Berry bush cranberry 'Red Pearl'

Fruit: spherical, bright red, shiny berries that ripen in July and August. The tart, aromatic, sour taste is characteristic. The fruits are rarely eaten raw; it is better to dry them or process them into jam, compote, chutney or juice. They are also popular for enhancing game dishes or as an accompaniment to baked Camembert. The berries are full of vitamins, especially vitamin C. The tannins they also contain have an antibacterial effect, which is why the cranberry is also considered a medicinal plant. The 'Red Pearl' variety is particularly high-yielding and produces almost cherry-sized, highly aromatic fruits.

Plant: The evergreen dwarf shrub grows to a height of 20-40 cm and spreads to a width of 40-80 cm with underground runners. The shoots are not completely woody and the small, roundish, glossy leaves are reminiscent of boxwood. Lingonberries produce very attractive flowers: white to pink, bell-shaped and in dense clusters, they cover the plant with a flowering carpet. The main bloom in May and June is usually followed by a second bloom in July and August. Lingonberries are self-fertile and very hardy.

Site requirements: The plant prefers sunny to slightly semi-shady locations with acidic soil (pH 5 to 6). The substrate should be rich in humus, loose and moist. Due to its growth habit, cranberries are ideal as a fruit-bearing ground cover in the home garden or for planting under blueberries, as they have the same site requirements.

Berry fruit bushes should not be missing in any garden, they are quite uncomplicated in cultivation and take up little space. Above all, they provide incredibly tasty fruits that can be processed in many ways (into jam, jelly, juice, compote or cake) and which - freshly picked from the bush and eaten - turn a walk through the summer garden into a culinary experience. Berries are also among the healthiest foods, because they contain a wealth of valuable ingredients such as vitamins, minerals or trace elements. And all the more so if they have not been transported halfway around the world, but come from your own garden.