Blueberry IPM Module
Practical IPM plan for blueberries covering protected, tunnel and outdoor blueberry production.
This page focuses on SWD, aphids, spider mite, thrips, Botrytis, fruit rots, cane/stem issues and harvest hygiene.
Quick summary
Main pest risks
SWD, aphids, spider mite, thrips, caterpillars and fruit pests.
Main disease pressure
Botrytis and fruit rots increase with wet flowers, dense canopy and delayed harvest.
Main IPM principle
Protect fruit quality with open canopy, regular picking, waste fruit removal and close SWD monitoring.
Blueberry IPM is strongly linked to fruit hygiene, canopy structure, irrigation balance and harvest timing.
The main late-season pressure is often Spotted Wing Drosophila, especially where ripe, damaged or fallen fruit remains in the crop.
Main pest risks
| Pest | Risk level | Key trigger | Inspect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotted Wing Drosophila | Very High | Ripening fruit | Ripe and damaged fruit |
| Aphids | Moderate–High | Soft new growth | Shoot tips |
| Spider mites | Moderate | Hot dry weather | Lower leaves |
| Thrips | Moderate | Flowering and warm weather | Flowers and young fruit |
| Caterpillars | Moderate | Leaf and fruit feeding | Leaves and fruit clusters |
| Botrytis | High | Wet flowers and fruit | Blossom and berries |
| Fruit rots | Moderate–High | Damaged or overripe fruit | Ripening berries |
| Cane/stem disease | Moderate | Wounds and poor pruning hygiene | Stems and old wood |
Crop stage plan
| Crop stage | Main risk | Practical focus |
|---|---|---|
| Dormant / pruning | Stem disease and carryover | Pruning hygiene and old wood removal |
| Budburst | Aphids and early pest movement | Shoot tip inspections |
| Flowering | Thrips, Botrytis and pollination stress | Flower checks and dry-down |
| Fruit set | Caterpillars and disease | Fruit cluster inspection |
| Ripening | SWD and fruit rots | Harvest hygiene |
| Peak harvest | SWD escalation | Tight picking and waste removal |
| Post-harvest | Carryover reduction | Remove waste and plan pruning |
Monitoring plan
| Area | What to look for | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Ripening fruit | SWD, soft berries and damage | Every picking cycle |
| Fallen fruit | SWD reservoirs | Every visit |
| Shoot tips | Aphids | Weekly |
| Lower leaves | Spider mite | Weekly during warm weather |
| Flowers | Thrips and Botrytis | During flowering |
| Fruit clusters | Caterpillars and rot | Weekly |
| Stems | Dieback and wounds | During pruning and inspections |
Environmental risk
| Condition | Likely issue | Management response |
|---|---|---|
| Ripening fruit | SWD | Increase fruit checks and picking frequency |
| Wet flowers | Botrytis | Improve airflow and dry-down |
| Dense canopy | Fruit rot and hidden pests | Prune for airflow |
| Hot dry weather | Spider mite | Inspect lower leaves |
| Soft new growth | Aphids | Review crop balance |
| Fallen fruit | SWD reservoir | Remove waste fruit |
| Poor pruning hygiene | Cane/stem disease | Remove infected material cleanly |
Biological control programme
Preventative phase
Focus on:
- open canopy structure
- pruning hygiene
- early aphid monitoring
- supporting naturally occurring beneficials
- keeping rows clean
- avoiding fruit waste build-up
Flowering phase
During flowering:
- inspect flowers for thrips and Botrytis
- maintain pollinator safety
- improve airflow
- reduce prolonged wet flowers
Ripening phase
During ripening:
- pick regularly
- remove damaged berries
- remove fallen fruit
- monitor SWD risk
- reduce overripe fruit reservoirs
Pest-specific notes
SWD
Spotted Wing Drosophila is the main late-season fruit risk.
Key actions:
- harvest frequently
- remove damaged fruit
- avoid overripe fruit accumulation
- remove fallen berries
- monitor nearby unmanaged fruit
Aphids
Aphids often appear on soft new growth.
Key actions:
- inspect shoot tips
- avoid excessive soft growth
- preserve beneficial insects
- respond early to colonies
Spider mites
Spider mites increase in hot dry conditions.
Key actions:
- inspect lower leaves
- monitor dry edges
- reduce plant stress
- support predator activity
Thrips
Thrips may be present during flowering.
Key actions:
- inspect flowers
- protect pollinators and beneficials
- monitor warm sheltered areas
Caterpillars
Caterpillars may feed on leaves, flowers or fruit clusters.
Key actions:
- inspect fruit clusters
- remove damaged fruit where practical
- monitor leaf feeding
- act early if feeding increases
Disease and fruit hygiene
Blueberries are vulnerable to:
- Botrytis
- fruit rots
- stem dieback
- wound-related infections
Useful actions:
- maintain open canopy
- improve airflow
- remove old or diseased wood
- avoid leaving fallen fruit
- harvest regularly
- remove damaged berries quickly
Canopy and hygiene
Good blueberry canopy management improves:
- fruit drying
- harvest access
- monitoring visibility
- disease prevention
- fruit quality
- SWD risk reduction
Useful practices:
- prune for open structure
- remove old wood
- remove fallen fruit
- avoid dense humid pockets
- maintain clean rows
Seasonal calendar
| Period | Main IPM focus |
|---|---|
| Dormant / pruning | Remove old wood and reduce disease carryover |
| Budburst | Aphid monitoring |
| Flowering | Thrips, Botrytis and pollinator safety |
| Fruit set | Caterpillar and disease checks |
| Ripening | SWD and fruit hygiene |
| Peak harvest | Picking discipline and waste fruit removal |
| Post-harvest | Clean-up and pruning planning |
Linked tools
Use this module alongside:
Key message
Blueberry IPM is built around fruit quality, canopy openness and harvest hygiene.
The strongest programmes reduce SWD and fruit rot risk by keeping the crop clean, picking regularly and removing damaged or fallen fruit before it becomes a reservoir.