Mowing Click picture to enlarge In early spring, after the fields have been pruned, a single application of a herbicide is usually required. Additional spot treatments of herbicide are sometimes required to control persistent weeds. Weed control is not only important in maximizing yields, but also encourages spreading of the blueberry clones. During the growing season, monitoring must be carried out to identify yield-reducing diseases and insects. To ensure good fruit set, pollination by insects is required.
Many growers supplement the native pollinators with commercial honeybee colonies.
As in the non-cropping year the fields must be monitored for diseases and insects and control measures carried out if required. During the month of August, the crop is harvested and the two year cycle begins again. There are two methods of harvesting lowbush blueberries - hand harvesting using a metal rake or machine harvesting. Depending on yield, a good raker can harvest five hundred to one thousand pounds in one day. Pickers are paid an average of 10 to 12 cents per pound.