Cranberry
Vaccinium macrocarpon 'Stevens'
fruitStevens is the gold-standard large-berried American cranberry, the most-planted commercial cranberry variety in the US, producing deep red 1/2 in berries packed with tart-sweet flavor and exceptional storage life. Despite the bog-grown commercial image, cranberries are simply low-growing evergreen ground cover plants that need acidic moisture but NOT standing water (the commercial bogs are flooded only for harvest).
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Sun
full sun
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Water
Every 1 days
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Harvest
~3 yrs
to first harvest
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Difficulty
hard
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Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
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Spacing
2-3 ft apart
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Planting Depth
Same depth as nursery container
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Soil pH
4.0-5.0
Growing Details
Soil Type
Acidic, very moist
Hardiness Zones
Zones 2 – 7
When to Fertilize
Light feed monthly during the growing season
Fertilizer
Acid-loving plant fertilizer (azalea or rhododendron formulation)
🌱 Growing Guide
Plant in full sun to partial shade on consistently moist acidic soil (pH below 5.0 is ideal). Hardy in zones 2 to 7. Set rooted cuttings 2 to 3 ft apart; vines spread by runners. Cranberries grow 1 ft tall and spread up to 1.5 ft per year. Mulch with pine bark or peat moss to maintain acidity and moisture. Self-fertile. First fruit comes in year 3; full production by year 5. The bushes are beautiful evergreen ground cover with red fall color.
Planting Calendar
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Direct sow
Apr 15
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Projected first harvest
Sep 22 · Year 4
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
Year 1
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Blueberries — Same acidic-soil preferences and similar bed amendments
- Rhododendrons — Shared acid-loving ornamental partner
- Pine mulch — Acidifies soil and retains moisture; pine needle or pine bark mulch is ideal
- Sphagnum moss — Living mulch in damp beds preserves moisture and acidifies
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Cranberry fruitworm
Monitor with pheromone traps; spray Bt at first hatch
Encourage parasitic wasps; remove and bag infested berries
Net the patch as berries color up
Mulch heavily with pine bark or pine needles; cranberries are slow to outcompete weeds in establishment years
🌾 Harvest & storage
Stevens ripens late September through October. Pick when berries are uniformly deep red and bounce when dropped (the bounce test commercial growers use). Hand-pick in small home patches or use a cranberry rake on larger beds. Berries store 1 to 2 months refrigerated, or freeze whole and use straight from the freezer in baking. Expect about 1 lb of fruit per 4 sq ft of established vines.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
About 46 calories per 100 g with 4.6 g fiber, 14 mg vitamin C, and exceptional levels of proanthocyanidins (PAC) studied for urinary tract health. Cranberries also supply quercetin, ursolic acid, and other polyphenols linked to anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular benefits. Stevens has slightly larger berries than most heirlooms, with the same nutritional profile.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.