The table below lists suggested blueberry management items for October – January. Suggested management items for the entire calendar year are available in an Ask IFAS publication, Calendar for Southern Highbush Blueberry Management in Florida (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS1363). Specific disease, insect, and weed controls are listed in the 2024 Florida Blueberry IPM Guide (https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/HS380), as well as in subject-specific publications referenced below. Also, a list of all UF EDIS blueberry publications can be found at www.blueberrybreeding.com/blog, along with a summary description and link to each.

ANTHRACNOSE LEAF SPOT, RUST, SEPTORIA, AND TARGET SPOT

Water, Predatory Mites, and Miticides Are Useful Tools for Mitigation 

Florida has been affected by 11 hurricanes since 2000. As of this article’s writing, Hurricanes Helene and Milton are the most recent major storms to affect the state (September and October 2024). Although the 2025 season was largely quiet, and this Atlantic hurricane season is predicted to be a bit calmer due to the Super El Nino weather pattern, there is still uncertainty, and it is best to be informed and prepared.

Farmers in general tend to have an independent streak. They work through challenges, solve problems, make tough decisions, and plan how to keep moving forward, all while carrying the burden themselves. But there’s a big difference between independence and isolation, and one doesn’t have to mean the other.

Blueberries don’t all grow the same way. In my fields, varieties such as Sentinel and Arcadia grow to about six‑and‑a‑half feet tall, whereas others like Patrecia and Primadonna remain more modest in height. The story gets even richer when you consider canopy width: Snowchaser and Optimus spread out like a balloon, whereas Sweetcrisp and Keecrisp let their canopies stay tighter and narrower. Seeing this natural variation made me wonder whether the shape and size of a blueberry plant’s canopy could make a difference in how it absorbs light.

​As my term as President of the Florida Blueberry Growers Association comes to a close, I am proud to reflect on how far we have come. By the time this issue reaches you, I will officially step into the role of Past President. Looking back over these past two years, our industry has navigated significant operational and economic hurdles, but our shared work has built a stronger, more united association positioned for long-term success.

“The very fact that we’re growing blueberries at all is because of UF/IFAS. If we didn’t have those varieties, we wouldn’t be growing blueberries commercially. The breeding program is really what turned blueberries into an important crop for Florida.”

‘Blueberry OG’ Jeff Williamson Retiring After Decades of Service to the Industry

Grower 411

Bug of the Month

FEATURE | farm management

Publisher's Interlude

Why the USHBC Matters Now More Than Ever 

FEATURE | for the crop

From Frost to Future