The Taming of the Berries
Cultivation of cranberries began in Massachusetts nearly 200 years after the landing of the Pilgrims. In 1816 Henry Hall of Dennis, Cape Cod, noticed that cranberries seemed to grow larger and juicier where sand from the dunes blew over the vines. Cultivation today came from this simple observation made more than 150 years ago.
Cranberries grow on peat soil that has been covered with a three inch layer of sand. Cuttings or branches from existing cranberry vines are planted deep enough to take root in the peat soil beneath the sand. The vines, planted about six inches apart, gradually spread over the ground forming a thick green carpet. The vines are weeded in the spring, pruned in the fall, fertilized and resanded every three or four years. Vines are protected from frost by flooding and irrigated in time of drought.
Birds are needed to control the insects. Bees pollinate the blossoms.
Cranberries were first picked by hand then by wooden fingered scoops which combed the berries from the vines. Since World War II, the scoops have been replaced by mechanical pickers which complete the harvest faster and cut down risk of frost damage.
