How to Grow

From seed

Growing seed: soak overnight, and then sow in a good potting mix - keep warm at about 21 degrees C.

Cranberries grow in low, wet, acidic areas, or in highly organic, acid soils in full sun.

They won't grow in regular garden soil, because it probably is not acidic enough and does not support the right mycorrhizae (fungi that live symbiotically with plants and help them take up nutrients).

From seedling

Plant when seedling is 10cm high or more.

Plant in fertile soil and follow 'how to grow from plant' instructions.

From Plant

They prefer acidic soil.

Mulch heavily with bark or sawdust to reduce weeds and keep the soils acidic.

Tolerate wet or flooded soils but good drainage is required during the active growing season for proper root growth and function.

Collect seed

Carefully cut open the fresh fruits and pick the tiny seeds out onto a damp paper towel.

The seeds are very small, about the size of strawberry seeds, and they’re easy to lose.

Fold up the damp paper towel around the seeds and place it in a plastic bag in the refrigerator.

Check on it every week or two so that the paper towel doesn’t dry out, but otherwise ignore it for the next 3 months.

Cranberry seeds need to cold stratify for around 3 months to sprout.

Once temperatures warm up, bring the seeds out of the fridge and plant them in a rich peat-based starting mixture.

Cranberries like acidic soils and peat helps to mimic their natural environment.