to helping them bloom the following year. The Lowbush Blueberry and the Northern High Blueberry usually need more than 800 to 1000 chill hours in an environment below 7 ℃. The Rabbiteye large cranberry from the south also needs around 350 to 700 hours. It is important to pay attention to cold resistance and chill hours when selecting varieties.

The large cranberry has a fibrous root system with shallow root distribution. Like other Ericaceae species, its roots with symbiotic fungi absorb water and nutrients from the soil. Therefore, the large cranberry is neither drought-resistant nor flood-resistant, and requires careful adjustment of soil moisture.

Watering

Adapted to the bogs and acidic soils of its native habitat, large cranberry thrives in conditions that mimic this moisture-rich environment. It exhibits a preference for consistent moisture but can tolerate brief periods of dryness. Watering should be adjusted to once every 1-2 weeks, ensuring the soil remains damp but not waterlogged. As an evergreen plant, large cranberry retains its foliage year-round, which can influence its watering needs due to less transpiration compared to deciduous species.

Soil

Stevens Cranberry (Vaccinium Macrocarpon)
Large Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) wackybadger CC BY-SA 2.0

Because the wild blueberries mostly grows on the edges of forests, they are accustomed to the acidic soil formed by dead branches and fallen leaves.Loose, acid soil (pH 3.8-5.5) with a good drainage performance and plenty of humus is best, with the optimum pH value being 4.5. Sandy soil and sandy loam are also preferred.
Soil acidity can be adjusted to cater to the large cranberry. If the pH of your soil is between 5.5 and 7.0, sphagnum peat can be applied at a 10 to 15 cm thickness into the 0 to 150 mm top-layer of soil, before being fully mixed in. Sphagnum peat not only improves soil acidity, but also significantly increases the content of humus.

If the pH of your soil is higher than 7.0, a raised ridge bed can be built and filled with soil that has the correct acidity. Back-filling soil should be 20 to 30 cm higher than the ground plane, and all roots must be covered in the soil layer below 0 to 150 mm.

Fertilizing

To optimize large cranberry’s growth, use balanced fertilizers in spring for flower/fruit set. Apply high nitrogen fertilizers post-harvest for vegetative growth. Fertilize twice yearly with care; excess can harm large cranberry. Seasonal changes influence needs – lighter feeding when dormant, heavier pre-harvest. Follow label rates for safe application; consistently moist soil is key for uptake. Understanding large cranberry’s nutritional needs ensures vibrant growth and fruitful harvests.

Planting Instructions

Stevens Cranberry (Vaccinium Macrocarpon)
Large Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) wackybadger CC BY-SA 2.0

Planting requirements for the large cranberry differ between varieties. Ideally, use bag seedlings that are two to three years old when planting a large cranberry, with the diameter of the base of the main stem being more than 5 mm.

If garden centers provide bare-root seedlings, these can be stored in a damp and dark environment before planting to keep them in dormancy. The criterion of “dampness” is that the roots must be kept moist, but not fully saturated. Ideal planting time is usually late winter or early spring, before the plant starts sprouting new buds. Soak the roots of bare-root seedlings in water for 3 or 4 hours before planting.

Two or more plants of different species, with the same florescence, can be planted at the same time. Pollination between different plants can increase the fruit setting rate, as well as the single fruit weight. For species with a larger plant shape, the spacing should be appropriately increased.

If you are planting large cranberry into a pot, place this in a shaded and well-ventilated room for a week, before moving it outdoors and resuming with normal care. If on sloping land, avoid planting in locations where cold air stagnates, so that the plant is protected from frost during flowering. Adequate irrigation should also be carried out after planting. Maintain an organic mulch at a thickness of 5 to 10 cm throughout the year after planting.
A mulch such as broken wood sawdust, peat, pine needles and fallen leaves can help maintain soil acidity. As acidic organic matter degrades every year, the pH value of your soil needs annual monitoring, with adjustments as needed.

Once the pH value of the soil is higher than 5.5, the large cranberry roots cannot absorb iron, meaning that the edges of leaves will lose their green color and turn red. Growth will be stunted, and the plant could even die. An acid peat soil mixture, while useful, takes effect slowly. If there are signs of an iron deficiency during the growing season, a chelated iron foliar fertilizer can be sprayed and a sulfur powder can be used to adjust the pH value of the soil.

Pruning

Pruning of young plants: After planting, for the first two or three years, the flower buds should be completely removed in the spring. This will promote growth, improve lifespan and boost future fruit yield. Pinch off any spindly shoots during the growing season to increase the number of sprouting lateral branches, so as to expand the tree crown.

Fruiting plant pruning: From the third year after planting, the large cranberry should be pruned each year, before the sprouting of new buds in early spring. The annual branch bears fruits, and the stronger the branch is, the more fruits it bears. For mature plants, each cluster should retain 4 to 6 stems and 1 or 2 new branches each year, keeping the tree uniform and well-ventilated.

Because of the plant’s slow growth, pruning should be conservative. Excessive pruning will greatly affect the amount of fruits produced. Large cranberry has both creeping and erect branches, and the erect should be retained as much as possible when pruning.

Propagation

Stevens Cranberry (Vaccinium Macrocarpon)
Vaccinium macrocarpon 5498606 Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org CC BY 3.0

Large cranberry is renowned for its vibrant red fruit and benefits from propagation methods specific to its growth habits. For successful propagation, sowing seeds in well-drained, acidic soil that mimics large cranberry’s natural boggy habitat is critical. Strive to maintain consistent moisture levels without overwatering to foster seed germination. Carefully selecting healthy parent plants to source seeds can significantly increase the chances of strong seedling development. Attentiveness to these practices ensures the establishment of robust large cranberry plants that will thrive and produce fruit in suitable environments.

Transplanting

The prime time to transplant large cranberry is during the vitality of early to mid-spring, ensuring robust growth. Choose a site with acidic, well-draining soil and ample sunlight. Gently encourage root establishment while minimizing stress to ensure a thriving transplant.

III. Uses and Benefits

The species is grown commercially as a cash crop for its edible berries. Many cranberries are grown in wetland soils consisting of alternating layers of organic matter and sand; modern harvesting techniques include temporarily flooding fields, shaking berries loose, and gathering the floating berries. Common uses of the berries includes sauce, jelly, juice, and dried fruit. There is some evidence suggesting that the berries or their juice could be useful in treating or preventing certain urinary tract infections, but this is not certain yet and thus is not substitute for medical management. Some research suggests cranberries may suppress asymptomatic Helicobacter pylori colonization, but they seem to be an inferior treatment compared to antibiotic therapy in symptomatic patients.

IV. Harvesting and Storage

Stevens Cranberry (Vaccinium Macrocarpon)
Large Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) wackybadger CC BY-SA 2.0

The large cranberry fruiting period can last for several weeks. Fruit ripens when its surface turns bluish black. Due to inconsistent ripening of fruits, they should be harvested in batches. Harvest once every 2 or 3 days in full fruit period, and once every 3 or 4 days in both the initial and final fruit period, completing your harvest before the frost.

Gloves (finger sleeves) should be worn when picking fruits to avoid damaging them, which would affect their appearance and storage potential. When picking ripe fruits, gently hold the berries and tweak them clockwise to keep the peel intact. This will also help to prolong their storage period.

Stevens Cranberry (Vaccinium Macrocarpon) Details

Common name

Stevens Cranberry

Botanical name

Vaccinium Macrocarpon

Plant type

,

Hardiness zone

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Growth rate

Height

1-2 ft.

Width

1-3 ft.

Dimensions
Dimensions 63630675053 × 63630675017 cm
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