You love cranberries but don't have a garden where you can plant them yourself? No problem, because you can also plant cranberries in tubs.
Cranberries are popular shrubs because they are very easy to care for, robust and also ideal for beginners in gardening. They can be planted both in beds and in pots. Although the shrubs grow better in the bed, they also bear a lot of fruit when planted in a pot. In addition, cranberries in pots are a very good alternative if you don't have a garden and would like to have some plants on the balcony.
How big does the bucket have to be?
If you want to plant a cranberry bush in a tub, there are only a few basic rules that you have to follow. The bigger the bucket, the better. You can use a large flower pot, but you can also use a simple tub. The cranberries also grow in a small pot, but the harvest is then much smaller than in the large pot. The pot or bucket should therefore have a minimum size of 20 liters. In addition, it must have holes at the bottom. The water must be able to drain away so that it does not accumulate in the bucket.
How to properly plant cranberries in a bucket
Cranberries can be planted all year round, but autumn is the most popular season. This gives the plants enough time during the winter to form firm roots. Proceed as follows when planting:
Step 1:
First you need to prepare an appropriately sized pot or tub. To do this, fill in gravel in the lower part of the bucket. The gravel should be at least 5 centimeters high. This is an important component for drainage. Then cover the gravel with fleece so that the soil does not mix with the gravel.
Step 2:
Now you can fill the bucket with high-quality garden soil. It is best to mix the soil with peat, because the lingonberry bushes do not like pure soil. Do not fill the bucket completely, as this will make watering easier later. The plants need a lot of water.
Step 3:
Once you have finished preparing the bucket, you can plant the plantsinsert. Dig a small hole in the ground and insert the shoots. Now it's time to water well and keep the soil moist. The shrubs also need a sunny or semi-sunny spot on the balcony or terrace. Important: put the pot or bucket in its final place immediately, because lingonberries don't like it very much if you move them later.
Step 4:
You can fertilize the plant immediately after planting it. It is best to use a slow-release fertilizer for this. This ensures that the nutrients are only released when needed. The fertilizer is very important for the beginning growth of the plant. You won't have to fertilize the shrub later.
How to properly care for cranberries in the bucket
❒ casting:
Cranberry bushes need a lot of water. They therefore need to be watered daily. It is best to use stagnant rainwater for this, as it contains less lime than tap water. If you forget to water or are prevented from doing so, the lingonberry bushes will forgive you. They can live without fresh water for several days provided the soil is moist. In winter, however, the plants do not need much water. Only water the lingonberry bushes on warm days.
❒ Repot:
Because cranberries are ground covering plants, they like to spread. If the tub is too small, the plant will not grow well and will bear few fruits. You should therefore watch the bushes. If you notice that these are not getting bigger, you can transplant them into a larger pot. The different species are 20 to 30 centimeters high. These cranberry varieties are particularly popular.
❒ Cut:
Longberry bushes should be pruned regularly, depending on the variety. This is best done before winter sets in. Then cut off older shoots so more light and sun can reach the lower shoots.
❒ Hibernate:
The cranberries can stay outside even in winter. However, there is a high risk that the root balls will freeze through in the pot. This danger only exists with cranberries in a tub or pot. The shrubs can be left in the bed all year round without further overwintering measures. In the pot, however, they must be placed closely together if you have several pots on the balcony. In addition, you need to cover the plants with a fleece. Then wrap the planters in a tarpaulin and place them on a pedestal. It is best to look for a somewhat sheltered place,so that the bushes are protected from the wind. As soon as temperatures remain constant around 0 degrees, the winter protection can be removed.
Protection against diseases and pests
Cranberries are very hardy and rarely suffer from diseases. Should a fungal attack occur, the leaves will turn red and the plant must be dug up immediately. Unfortunately, you won't be able to save her.
Cranberries also have few natural enemies. One enemy is the bird, which does not bother the shrub, but usually causes trouble for owners. The bird likes to nibble on the lingonberry bush. A dummy cat or a hanging CD can help here.