The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) has issued management strategies that blueberry growers should implement for April.
Diseases
For disease management, producers should apply suggested fungicides in rotation for control of disease threats like anthracnose and/or Alternaria fruit rot. Prompt harvests and cooling of ripe fruit is also important.
One tool that growers should also consider is the Blueberry Advisory System (www.agroclimate.org/BAS). It indicates when weather conditions are favorable for anthracnose fruit rot development.
Insects
Insect control is also critical. Producers and scouts should be monitoring for gall midge and flower thrips, and apply insecticides when needed. Sprays should be applied for control of spotted wing drosophila. Farmers who live north of Lake City and have a history of blueberry maggot in their fields should establish yellow sticky traps to monitor for maggot adults.
In infested areas, start scouting for adult Diaprepes root weevils and adult flatheaded borers on blueberry foliage. While there is not a pesticide labeled in blueberry for citrus root weevil and flatheaded borer, some cover sprays for spotted wing drosophila will control the pests.
Weeds
To achieve weed control, growers should apply a postemergence herbicide if weeds are at densities that can hinder bush growth. Be sure to read preemergence herbicide labels because they have longer preharvest intervals than many of the postemergence herbicides.