How, When and Why of Forest Farming Website

Lingonberry

General
Common NameLingonberry
Latin NameVaccinium vitis-idaea, Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. ssp. minus (Lodd.) Hultén
CategoryFruits 
FamilyVaccinium 
Variety 
Visual Traits
Flowerspring, lasting less than one month
No Citation Available
Foliage/Fall leaf colorevergreen, purple in fall
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Fruitbright to dark red, globose; ripens 2-3months after full bloom
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Height2-6in
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Spreadcreeping shrub
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Cultivation
Cultivation and Mulchingbees and bee flies; self or cross-pollination; yields better with cross-pollination
No Citation Available
Harvestbitter before frost exposure; hand-harvest with comb-sieves or rakes
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Pollinationmulch, milled peat; yield increased with reduced competition
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Propagation methodtissue culture, seed, stem or rhizome cuttings, divisions
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Seed treatment and storagecold stratification up to 5mos at 32-42ºF; germinate within 2weeks-2months after exposure to warm temps in light or dark
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Softwood cuttingslate June to early July; root in peat-perlite mix
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Sowing seedbest results if seeds are immediately sown upon harvest; or sow
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Transplantearly spring or fall; must protect new transplants against frost-heaving; success of tranplant divisions varies 30-90%
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Watering guidelinesrequire even supply of moisture
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Soils
Fertility / qualitylow fertility, high organic matter
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Mineralslow calcium
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Moisture and drainagetolerates wet and dry sites
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pH4-4.9 (6)
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Soils and topographyrocky ledges, barrens, bogs, moist to dry coniferous woods; prefers peat over mineral soils
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Growth Pattern
Fruit bearing age / full crop load3-4y / 5-10y
No Citation Available
Growth rateslow
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Root habitvariable, fibrous and shallow to long taproot; spread via rhizomes
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Habitat and Climate
Exposurenative to exposed sites in warmer part of range; south-facing rock crevices in colder climates
No Citation Available
Fire tolerancevery tolerant
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Hardiness Zone5
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Native RangeNorth America, Eurasia, Japan
No Citation Available
Rainfall / humidity8-12" in native range
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Wind / ice / frost susceptibilitytemperatures below 26-30°F may destroy 50% flowers, buds, unripe fruit, or kill exposed plants
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Light
Light recommendationfull sun
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Shade tolerancetolerant; fruit-set variable in shaded systems across range
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Vegetation Associations
Competitive abilitycompetive in early and mid-successional stages; weak competitor in established systems
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Special Notes
Note 1plant 90% preferred variety with 10% second choice
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