Thanks for the post further answering my query about the MG program. I have heard from other MG’s that the people aspect was a tremendous bonus to the book learning.

Your posts are inspiring and your comments much appreciated. I most of the time feel like my knowledge is shallow and would sometime like to attend the MG program to deepen my understanding of plants and growing things. I am interested in botany and need to get the basics down…which I would think MG would cover…

Wanted to mention an email I received recently. It was from Matt Vargas of Florida Organic Growers (FOG) http://www.foginfo.org.
I had gotten on their email list at some point. It was telling of a Demonstration Day at a farm in Hillsbourough county in April. I replied to the email to inquire if he might know of an organic bb grower I could talk to about my fungal issues. He then told me of a free program they have that pairs growers with crop advisors to either transition to organic or reduce pesticide usage. He also spoke with a grower on my behalf, who gave excellent advice which I will post below because I thought you might like to read and add to the store of info in the gray matter ie our noggin:

>Get rid of disease prone highbush varieties or at least don’t replant them. Sharpblue and Jewel have a tendency towards leaf fungus problems.

>Good field management by pruning dead and infected twigs and maintaining good air circulation in the blueberry canopy is important to prevent/limit fungal diseases caused by Colletotrichum acutatum (anthracnose), Gloeosporium and Septoria.

>Don’t over water or water in the evening where plants stay wet through the night

>Fish emulsion seems to help keep these problems down but recently I have run into food safety issues for using it within 45 days of harvest for fear of bacterial contamination, although there is no documented evidence of this happening [ie his buyer must have expressed concern, warranted or not]. Serenade Max and Actinovate can help control these problems as well. Oil sprays can be effective but take care to not burn young leaves.

>If anthracnose is a problem on harvested fruit, don’t pick over ripe or damaged fruit and keep temperatures low once picked.

>Sanitize trays and buckets regularly during the picking season.

>I have noticed that once plants are on a regular fungus control program that they seem to become addicted to the fungicide. I believe that the plants immune systems are not activated by exposure to these pathogens and therefore once the sprays stop, the fungi attack with a vengeance.

>He also added that healthy plants have fewer problems with these diseases. Healthy plants would involve selecting disease resistant varieties and also soil building and fertility management so that plants have the nutrients they need and a thriving soil ecology.

Me again- I practice his suggestions for the most part, some are not applicable and some I am contemplating…such as the soil health, as you mentioned, I think this is an area I need to explore more…I think a crop advisor is just the ticket esp. if he/she can help decipher my soil/leaf testing.

So to sum it up. Read, read, read….talk, talk, talk…learn, learn, learn…

Thank you Adina, thank you FOG, thank you MG’s, thank you IFAS, thank you Extension Agents, thank you internet, thank you gardeners, growers,thank you consumers of goodness, and thank you all those who care…

C