BLUEBERRY MANAGEMENT
The table below lists suggested blueberry management items for July. 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/publication/HS1363). Specific disease, insect, and weed
controls are listed in the 2022 Florida Blueberry IPM Guide (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS380), 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.
Remember to take a look at the UF/IFAS Blueberry Growers Guide phone app for field scouting tools, a
monthly management calendar, information on all of the UF southern highbush blueberry cultivars, and a
pesticides quick reference module (https://tosto.re/blueberryuf).
Disease
Scout for algal stem blotch. See UF EDIS Publication PP344, Algal Stem Blotch in Southern Highbush
Blueberry in Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/PP344). Monitor and manage leaf diseases.
See UF EDIS Publication PP348, Florida Blueberry Leaf Disease Guide
(https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/PP348). On farms managing bacterial wilt, continue monthly
through-irrigation or banded bed applications of a phosphorous acid product. See UF EDIS Publication
PP332, Bacterial Wilt of Southern Highbush Blueberry Caused by Ralstonia solanacearum
(https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/PP332).
Insect Pests
Scout for flea beetles, larval citrus root weevil (by pulling out dead or dying plants and examining the
roots and surrounding soil/bark), larval flatheaded borer, chilli thrips, and southern red mites and apply
suggested control measures if present. See UF EDIS Publications ENY999, Diaprepes Root Weevil on
Southern Highbush Blueberry in Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1241), ENY2053, Chilli
Thrips on Blueberries in Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1298), and ENY1006, Mite Pests
of Southern Highbush Blueberry in Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1284).
Weeds
Apply post-emergence herbicide if weeds are at densities that hinder bush growth.
Leaf Tissue Samples
Leaves should be collected for tissue nutrient analysis if not done during June. Select samples from fully
expanded leaves in the middle of a recent summer growth flush.
Scout for algal stem blotch. See UF EDIS Publication PP344, Algal Stem Blotch in Southern Highbush
Blueberry in Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/PP344). Monitor and manage leaf diseases.
See UF EDIS Publication PP348, Florida Blueberry Leaf Disease Guide
(https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/PP348). On farms managing bacterial wilt, continue monthly
through-irrigation or banded bed applications of a phosphorous acid product. See UF EDIS Publication
PP332, Bacterial Wilt of Southern Highbush Blueberry Caused by Ralstonia solanacearum
(https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/PP332).
Scout for flea beetles, larval citrus root weevil (by pulling out dead or dying plants and examining the
roots and surrounding soil/bark), larval flatheaded borer, chilli thrips, and southern red mites and apply
suggested control measures if present. See UF EDIS Publications ENY999, Diaprepes Root Weevil on
Southern Highbush Blueberry in Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1241), ENY2053, Chilli
Thrips on Blueberries in Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1298), and ENY1006, Mite Pests
of Southern Highbush Blueberry in Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN1284).
THIS MONTH’S BLOG POST
UPCOMING EVENTS
Summer Grower Meetings - Save the Date
July 15 - Polk County
July 17 - Lake County
July 19 - Hardee County
July 24 - Alachua County
To Register Visit
https://www.floridablueberrygrowers.org
