BLUEBERRY CULTIVATION

Blueberry Bush Diseases and Their Management

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• Blueberry bushes are known for being strong and resistant to many diseases, but they can still get sick from bacteria, fungi, and insects. To keep them healthy, it's important to create the best growing conditions.
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• Optimal Conditions for Blueberries
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• - Soil: Use well-drained, acidic soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.6, and add plenty of organic matter.
• - Watering: Give 1 to 2 inches of water each week, but avoid waterlogging the roots.
• - Mulching: Add 4 to 6 inches of mulch to keep moisture in and control weeds.
• - Nitrogen: Test the soil every year and add nitrogen if needed.
• - Pruning: Cut away any dead or damaged branches during the dormant season.
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• Blueberry Fungal Diseases
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• Lost Coast Plant Therapy can kill fungal spores on contact, stopping infections. It also changes the pH of the plant surface, making it hard for fungi to grow. You can harvest crops the next day.
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• Traditionally, copper sprays have been used to treat these diseases, but copper can be harmful to plants, humans, and soil life at low levels. It also requires a long wait between spraying and harvesting.
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• Peppermint and soy oils in Lost Coast Plant Therapy are good alternatives to oil sprays. This method combines fungicidal and insecticidal treatments into one cost-effective solution that is biodegradable and environmentally friendly.
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• Lost Coast Plant Therapy is made with high-quality food grade organic ingredients and can be found at lostcoastplanttherapy.nz.
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• Anthracnose Ripe Rot

• Overview: This serious disease is caused by the fungus *Colletotrichum acutatum*, which thrives in hot, humid weather and can survive on infected stems through winter.
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• Symptoms:
• - Deformed Berries: Berries may have carvings on their skin.
• - Gray Mold: Gray mold on fruit is a sign of infection.
• - Infected Berries: Affected berries feel watery and can break easily.
• - Leaf Scar: Infected bushes may show leaf scars.
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• Blossom infections may not show symptoms at first, but as the fruit ripens, wilting and browning may occur. This disease mainly affects ripe berries.
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• Impact on Yield: While anthracnose ripe rot can reduce fruit yields, it usually doesn't harm the plant's overall health. Signs include rust-colored berries and fruit rot.
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• Prevention Strategies: Choose resistant varieties if possible. If not, regularly prune old growth to control the fungus.
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• Management Recommendations: If infected, use Lost Coast Plant Therapy, a broad-spectrum fungicide, at the start of the growing season and continue biweekly.
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• Armillaria Root Rot
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• This disease, caused by *Armillaria mellea*, weakens the trunk and causes wood decay. The fungus can live in debris and roots for a long time and can spread to new bushes nearby. Lost Coast Plant Therapy can protect new plants from infection.
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• Signs:
• - Yellowish, small leaves.
• - Dead stems at the top of the bush.
• - Yellow mushrooms at the base in fall.
• - White fungal growth on wood.
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• Management Strategies:
• - Protect nearby plants with plastic sheets.
• - Water frequently during dry spells.
• - Keep drip irrigation away from the plant's crown.
• - Remove and destroy severely infected plants.
• - Soil fumigation can help; remove roots larger than 1 inch and cover the area with plastic after fumigation.
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• Prevention Measures: If a plant is infected, remove it to stop the spread. Clear all roots and stumps of infected trees and keep the soil bare for one to three years. Using Lost Coast Plant Therapy as a soil drench can help prevent the disease.
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• Botrytis Blight

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• Also known as gray mold, this disease is caused by the fungus *Botrytis cinerea* and usually affects blueberries in cool, moist spring weather.
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• Signs: Abnormal flower growth may show flecks and brown spots, rotting quickly. Soft brown spots can appear on leaves and stems after damp weather. Leaf spots, wilting, and discoloration are common, and severe cases may lead to dieback. Proper pruning can help protect plants from fungal infections.
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• This disease infects blueberry plants through wounds and old tissue. During bloom, flowers are especially vulnerable, especially if they don't drop right after pollination. The fungus spreads easily in high humidity and with frequent watering.
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• Management: Use Lost Coast Plant Therapy from pre-bloom to the end of bloom for effective control.
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• Powdery Mildew

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• Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease that shows up as white, powdery spots on leaves, stems, and buds. It can spread quickly and cover large areas of the plant.
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• This fungus reduces the plant's ability to photosynthesize, leading to stunted growth and poor health. Affected leaves may turn yellow and dry out early. If untreated, this disease can severely harm the plant's health and yield.
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• Effective Strategies for Managing Powdery Mildew
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• Lost Coast Plant Therapy kills fungal spores on contact, stopping the infection. Its special formula also changes the pH of the plant surface, making it hard for the fungus to grow.
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• To use our Natural Plant Wash effectively, saturate the entire plant. Shake the sprayer well before use and mix every few minutes during application for consistency. For best results, apply regularly during cooler parts of the day, either early morning or late evening.
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• Bacterial Diseases
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• Lost Coast Plant Therapy changes the pH of the plant, making it more resistant to bacterial diseases. Bacterial diseases can be very harmful to blueberry bushes. Pruning all dead and diseased branches is crucial, but sometimes replacing the bushes is the only option.
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• Bacterial Canker: Caused by *Pseudomonas syringae*, this disease mainly affects young branches of newly planted blueberries. It enters through frost-damaged areas in spring. Prune any damaged branches immediately.
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 Crown Gall: This disease is caused by *Agrobacterium tumefaciens*. It lives in the soil and infects damaged stems and roots, creating galls. Rain, water, infected tools, and cuttings can spread the disease to other blueberry plants. If any blueberries have galls, remove them and leave the area unplanted for three years.

 

Managing Insect Pests

 

Aphids:

These tiny insects cluster on plants, turning green leaves into their dining rooms. They are soft-bodied and can be green, black, brown, or even pink. They often appear uninvited.

 

The Root Aphid: These aphids attack plants from below the soil. They target the roots and can go unnoticed until the plant shows signs of stress.

 

Identifying Aphid Infestations:

 Spotting aphids early can prevent a small problem from becoming a big one.

 

 Signs of Aphid Presence:

Look for small, pear-shaped bugs on stems and the undersides of leaves. Aphids leave a sticky substance called honeydew, which can attract fungal diseases. They take nutrients from plants, causing yellowing, curling leaves, stunted growth, or wilting. If you've grown your plants from seeds or seedlings, you may see these signs of trouble.

 

 

Choosing Gentle and Effective Solutions:

 Lost Coast Plant Therapy is made with your garden's health and the environment in mind. It uses natural and organic ingredients, acting as a low-risk pesticide that suffocates aphids and stops them from feeding on your plants, leaving no harmful residues. When used correctly, it is safe for pets and wildlife, helping to keep your garden balanced. Using our Natural Plant Wash as part of your aphid management plan helps you deal with infestations effectively while keeping your garden's ecosystem intact. We believe we can protect our plants and the environment at the same time, using nature's power to create healthier gardens.

 

Scale:

Scale is not a disease but a pest. It refers to many tiny insects that attach to a plant's stems or leaves. If not treated, scale can harm your plants. Scale damage happens slowly, so there is time to act and prevent further harm. Infected plants may show signs like yellowing leaves, drooping, and stunted growth.

 

Treating Scale Insects: Scale can be treated in various ways. Lost Coast Plant Therapy combines all the necessary ingredients into one economical spray.

 

- Horticultural Oil: This blocks the breathing tubes of the insects.

- Insecticidal Soap: Most effective during the larval stage, it may not eliminate adult scale insects. Lost Coast Plant Therapy includes natural surfactants that can also be used as a follow-up treatment.

- Alcohol: It can kill scale insects if the infestation is not too severe and dehydrates the insect eggs.

 

Spider Mites:

Spider mites are tiny pests that are hard to notice until they cause a lot of damage. Spider Mites create fine webs on the undersides of leaves. Spider mites suck the life out of your plants, leaving small yellow or white spots on the leaves, a problem called stippling. If not controlled, leaves can turn yellow, dry up, and fall off. They are hard to see but easy to recognize once you know what to look for.

Lost Coast Plant Therapy provides very effective Spider Mite Control

 

Thrips:

Thrips are small, thin insects that can cause a lot of damage to plants. They feed by piercing plant cells and sucking out their insides, which can lead to discolored, scarred, and distorted leaves, Thrips are also known for spreading plant viruses, making things even worse for gardeners. To control thrips, use Lost Coast Plant Therapy. Its natural ingredients disrupt the feeding and breeding of thrips, lowering their numbers and reducing the damage they cause.