Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries

5.02.14 Mummy Berry Season has started

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Lincoln, Knox, Waldo Counties

Cups have been found in West Rockport, Liberty and Appleton this week.  The fungus was likely producing spores in fields in these areas.  We did have long enough leaf wetness for infection IF your plants were far enough along.  Reports vary by the area of whether or not the plants were at 40% of the flower buds at F2 (crown stage).  Please consider your own field development for whether you need to apply fungicides.  I expect with the warm weather today, Friday, and tomorrow, most fields will be at 40% F2 flower buds  or higher on Sunday when the next rain period is expected.

Most infection periods in these areas started the late evening on Thursday, May 1 (see table below).  For this last infection period, you have until Saturday evening, May 3 to apply fungicides (propiconazole or fenbuconazole) to kill off any infection that occurred in the last infection period.

If you are using Proline or other fungicides, you may want to apply them BEFORE the next infection period.  Many of these fungicides do not have much kickback activity, so you need to apply them as protectants.   Fungicides containing propiconazole and fenbuconazole, of course, can also be applied as protectants if that is more convenient for timing applications.

Hancock and Washington Counties

Cups have been found in Eastbrook/Waltham, Deblois, the barrens and Wesley. There was leaf wetness on Thursday night through Friday but most growers report their plants were not ready yet.  Many growers said their fields were closer to F1 than F2 with the cold weather.

I expect with the warm weather today, Friday, and tomorrow, more fields will be at 40% F2 flower buds on Sunday when the next rain period is expected.

If you have any questions please contact Seanna Annis. Telephone: 1.800.897.0757 (Maine only) or 207.581.2621, Email: sannis@maine.edu.