Organic Pest and Disease Control for Blueberries

Blueberries are a delicious and popular fruit crop. They can be grown successfully with organic controls. Blueberry problems may be cultural and this is the first thing that should be addressed. Blueberry plants live for a long time, so it's important to plant disease resistant cultivars, use clean planting stock and practice good disease management prior to planting, such as mulching deeply to prevent the spread of mummy berry. 

Common insect problems come from fruit flies, aphids, root weevils, scale, spider mites trips and whitefly. There are a number of beneficial insects and mites that can be used to control these pests.

Blueberry diseases are mostly fungal and viral. Mummy berry is a disease common in the Pacific Northwest due to high levels of moisture. The berries shrivel up and discolor. Annual scouting is critical. Mulching can decrease the spread of the fungal spores, but should be finished before bud break. Disease infects new leaf tissue at bud break and flowering and can be vectored by pollinators. 

Organic products to control disease include: