Irrigation Irrigation will result in an increase in the number and weight of berries, if moisture is limiting. Irrigation provided in the nonbearing year increases bud formation, which could increase yield in the crop year. Currently, irrigation is used commercially by a few growers during the crop year, but irrigating nonbearing fields is being further evaluated. Propagation Plants for establishing new blueberry fields have been produced from softwood cuttings of select clones and from seed obtained by pollinating flowers of an outstanding clone with pollen from an equally good clone. Micropropagation techniques have been developed for the wild blueberry.
Plants are now commercially available.
Tissue culture propagated plants exhibit the spreading growth habit of seedlings along with the uniform productivity characteristics of rooted cuttings. Mulching has been extremely beneficial for increasing survival of planted wild blueberries and encouraging their lateral spread through rhizome growth. Using high yielding clones to fill in existing fields will make the current management practices more efficient and result in higher yields at a lower cost per pound. Pest Management Insects A system of monitoring the blueberry maggot and an action threshold has been developed by University of Maine researchers, resulting in a decrease in frequency of sprays and an increase in spray efficacy. Periodic outbreaks of spanworm, flea beetle and thrips still cause sporadic damage, so continued monitoring of the fields for these pests is important.