Organic Fertilizers for Cranberries

Bed Preparation

• Cranberries require an organic bed with several inches of sand laid over it for growing. University of Maine Cooperative Extension recommends peat, clay or heavily packed topsoil in a 4- to 5-inch layer, with 4 inches of sand on top. The bottom layer supplies moisture retention and nutrition during growth.

Nutrition

• Cranberries do not require a high level of organic matter or nutrition in their soil. They do require small amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium.

Organic Fertilizer

• Organic fertilizer is valuable for cranberries in that it is not overwhelmingly strong and won't burn or shock the cranberries. Gardeners should use standard, balanced organic fertilizer to provide nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. Fish fertilizer is an organic option for the ammonium form of nitrogen that cranberries prefer.

Fertilizer Schedule

• Cranberries require feeding with fertilizer applications at blooming and then again when the fruit begins to appear.