Grower's Guide - Viburnum trilobum

	Viburnum trilobum- Highbush Cranberry Grower Guide
	Introduction Highbush cranberry (Viburnum trilobum) is shrub native to much of Canada, and was once used extensively by the Natives and Settlers. Its popularity is growing again with a increased interest in native prairie fruits. Highbush cranberry, although frequently used in landscaping and reclamation projects, is not commonly cultivated in an orchard setting. This guide attempts to outline the important aspects of commerical production of highbush cranberry on the Canadian prairies. Use the links on the left to get to the various sections of this page. Back to top Hardiness Highbush cranberry is native across Canada, from B.C. to New Brunswick and north to Alaska. Hardy to zone 0a, highbush cranberry will survive across the prairies. For more information on hardiness zones see the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada site, Plant Hardiness Zones in Canada Back to top Spacing The mature height and spread of V. trilobum is 2 to 3 m (6.5 to 10 ft). Space the plants 2 to 2.5 m (6.5 to 8 ft) apart for maximum yield and ease of harvest. A minimum of 4 m (13 ft) between rows is recommended. Ensure row spacing will allow for easy tractor and implement access if such equipment is to be used. Back to top Soil Viburnum trilobum is native to shady and damp forested areas, and performs best in moist, slightly acidic soil. Well drained, moisture holding soils such as loam and silt loam are ideal for highbush cranberry cultivation. Because of its shallow roots and water requirement, highbush cranberry will do poorly on sandy soils without irrigation. Saline soils are also not suitable. A soil pH of 6.0 to 7.5 is ideal. Back to top Fertility Specific nutrient requirements for highbush cranberry are not known. Most prairie soils are fertile enough to maintain an orchard for several years. However, older stands, and plantings in poorer soils will benefit from some added fertilizer. Broadcasting 5-10-5 at a rate of 9.8 kg/100m2 in early spring is recommended, but growers should monitor plant growth and performance to determine additional requirements. Pale, yellow, or stunted leaves, short shoot growth, and reduced flowering/fruit set indicate the need to fertilize. Excessive nitrogen fertilzer leads to lush growth with larger, lighter green leaves, and reduced flower/fruit production. Back to top Irrigation Highbush cranberry is not drought tolerant, and its shallow rooting habit makes it susceptible to damage under prolonged drought. Specific water requirements are not known for highbush cranberry, but it is estimated that mature orchards require 2.5 cm (1 inch) of water per week during the growing season for maximum yield. In some areas rainfall will be sufficient, but many prairie orchards will need supplemental irrigation. Heavy clay soils hold large reserves of water, and plants growing on such soil may not need supplemental water. Irrigation is highly recommended during establishment, as young plants are more likely to be damaged by drought. Avoid water stress during leaf expansion, flowering, fruit set, and fruit enlargement to ensure good yields. Limit irrigation after August to allow time for hardening off. Back to top Weed Control Weeds will compete for water and nutrients, and must be controlled, especially during establishment. Eliminate major weed infestations before planting; control is more difficult once plants are in the ground Shallow tillage (5-8 cm deep) is effective weed control after planting, but care must be taken not to damage the shallow roots. Hand weeding around newly planted shrubs is recommended to prevent root damage. No herbicides are registered for use on highbush cranberry. Back to top Mulch Mulching helps maintain soil moisture and reduce weed pressure, and should be applied following planting. Organic mulches such as wood chips, shredded bark, and sawdust are readily available and should be applied 10-20 cm deep. Prevent insect and rodent damage by keeping mulch 20-30 cm away from plant stems. The use of ‘living mulches’ (ie. grass or other ground cover) is not recommended for highbush cranberry, as they compete with the crops’ shallow roots for available water and nutrients. Back to top Windbreaks Windbreaks are recommended for all types of fruit production on the prairies. Blocking prevailing winds will help prevent desiccation during winter months, and reduce water requirements during the growing season. For information on windbreak planning and establishment refer to the PFRA Shelterbelt Centre Back to top Harvesting Fruiting will begin two to three years after planting, with full production by the fourth or fifth year. Depending on the cultivar fruit will mature from September to early October. Harvest fruit destined for processing while slightly under-ripe and before a frost. At this time the pectin levels are at their highest, and the characteristic odour of the fruit is not as strong. After a frost the fruit becomes softer and more palatable for fresh consumption, but it takes on an odour during cooking to which many find disagreeable. Little information is available on yield per plant, and mechanical harvest options have not been studied. Back to top Pruning Little pruning is required for highbush cranberry, but older plants will benefit from light renewal pruning. Annual removal of the oldest stems at ground level encourages new growth from the roots and helps maintain vigorous shrubs and maximum yields. Avoid heading back stems or leaving stumps, as this will disfigure the plant, promote weak growth, and provide pathogen entry points. Pruning can be done in early spring prior to bud break, or immediately following flowering. Damaged or diseased branches should be removed throughout the year. Back to top Pests and Disease Several diseases appear on highbush cranberry, but if carefully controlled the affects are usually minimal. Below is a list of the common diseases on the prairies and effective control methods. There are no chemicals registered for use on highbush cranberry. *Bacterial Leaf Spot (Pseudomonas viburni)* Symptoms: Water soaked spots on leaves Small cankers on young stems Control: Prune below infected stems, and remove and burn all infected material. Sterilize pruning equipment between cuts with 10% bleach solution to avoid spreading the bacteria. *Crown Gall (Agrobacterium tumefaciens)* Symptoms: Appearance of round galls on stems and roots near the soil surface. Young galls are small and whitish. Older galls are black-brown, and may girdle the stem. Control: The bacteria need recent wounds on the plant to for entry. Cultivate field shallowly to prevent damage to roots. Inspect plants prior to planting. Discard infected plants. Sterilize pruning equipment between cuts with 10% bleach solution to avoid spreading the bacteria. *Powdery Mildew (Microsphaera alni)* Symptoms: Common disease on highbush cranberry. White/grey powdery areas on leaves and young shoots. Severe infestations will lead to deformed leaves and premature leaf drop. Usually occurs late in the season. Control: Not usually serious because of its development late in the season. No chemical are registered for use on highbush cranberry, although the fungus is easily controlled this way on other crops. Few insects are serious pests to highbush cranberry. Although major damage to the plants is rare, reductions in yield result from insect infestations. Thrips, aphids, and sawflies occasionally cause some damage, mainly to the foliage. Cankerworms and the tarnished plant bug damage the flowers and developing fruit, but only the tarnished plant bug poses any real economic losses on the prairies. *Tarnished Plant Bug (Lygus lineolaris)* The tarnished plant bug is approximately 6 mm long and 3 mm wide, light to dark brown with some mottling to the wings, and has an obvious triangle or V one third of the way down its back. Both the antennae and legs are very long. The nymphs when young are similar in appearance to aphids, but are more active and have developing wing pads. Both adults and nymphs have large piercing sucking mouthparts. Symptoms: Brown spots on buds, flowers, young fruits, and young shoots. Malformed fruit. Berries may drop, leaving clusters sparse. Malformed leaves and new growth. Control: Eliminate breeding areas by keeping weeds down and mowing all grassy areas. Alfalfa and canola may often have problems with tarnished plant bug. Prevent these crops from growing near the orchard. There are no registered chemicals for insect control on highbush cranberry. Back to top Pollination Highbush cranberries are cross pollinating. If growing wild selections (ie. plants collected from native stands) the shrubs will be genetically varied enough to pollinate each other. However, if growing specific cultivars, every tenth plant in each row should be a different variety to ensure maximum pollination. Back to top Fruit use and Quality The fruit of highbush cranberry are mainly used in processing. The berries are very high in pectin and produce a brilliant coloured and very clear jelly. They can also be used for jams, sauces, liqueurs, and juice. Berries for processing are best picked slightly under ripe and before a frost. Pectin level decline after a frost, and the characteristic odour of the berries increases. Each fruit has a single large seed in the centre, which limits its use as a fresh or whole berry product. Cool the fruit quickly after harvest. If it is not going to be used immediately, store at 4°C. Highbush cranberries are very tender and will not keep for long periods of time once removed from the bush. Here are some recipes that you may want to pass on to your customers. Highbush Cranberry Jelly 1000 mL (4 cups) highbush cranberries 500 mL (2 cups) water 500 mL (2 cups) sugar Wash and stem the berries and place in a saucepan with the water. Simmer, covered for 10 minutes or until all the berries have burst open. Strain out the juice and return juice to the saucepan. Add sugar and bring to a vigorous boil, stirring constantly for 5 minutes or until the mixture falls in a sheet from the spoon. Pour into sterilized jars and seal with paraffin. Adapted from PFRA Shelterbelt Publication Highbush Cranberry Sauce 1000 mL (4 cups) highbush cranberries 50 mL (1/4 cup) water 15 mL (1 tbsp) gelatin 250 mL (1 cup) sugar Wash and stem the berries and place in a saucepan with the water. Simmer, covered for 10 minutes or until all the berries have burst open. Strain out the juice and return juice to the saucepan. While the juice is hot, add sugar and gelatin and stir until dissolved. Cool and serve as a sauce with meat and wild game. Adapted from PFRA Shelterbelt Publication Back to top Markets The fruit of highbush cranberry is not widely known across the prairies. Native fruits are becoming more popular throughout Canada, and the market for highbush cranberry could increase as a result. The largest market potentials exist with processed products, primarily jam and jelly. The fresh fruit market is limited; the fruit is very tart and has a slight odour. Highbush cranberry is suited for a pick-your-own operation. Back to top Varieties Several varieties, selected from wild population, exist for highbush cranberry. However, extensive variety testing has not been done, so limited information is available. The following is a list of some varieties selected for fruit characteristics. Others may be found in nurseries. Andrews. Compact growth habit. Large, late maturing fruit. Hahs. Vigorous and highly productive. Fruit is medium sized and is high in pectin. Wentworth. Vigorous growth. Large clusters of early maturing fruit Manitou. Large fruit. Phillips. Large fruit. Less odour than other varieties. Back to top More Information Information on highbush cranberry Highbush Cranberry Fruit bearing shrubs for multi-use shelterbelts and orchards (PFRA Shelterbelt Publication) Littleflower’s Medicinal Plants Interesting history and uses for highbush cranberry Manitoba Agriculture and Food Fruit Guide Has information on many fruit crops for prairie production, including highbush cranberry. General Information/Information on other fruit Fruit bearing shrubs for multi-use shelterbelts and orchards (PFRA Shelterbelt Publication) Fruit Growers Society of Alberta Native Fruit Development Program at the University of Saskatchewan Plant Hardiness Zones in Canada Prairie Fruit Growers Association Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration (PFRA) Saskatchewan Fruit Growers Association Back to top Photo Credits All Photos on this page used with permission from: Two Rainyside Gardeners http://www.rainyside.com References Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 1999. PFRA Shelterbelt Publication - Fruit bearing shrubs for multi-use shelterbelts and orchards. Online: http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/shbpub/fruitshr.htm. Accessed: 02/Dec/2002. Ball, J. 1987. Influence of fall planting dates on the survival and growth of Taxus, Thuja, and Viburnum species. Hortscience 22(6):1289-1290. Knowles, H. 1989. Woody Ornamentals for the Prairies. University of Alberta Lazorko, Marilynn. Personal communication. Manitoba Agriculture and Food. 2000. Manitoba Agriculture and Food Fruit Guide. Perrault, D. 1993. Final report wild highbush cranberry products. Project # F-90FP-0028. Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food. Phillip, H. and Ernest Mengersen. 1989 Insect Pests of the Prairies. University of Alberta, Faculty of Extention. St-Pierre, R.G. The Development of Native Fruit Species as Horticultural Crops in Saskatchewan. Hortscience 27(8):866,947. Zatylny, A., and R. St-Pierre. 1998. Unpublished data.

	The information in this Growers Guide was compiled by William Hrycan for PLSC 441.3 Advanced Fruit Growing class, at the University of Saskatchewan Page was created December 2002