Best Methods of Establishing Newly Planted Cranberry Vine

Note to readers, attached is the complete final report for FNE95-099.

Based on evidence from data gathered in the test area, we will discontinue mulching as a method of enhancing vine growth as it seems to be ineffective and possibly detrimental. Pretreatment of vine with liquid seaweed also appears ineffective and will be discontinued.

Row planting was a standout success in this years grant program. The advantages were:
- We used 25-50% less vine than conventional dull-disc planting and got an acceptable 35% cover the first year.
-Inter-row spaces provided easy access on the bog for weed control and hand hoeing (in our case) and tractor cultivation in larger plantings is feasible and greatly enhances weed control.
-Although we hand planted the 1/2 acre of ours, adaptions to mechanical planters could be easily accomplished, greatly decreasing the planting time for large plantings.

No summary of ours could be complete without special notion of what we considered to be two exceedingly important considerations, namely, early planting (early May here in Maine) and grade. Our healthiest vine without exception had the best drainage. In future plantings, care will insure that our new bog sections will have healthy crowns in the subsoil and proper drainage throughout.

• Data
• FNE95-099 Final Report
• Photos