4.29.18 Possible Mummy Berry Infection period in Midcoast, April 29
Midcoast Area
Another possible infection period occurred overnight from Sunday, April 28 to Monday, April 29. Cups have been reported in Liberty and Waldoboro earlier last week and pinheads were reported at Searsport and Hope on Saturday, April 28. The stems were approximately 30% F2 in Hope and Searsport on Saturday, April 28. I expect with the warm weather on Sunday that the flowers are farther along and some of the pinheads are now cups. Please check your plants to see if they are at the stage of approximately 40% F2. Please let me know what you find with your plants.
| Location | Start of infection period | Mummy berry cups |
| Waldoboro | April 29, 3:50 p.m. | cups |
| West Rockport | April 29, 5:50 p.m. | not seen |
| Hope | April 29, 9:40 p.m. | April 28, pinheads, probably now cups |
| Searsport | April 29, 8:40 p.m. | April 28, pinheads, probably now cups |
| Monteville | not working | no plot |
The next rain is forecast for later this week with some chance of rain from Wednesday night to Friday. You can apply fungicides as a protective application before an infection period, but should still consider if your plants have enough exposed tissue. If you do think you have had an infection period over Sunday night and you are going to apply a fungicide with some kickback activity (propiconazole or fenbuconazole), you can apply your fungicide in approximately 72 hours of the start of the infection period. For this potential infection period on Sunday night, you would have until approximately Wednesday, May 2.
Please see the 2018 fungicide recommendations on the Fact Sheet 219 – Disease Control Guide for Wild Blueberries and check with your buyer before applying any fungicides to your crop.
– Seanna Annis