Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries

5.11.13 Mummy Berry Forecast, May 11, Another Infection period

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As you may have guessed, there was another infection period in all of our monitored sites overnight (from Friday, May 10) and there will be another one today and into tomorrow (Sunday, May 12) morning.

The good news for more southern fields in Knox and Lincoln counties is that I suspect the mummy berry cups are finished or just about.  Unfortunately, I do not have a grower monitoring a mummy berry plot that far south so this is my best estimate considering the reports from other areas.  If you have a late field around West Rockport area you may have experienced an infection period.

The rest of the monitored fields still have reports of mature cups so they do have the fungus around and are likely to have had another infection period overnight.   I expect we are near the end of the season and the warm dry weather next week will finish off the cups.

Remember your plants are susceptible even if the leaves are unfurled and flowers are starting to appear.

For this last infection period, if you have applied fungicide on or after Wednesday, May 1, your plants were protected during the infection period last night.  If you have not applied fungicides, you have until Monday, May 13 in the evening (depending upon the field) to apply fungicides to kill any infection.

I would like to hear from anyone with a mummy berry plot, to know if their mummies are still producing cups or finished. Please call 207.581.2621 or send me an email at sannis@maine.edu.

If you have any questions, please contact Seanna Annis at sannis@maine.edu, or 581.2621.