Cranberries, Bog Gardening and Ericaceous Compost

[ocailleagh]

I have a small cranberry plant that is currently looking very sad sat in a little pot all alone. I'd like to put it in the ground and maybe get a couple more and some blueberry plants but I really don't want to buy a bunch of peat or ericaceous compost. I'm thinking a a small bog garden could be ideal as is will be nice and wet and acidic-so good for the cranberries-and attractive to some wildlife. Or would it not work that way? I know cranberries tend to grow in bogs in the wild, but would an artificial bog not be the same?
Alternatively, how would I go about making my own ericaceous compost? I have two new compost bins so thought I could set one aside for having a go at it.

[eva]

I might suggest using a typical ratio of green/brown in your ericaceous compost bin, but use only pine or fir needles for the brown, plus maybe some peat just to get you started. Maybe it would serve you well to water your boggy spot with a teaspoon or two of vinegar per gallon or so of water, too? That's all speculation. Not sure if it would be overkill. Good luck!

[marshlander]

Have you done a ph test of your existing soil? It may already be acid enough

[Odsox]

Off the top of my head I would have said that home made compost would be naturally acid, unless you add eggshells or similar.

[Birdie Wife]

Composted pine needles or bracken will be naturally acidic but be aware that the acidity will mean that it takes longer to break down than normal compost )arount two years. You can also get sulphate of something-or-other (sorry!!) which is a specific fertiliser for ericaceous plants.

[DominicJ]

Isnt chicken poo acidic?

[Odsox]

Isnt chicken poo acidic?

Dunno, does it taste sour ?