Flooding is so important in cranberry cultivation that bogs where flooding is not possible are no longer considered profitable Cranberry growers use flooding as a management tool to protect the plants from the cold, drying winds of winter, to harvest and remove fallen leaves and to control pests
Why are cranberries flooded in the winter?
What happens to cranberries in winter? Cranberries go semi-dormant in their bogs during the cold months of winter In order to protect plants from the cold and possible heaving, growers typically flood the bogs Flooding as part of cranberry winter protection is a time honored method of growing these prized berries
Why do cranberry fields have to be drained as soon as the harvest is finished?
After harvest, bogs are drained, raked, and reflooded Water protects the shallow-rooted cranberry vines from frost during the cold winter months It also protects highly flammable bogs from fire and kills the larvae of potential insect pests
What is the purpose of a cranberry bog?
The farmers flood the cranberry bogs (which often freeze over) to protect the vines and buds from injuries associated with cold weather
Does cranberry production use a lot of water?
As a general rule, each acre of cranberries will use seven to ten feet of water to meet all production, harvesting and flooding needs
Where is the Ocean Spray cranberry bog?
Ocean Spray owner-growers Jeff and Kim LaFleur open their 236-acre bog in Plympton, MA, to visitors from around the world for hands-on cranberry harvest programs Hop on a viewing tour or sign up for the “Be The Grower Experience,” where you can slip on waders and help out with the harvest yourself
Are cranberry bogs flooded with salt water?
As with the reclamation of tidal marshes, cranberry bogs required the control and use of local water supplies However, cranberry bogs utilized fresh water instead of salt or brackish water Today, cranberry growers still follow many of the same principles used by nineteenth and early twentieth century growers
Do cranberry bogs smell?
Although cranberries don’t have much of a smell, they do have a beautiful red color When dropped in water, cranberries will float This property allows them to be harvested by flooding the bog with water A harvesting wheel gently beats the vines and loosens the berries
Why do they soak cranberries in water?
Water is applied through the sprinkler system to protect the ripening cranberries from freezing This can occur anytime the temperature drops below damaging levels, usually between late evening and early morning hours
Are there spiders in cranberry bogs?
Actually, they’ve been there all along While the berries are growing, budding, and flowering, the spiders make home in the vines, cleaning the vines of any insects When the bogs are flooded, the spiders float to the surface and run across the tops of the berries to stay dry
What state grows the most cranberries?
Cranberry production in the US 2020, by state Wisconsin was the top cranberry producer in the United States in 2020, at 464 million barrels, followed by Massachusetts with 206 million barrels of cranberries in that year In the United States, cranberries are often consumed dried or in sauces
How much do cranberry farmers make?
The middle half received between $570 and $1,269 per week The lowest-paid 10 percent of wage earners received less than $358 The highest-paid 10 percent received more than $1,735 per week
Are cranberries grown in a bog?
Today, cranberries are mostly grown in human-made bogs so farmers can control the factors cranberries need to thrive A key component of growing cranberries is that they require a unique environment The vines or shrubs thrive in layers of gravel, then acidic peat soil and sand
What states grow cranberries?
Most cranberries come from Wisconsin and Massachusetts Just five states grow almost all of the country’s supply of the tart berries: Wisconsin produces more than half of all cranberries in the United States, Massachusetts harvests another third, and New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington produce much of the rest
Is cranberry good to drink?
Potential Health Benefits of Cranberry Juice Cranberry juice is an excellent source of vitamin C and provides 39% of your recommended daily allowance in an 8-ounce serving Vitamin C plays many important roles in the body A powerful antioxidant, it helps stop free radicals from damaging cells and DNA in your body
Are there dolphins in cranberry bogs?
Yes there is no such thing as cranberry bog dolphins
Can you grow cranberries in Texas?
Cranberries grow and thrive in USDA Hardiness zones 2-5, which places it right outside of the zones located within Texas This means that cranberries cannot thrive inside Texas, and thus, growing them inside Texas is not recommended
Can you grow cranberries in Louisiana?
They grow on small vine-like shrubs that thrive in cold water bogs and marshes Louisiana wetlands, perfect for crawfish, are too warm for cranberries
Where did cranberries come from?
The Cranberry (genus Vaccinium) is native to the swamps and bogs of northeastern North America It belongs to the Heath, or Heather family (Ericaceae), which is a very widespread family of about 125 genera and about 3500 species! Members of the family occur from polar regions to the tropics in both hemispheres
What enables cranberries to float?
Cranberries have four air pockets inside them, which allows them to float to the surface during the wet harvest operation
Can you eat cranberries raw?
Can you eat raw cranberries? Yes, it’s safe to eat raw cranberries, though you’ll likely want to include them in a recipe, like a smoothie, sauce, or relish, versus eating them raw, as their tangy taste can be off-putting to some people
How long are cranberry bogs flooded?
The winter flood may be applied as early as December 1 and remains on the bog as long as winterkill conditions are present or forecasted Generally, growers hold the flood no later than March 15
How do cranberries get picked?
Cranberries are harvested in one of two ways, wet harvest or dry harvest Most cranberries are wet harvested when the field is flooded, but a few are dry harvested with a mechanical picker, to be sold as fresh fruit When fields are going to be wet harvested, the field is flooded
How long do cranberry plants live?
Normally, growers do not replant each year since an undamaged cranberry vine will survive indefinitely Some vines on Cape Cod are more than 150 years old and are still bearing fruit