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

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/

Location Hours at Cold Temperatures overnight May 14th to May 15th Monilinia infection period May 15th to May 16th
Brunswick 3.5 8:50pm
Waldoboro none 5:40pm
West Rockport none 5:50pm
Hope/Appleton none 5:50pm
Searsport none 7:30pm
Bluehill 3 7:50pm
Ellsworth/Hancock none 7:40pm
Aurora 5.5 8:10pm
Eastbrook 3.5 8:20pm
Gouldsboro 4.5 7pm
Deblois/Airport 4.5 8:10pm
Montegail none 8:50pm
Jonesboro none 8:15pm
Whiting 7 midnight
Crawford/Love Lake none 8:00 PM