Cooperative Extension: Maine Wild Blueberries

5.16.20 Cold temperatures May 14th to May 15th and Monilinia infection overnight from May 15th to May 16th

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There were conditions for Monilinia infection overnight from Friday May 15th to  Saturday May 16th.  There were still active cups in fields reported from Midcoast and Downeast areas.  I suspect all weather station locations may have had a Monilinia infection. Please keep an eye on your mummy berry plots and let me know what they are doing.  I suspect we should be getting close to the end of mummy berry season and hopefully the cups will be finished by the next wet weather which is forecast for the end of next week.

We also had cold temperatures (close to 32F or below) in some locations on the night of May 14th to May 15th.  This may affect some plant development depending upon how far along the plants are in your fields.

If you have applied fungicide after May 8th, your field was protected during this infection period.  If you have not applied fungicides,  you can apply propiconazole or fenbuconazole before May 18th evening, you are likely to decrease the infection in your field.

Please check with your processor before applying fungicides and follow the fungicide recommendations for 2020.  You can find the “Disease Management Chart 2020” on this website https://extension.umaine.edu/blueberries/factsheets/disease-2/