Growing Cranberries from Seed

[KevinM67]

I just got some seeds delivered from Amazon today.

They are honestly the smallest seeds I have seen.

Anyway, the instructions state to sow them in seeding compost then store them at a temperature of 5 degrees centrigrade (i. e. Fridge) for 90 days !!

After that, introduce them to a warmer environment - then pot on in erraceous soil, and finally plant outdoors when approx. 6 inches tall.

Apparently they don't fruit until about 3/4 years old.

Has anyone ever tried growing them from seed ? - I would hate to go through with it if the results are hit and miss.

[WendyC]

Never grown them myself, but an allotment neighbour grows them successfully in his fruit cage. He had one plant but they seem to sucker quite freely so has a good bed of them now after only a couple of years.
From seed I think you will need more patience. When you say they are very small how big are they? One website says they are about the size of a pinhead. The smallest seed I can think of is lobelia, it's like dust.

[veggiechicken]

I started some from supermarket fruit http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ies_62348.html
They were teeny little seedlings, growing in a seed tray. Think I threw them out by mistake

[MarkHackwell]

I have not tried them but I know I wouldn't have the patience :L 3 to 4 years for some cranberries :O Think i would rather go and buy a cranberry bush instead :P

[Kristen]

Anyway, the instructions state to sow them in seeding compost then store them at a temperature of 5 degrees centrigrade (i. e. Fridge) for 90 days

I grow quite a lot of ornamentals that need "stratification" before they will germinate - simulating winter cold which breaks down the germination inhibiting chemicals, which then allow the seed to grow.

Apart from the fact that the seed you have is tiny, I put a small quantity (a teaspoon) of slightly-damp Vermiculite, mixed with the seed, into the smallest zip-lock bag that will fit (to keep vermiculite and seed in contact with each other) and put that in the fridge. I then put that at the correct temperature until the seeds germinate (some need to go back in the fridge a second time / for a second "winter") and then I prick them out into small (1" square or smaller) modules to then produce seed leaves and grow on.

With the tiny seed you have that won't work quite like that - you won't be able to see germination happening until its too late (the seed will have used up all its energy before you can see that it has germinated).

A route might be to mix it with some damp (definitely not "wet") sand, put in zip-lock bag then sow sand + seed onto the surface of a normal seed compost.

Plan B would be nature's way, sow it in a pot, cover the pot (so animals etc. don't scrabble in it - a plastic bag might do, or some very fine metal gauze / mesh) and put it outside where it will get frosted.

[KevinM67]

I started some from supermarket fruit http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ies_62348.html
They were teeny little seedlings, growing in a seed tray.

I read through that thread - it was really interesting....

Think I threw them out by mistake

... bit of an anti-climax though.

[KevinM67]

Cheers Kristen,

They've came in a little zip-lock bag - so, I think I'll try the damp sand method (as it will save me getting grief from the better half by putting seeding compost in the fridge).

[KevinM67]

I have not tried them but I know I wouldn't have the patience :L 3 to 4 years for some cranberries :O Think i would rather go and buy a cranberry bush instead :P

Sorry Mark - I missed your reply before as I got diverted by VC's link to a previous thread.

Yes, for my allotment I think I will stump up the cash for a couple of established plants to go in amongst my blueberries.

However, I'm going to persevere with the 'growing from seeds' - mainly to see if it's possible, and if any are a success, then they can be kept in pots at the house.