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
Foliage/Fall leaf colorevergreen, purple in fall
Fruitbright to dark red, globose; ripens 2-3months after full bloom
Height2-6in
Spreadcreeping shrub
Cultivation
Cultivation and Mulchingbees and bee flies; self or cross-pollination; yields better with cross-pollination
Harvestbitter before frost exposure; hand-harvest with comb-sieves or rakes
Pollinationmulch, milled peat; yield increased with reduced competition
Propagation methodtissue culture, seed, stem or rhizome cuttings, divisions
Seed treatment and storagecold stratification up to 5mos at 32-42ºF; germinate within 2weeks-2months after exposure to warm temps in light or dark
Softwood cuttingslate June to early July; root in peat-perlite mix
Sowing seedbest results if seeds are immediately sown upon harvest; or sow
Transplantearly spring or fall; must protect new transplants against frost-heaving; success of tranplant divisions varies 30-90%
Watering guidelinesrequire even supply of moisture
Soils
Fertility / qualitylow fertility, high organic matter
Mineralslow calcium
Moisture and drainagetolerates wet and dry sites
pH4-4.9 (6)
Soils and topographyrocky ledges, barrens, bogs, moist to dry coniferous woods; prefers peat over mineral soils
Growth Pattern
Fruit bearing age / full crop load3-4y / 5-10y
Growth rateslow
Root habitvariable, fibrous and shallow to long taproot; spread via rhizomes
Habitat and Climate
Exposurenative to exposed sites in warmer part of range; south-facing rock crevices in colder climates
Fire tolerancevery tolerant
Hardiness Zone5
Native RangeNorth America, Eurasia, Japan
Rainfall / humidity8-12" in native range
Wind / ice / frost susceptibilitytemperatures below 26-30°F may destroy 50% flowers, buds, unripe fruit, or kill exposed plants
Light
Light recommendationfull sun
Shade tolerancetolerant; fruit-set variable in shaded systems across range
Vegetation Associations
Competitive abilitycompetive in early and mid-successional stages; weak competitor in established systems
Special Notes
Note 1plant 90% preferred variety with 10% second choice