Suggested Blueberry Management Items for April

The table below lists suggested blueberry management items for April. Suggested management items for the entire calendar year are available in an EDIS publication, Calendar for Southern Highbush Blueberry Management in Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/HS/HS136300.pdf).

Specific disease, insect, and weed controls are listed in the 2019 Florida Blueberry IPM Guide(http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/hs/hs38000.pdf), as well as in subject-specific publications referenced below. Also, a list of all UF EDIS blueberry publications can be found at www.blueberrybreeding.com/blog, along with a summary description and link to each.

 

Doug Phillips

UF Blueberry Extension Coordinator 

 

Disease

Apply recommended fungicides in rotation for control of anthracnose and/or Alternaria fruit rot; promptly harvest and cool ripe fruit. One tool growers may consider in timing spray applications is the Blueberry Advisory System (BAS) at www.agroclimate.org/BAS, which indicates when weather conditions are favorable for the development of anthracnose fruit rot.

Insect Pests

Monitor for gall midge and flower thrips and control as needed. Spray recommended insecticides to control spotted wing drosophila (SWD), and promptly harvest ripe fruit. If living north of Lake City and there is a history of blueberry maggot, establish yellow sticky traps to monitor for blueberry maggot adults. Also, in infested areas, start scouting for adult Diaprepes (citrus) root weevils, and adult flatheaded borers on the blueberry foliage. No pesticide is labeled in blueberry for citrus root weevil and flatheaded borer; however, some of the cover sprays for spotted wing drosophila will control these pests. See UF EDIS Publication ENY999, Diaprepes Root Weevil on Southern Highbush Blueberry in Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN124100.pdf). 

Post-harvest, spray to control blueberry bud mite if present or observed in prior season.

Weeds

Apply post-emergence herbicide if weeds are at densities that hinder bush growth. See UF EDIS Publication HS90, Weed Management in Blueberry (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/WG/WG01600.pdf).

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