The cranberries are low-growing, woody perennial vines. This plant belongs to the subgenus Oxycoccus of the genus Vaccinium, which includes blueberries. Therefore, the cranberry botanical name is “Vaccinium macrocarpon”. They are red berries and tart commonly used in various pies, juice and sauces. In addition, they are an addition to salads and are eaten in dried form as a snack. In recent years, cranberries have become renowned for their healing properties, largely due to their high concentration of vitamin C and antioxidants.
Berries are formed from these branches. Again, these beds are known as swamps or marshes and are formed by glacial deposits. Let us now know in detail about cranberry cultivation.
Cranberry Farming Process in India
Below, find the cranberry farming process in India with the necessary factors.Â
Different Varieties for Cranberry Farming
There you can find the 100 different cranberry varieties that can grow in America. Traditional Cranberry varieties include ‘Howes’, ‘Stevens’, ‘Early Blacks’, ‘Ben Lear’ Searles’ and ‘McFarlain. Other varieties include ‘Mullica Queen’, ‘Crimson Queen’ ‘Demoranville’ and ‘Mullica Queen’. The Grygleski family includes ‘BG’, ‘Valley King’, ‘Pilgrim King’, ‘GH1’, ‘Crimson King’, ‘Granite Red’ and ‘Crimson King’.        Â
Prepare Soil for Cranberry Farming
You must prepare the soil correctly, which is an important part of successful cranberry growing. The soil should have good drainage. Cranberries will not grow in heavy clay soils. It should be low pH, high organic matter soil, preferably peat moss and some sand. You can make a cranberry bed imitating commercial growers.
Alternatively, farmers can mix your existing soil with sand and peat moss. Then add a few Epsom salts, bone meal, bone meal, rock, and blood meal for soil enrichment. Finally, check acidity with a pH metre, which should be between 4.0 to 5.5 pH.
When preparing the soil, you should be well-known for some core factors, such as which equipment you should use in cranberry farming. However, tractors play the main role because they should have the best capacity to mount the attachment. However, you should choose the New Holland tractor models that meet your requirements and fit your budget.Â
Spacing and Best Location for Cranberry Farming
- Take the location decision with good drainage, full sun and fertile soil. Space cranberries are planted 2 to 3 feet apart and only reach 8-10 inches high. Next, amend the soil with organic matter such as garden compost, dehydrated cow manure and peat moss.
- Cranberries need full sun, so choose a location for the cranberry patch that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of sun daily.
- Cranberry plants thrive best in USDA zones 4 through 7.
- Planting cranberries in full sun but not in a location that gets too hot; South facing location is not optimal.
- Cranberry plants thrive in well-drained, moist and humus-rich soil. Farmers grow them on sandy or peat boglands. Cranberries can thrive in moderately acidic soil, and you can plant them in normal soils and use heavy peat mulch to protect the plants over winter.
- Farmers grow cranberries best in acidic soil and optimum soil pH level of 4.0 to 5.5.
- Grow cranberry plants in a sunken or raised bed where you can control the soil’s drainage. The plants do not tolerate dry soil but can withstand flooding in cold weather.
Proper Conditions for Cranberry Farming
Cranberry plants are resistant to frost, and cold, which holds the temperature is -40°C. If the water contains too many carbonates, it is necessary to use rainwater to water. In addition, using a dripping or surface sprinkler system has various advantages. Before planting, the dripping system is buried under the raised bed surface in the direction of the rows. Regular watering is essential all summer during the first year of planting. Cranberries like moist areas, cool conditions and acidic soil pH levels of 4.0 to 5.5. These are grown in regions with a cold climate and grow up to 1500 metres above sea level in some areas.
Care of Cranberry Plants
One of the most significant features of cranberry plants is to protect them from frosts. You can protect cranberries by covering them with blanket or plastic sheets in the event of frost in the home garden. You must keep the cranberry moist through irrigation. Being the most common requirement of fertilisers with nitrogen, cranberry plants take the benefits from it. You can utilise the nitrogen for cranberry plants in the ammonium form as they can not diminish the nitrogen to nitrate. Apart from this, you require phosphorus, but you should apply it to the soil in excess amounts as acid soils bind large quantities of the element for cranberry farming.Â
Equipment RequirementÂ
Along with the relevant information on cranberry farming, you should also consider the tractor that will help improve the yield. Cultivators, Tillers and tractors are crucial factors in every farming process. However, you can choose the Preet tractor because it is no 1 selling tractor brand.
For further information about cranberry farming in India, stay tuned with us.Â