BLUEBERRY MANAGEMENT
The table below lists suggested blueberry management items for August. 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), 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 pre-emergence herbicide if summer rainfall has been heavy. Apply post-emergence herbicide if
weeds are at densities that hinder bush growth.
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), 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
FBGA Fall Meeting - Save the Date
October 24, 2024
Bonnett Springs Park,
Lakeland, Florida
