ABSTRACT
Cranberry flowers are borne on short vertical branches, called uprights, which arise from long trailing stems or runners that form an intertwining mat of stems over the surface of a bog (Figure 1). Mixed buds capable of producing both a flower and a vegetative structure are formed terminally on the uprights and are differentiated during the late summer or fall prior to the dormant season. 1 No visible bud growth occurs during the winter, but growth resumes at a rapid rate in the spring following removal of the winter flood. In areas not having severe winters winter flooding is not practiced, and some bud development probably does occur during the winter months. Each bud may contain two to five flowers, rarely more than five, as well as leaves and a growing point. A prolonged flowering period commencing in mid June and lasting into July is followed by a 2-month harvest period starting in September. Cranberry blossoms may open fully (Figure 2) in less than 2 hr and are generally pollinated by bees. Most of the fruit is borne on these uprights (Figure 3), although some varieties under certain conditions may produce a part of their crop on runners. 2
