Blueberry stem blight? - Ask Extension
Hello,
I have 5 young blueberry bushes in my front yard in Kingston that have developed a rusty color on their stems. Can they be saved? If not, w...
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Blueberry stem blight? #867067
Asked May 05, 2024, 7:21 AM EDT
Hello,
I have 5 young blueberry bushes in my front yard in Kingston that have developed a rusty color on their stems. Can they be saved? If not, what should I do to prevent reoccurence if I replant? Attaching several images. Thank you!
Ulster County New York
Expert Response
Chi,
It seems to us that you Stem Blight is a reasonable candidate for what is wrong with your blueberries, but from what we can see from the photos, we are not sure. There are other candidates, such as cankers.
We suggest you review the following document from the University of Kentucky and compare the pictures provided there with what you are seeing: https://plantpathology.ca.uky.edu/files/ppfs-fr-s-10.pdf
As you will see cankers are a fungal disease and can be treated with fungicides and recommended cultivation practices.
Good luck with your blueberries.
Richard
Master Gardener Volunteer
