Cranberry 'Howes' berry bush

Fruit: The gooseberry-sized, round, red berries ripen from mid-September to the end of October and are extremely rich in valuable ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants. Raw, the berries taste sour and bitter, and only after processing or drying do they develop their typical fruity, aromatic, tart flavor. In the USA, they are traditionally made into juice or sauces and are a popular side dish for Thanksgiving dinner. Here in Germany, the cranberry is a popular snack and is also used as an ingredient in muesli or baked goods.

Plant: The hardy, robust shrub grows with a creeping habit to around 20 cm high and 60-80 cm wide. In addition to the red berries, the pink bell-shaped flowers in May and June are also very attractive, as is the intense red-brown autumn color of the small, leathery leaves. The plant is suitable as a ground cover, but also for planting in containers. The ideal combination is with blueberry bushes, for example. These grow upright, while the cranberry, with its flat growth that hangs over the edge of the container, serves as an underplanting with the same site requirements. The cranberry is self-fertile, but a second plant increases the yield.

Site requirements: Cranberries are relatively undemanding, but need a sunny spot with acidic to slightly acidic soil with sufficient moisture.

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

Some of our woody plants are delivered bare-rooted, others in pots or with root balls. If you are unable to plant immediately after delivery, take your plant(s) out of the box and place them in a cool, shady, humid place, preferably outside (even in frosty weather). The plants can then be stored for some time, as their roots are well protected. Plants in pots should be watered if necessary.