EXCESSIVE BRIGHTWELL AND POOR PREMIER/ALAPAHA FRUITING
Dr. Phil Brannen, University of Georgia Extension pathologist, noted the below excessive fruiting on Brightwell but poor fruiting on Premier and Alapaha varieties on a recent visit to Brantley County:
He asked Dr. Scott NeSmith, University of Georgia horticulturist, for an explanation. Below are his comments:
Hi,
I have just started a Blueberry orchard in Rutledge, Georgia (about 8 Miles from Madison, GA) and would like to know if there is someone that could come out and see the orchard. I planted the small plants (1400)in January 2012. Some of the plants seem to be doing good while others have the rust on them and some have just died. I am not sure what I am doing wrong. I have been spraying the plants with the rust with Fungicide but I cannot tell if it is helping or not.
Any advice or assistance you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Eva
Eva, Please call your county Extension agent Bobby Smith at 706- 342- 2214. He is a good resource. He is the Morgan County Extension agent. I believe Rutledge is in Morgan County. One of our biggest problem in keeping young blueberry plants alive, especially if they are planted in the spring, is keeping them well watered. Growers think they are keeping well watered but the potting soil the young plants are in acts as a wick. The soil will be moisture around the potting soil the young plants are in but the roots will be dry as a bone. Also if they were in gallon pots when you planted them, they may be pot-bound and dry. Another problem is pH. Blueberries like a pH of 4.5-5.2. Did you take a soil sample?