Feb

Blueberry Management

The table below lists suggested blueberry management items for February. 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.u.edu/publication/HS1363). Specic disease, insect, and weed controls are listed in the 2024 Florida Blueberry IPM Guide (https://edis.ifas.u.edu/publication/HS380), as well as in subject-specic 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 (available in both English and Spanish) for eld scouting tools, as well as information on all of the UF southern highbush blueberry cultivar, a monthly management calendar, and pesticide information (https://tosto.re/blueberryuf).

Disease

Monitor for Botrytis and control as needed. Applications of fungicides prior to a forecasted need for overhead irrigation as freeze protection can help reduce Botrytis severity on plants damaged by low temperature injury. See UF EDIS Publication PP198, Botrytis Blossom Blight of Southern Highbush Blueberry (https://edis.ifas.u.edu/publication/PP119). Apply suggested fungicides in rotation for control of anthracnose and/or Alternaria fruit rot at petal fall, 10-14 days after petal fall, 20-24 days after petal fall, and prior to harvest. 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

Continue to monitor for blueberry gall midge and spray suggested insecticides when adults are observed. If traps are not used, spray before oral and vegetative bud break, with a second spray approximately 7-10 days after the rst application, following label directions. See UF EDIS Publication ENY-2105, Management of the Blueberry Gall Midge on Southern Highbush Blueberries in Florida (https://edis.ifas.u.edu/publication/IN1414). Also scout for ower thrips and blueberry bud mites, and if observed use applicable control measures. See UF EDIS Publication HS1156, 2024 Florida Blueberry Integrated Pest Management Guide (https://edis.ifas.u.edu/publication/HS380) for detailed recommendations.

Weeds

Apply post-emergence herbicide if weeds are at densities that hinder bush growth.

Freeze Protection

Monitor forecasted and actual temperatures and utilize freeze protection strategies as needed. See UF EDIS publication HS968, Protecting Blueberries from Freezes in Florida (https://edis.ifas.u.edu/publication/HS216).

Managed Bees

Monitor health of colonies and watch for appropriate level of bee activity into and out of the hives and on the blueberry bushes. Consider adding additional hives if there is a heavy, concentrated bloom across the farm, competing crops or wild plants nearby blooming at the same time, or ongoing poor weather conditions (cold, windy, or overcast). See additional details in EDIS Publication ENY-172, Pollination Best Practices in Southern Highbush Blueberry in Florida (https://edis.ifas.u.edu/publication/IN1237) and EDIS Publication ENY-2110, A Guide to Selecting and Using Pesticides During the Blueberry Pollination Period: How Can We Reduce Risk to Pollinators? (https://edis.ifas.u.edu/publication/IN1429).

This month's blog post

Managing Flower Thrips on Blueberry in Florida