Lingonberry

Lingonberry bushes are really outdoor plants, but when they are young they make decorative pot plants in a cool room. Their tart berries ripen around Christmas time and are delicious with turkey, game and cheese. Outdoors their fast low growing evergreen foliage makes them suitable for rock and herb gardens as well as patio containers and window boxes.

While the plant is indoors, keep it as cool as you can and make sure there is plenty of natural light but not direct sunlight. An East or West facing window is ideal but after a few weeks indoors it should be moved outside.

Keep your Lingonberry plant well watered, ideally with rain water - The compost should feel wet to touch.

To encourage healthy growth your plant can be re-potted in the spring in a larger pot or outside in a sheltered spot. Lingonberry plants like acid soil, so choose compost suitable for rhododendrons and heathers and other acid-loving plants.

The berries are ripe when they are a deep red all over and taste very similar to Cranberries. Although they are very tart raw, they are packed full of vitamin C and make a lovely jam or sauce with a bit of sugar. Try them dropped whole into the Christmas gravy or winter stews. Older plants are very hardy but young plants should be protected from severe frost this winter.