Production Feasibility Test for Lingonberries in Colorado

	Project Leader: Lori Discoe, Windsor, CO Technical Advisor: Cecil Stushnoff, CSU Professor of Plant Stress Physiology, Fort Collins, CO Project Year: 2005
photos from: www.paghat.com

Project Summary

The lingonberry, a member of the cranberry family, has been an important food source for thousands of years in the northern hemisphere. It is popular in Europe due to its tart, but sweet taste and its varied uses. Not only is it good as a jam, wine, tea or baked good, but it is also valued for its health benefits. It contains higher levels of antioxidants than cranberries or blueberries. These berries are not as well known in the United States, but research on them is developing in Alaska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington, and Oregon . Because of all of these attributes, lingonberries are a precious commodity to restaurants, bakeries, and small farm markets. The object of this study is to determine the potential of lingonberry introduction to Colorado agriculture as a cost-effective, successful new crop.

The two varieties of lingonberries that seemed most compatible with Colorado growing conditions and commercial production are the Red Pearl from Holland and the Balsgard from Sweden. They were also chosen for their vigorous growth and consistent fruit yields. The three areas of research will be: soil pH, light intensity, and over-wintering.

Soil pH

Three different soil mixtures will be tested. All will have ammonium sulfate as a nitrogen source.

•  Peat moss (10%), Pine bark (80%), Perlite (10%): This is currently used for blueberries, which require the same growing conditions as lingonberries.

•  Sawdust (10%), Pine bark (80%), Perlite (10%): Research says it is possible to substitute sawdust for peat moss, which would be more cost-effective.

•  Local Soil (10%), Pine bark (80%), Peat moss (10%): This is the control batch.

Light Intensity

The different soil batches will be put under different lighting conditions to find the ideal lighting. One third of each plant variety and soil type will be put under each of three different lighting structures. The rest will be under full sunlight.

•  Shade Cloth: 30%. This allows the chance to see if they are adapted to intense, high altitude sunlight.

•  Camouflage Net: Simulates being grown under trees as in their natural setting.

•  Natural Light: This is the control batch.

Over-Wintering

Lingonberries naturally grow above the Arctic Circle and require snow pack for insulation. Burlap covers will be used to simulate snow cover, exclude light, and provide higher humidity.

•  Burlap sack: Half of the plants will have only the sack and left in normal light conditions.

•  Burlap sack filled with straw: This will imitate additional snow pack for insulation and exclude more light.

These factors will help identify potential limiting production factors and determine the viability on growing lingonberries in Colorado.

Project Results

Based on an earlier individual test of growing lingonberries, the original matrix that was set up for the experiment was altered by eliminating testing variables already suspected to be problematic. One of the testing variables that will be excluded from the experiment is the light intensity factor.

144 plants were ordered, 72 of each variety. Three of each variety were planted at Crystal Lake where the pH is the lowest in the area (6.0). One of each variety was planted in soil from the previous individual experiment. Half of the remaining count of each variety was put in a mix of perlite, peat moss, and pine bark in 5 gallon pots. The other half was put in a mixture of perlite, peat moss, and sawdust, which were also planted in 5 gallon pots. All plants were fed ammonium sulfate and MiracleGro over the summer. The plants were kept in a three-sided shed with translucent roofing, so they got direct sunlight only in the morning. Both varieties thrived. The Red Pearl grew much bigger, but the Balsgard produced more berries. The Balsgard plants in the pine bark soil produced more than the plants in the sawdust. Higher berry production is expected in the following seasons.

Click here for the full text of the 2005 Annual Report (Word document).