SMALL FRUITS AND BERRIES

	EB1015

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SMALL FRUITS AND BERRIES

PRECAUTIONS IN USING PESTICIDES	x

This publication lists and describes the control measures suggested for control of the more common injurious pests normally encountered. The pesticide recommendations are based on research by scientists of Washington State University, the USDA, and by other agencies. Those suggested are considered safe to use (when directions on label are followed carefully) and known to be effective. In many cases, additional information on description of the pests, their damage, their life cycles, and their control may be desired. If your problem goes beyond the scope of this discussion, you can get additional help from your county Extension agent or from the Department of Entomology or Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman. Remember, not all insects are pests. Many are either beneficial or harmless. Be sure you have a real problem before you employ pesticides. Pesticides can be poisonous to people and animals. Use them only when needed and handle them with care. Follow the directions and heed all precautions on the label. Keep pesticides in closed, well-labeled containers in a dry place. Store them where they will not contaminate food or feed, and preferably in locked storage where children and animals cannot reach them. Avoid contact with pesticides. If any are spilled on skin or clothing, wash them off the skin thoroughly with soap and water and change clothing immediately. Avoid inhalation of pesticide dusts or mists. When handling pesticides, wear clean, dry clothing. Wash your hands and face before eating or smoking and immediately after completing pesticide application. To protect fish and wildlife, do not contaminate lakes, streams, or ponds with pesticides. Do not clean spraying equipment or dump excess spray material near such water. Dispose of empty, properly rinsed pesticide containers at a sanitary landfill dump. If you have trash collection service, wrap small empty, properly rinsed containers in heavy layers of newspaper and place them in the trash can. (A pesticide container is considered properly rinsed when the empty container has been rinsed three times.)

PESTS NOT ON PRODUCT LABEL

Some suggested uses of pesticides in this publication are for pests not listed on product labels. These are indicated by the symbol †. Such uses comply with the federal law (FIFRA) which says a use is consistent with label directions provided the crop or site is on the label and directions concerning rates and interval before harvest are followed.

HOME SPRAYING SCHEDULES

These spray schedules are recommended in order to achieve maximum disease and insect control with materials available to the homeowner. However, successful control is influenced by many factors, and using an integrated scheme (use of several control methods) is suggested. Certain cultural practices can often help reduce the number of spray applications, or enhance their effectiveness. An ability to diagnose problems early in their developing stages, or an awareness of important weather patterns are also helpful in controlling pests. Information concerning the life cycles and possible cultural methods of control for specific diseases and insect problems is available at your county Extension office. As a precaution against improper use of a pesticide, read and follow label directions prior to making an application. Be sure the crop is listed on the label.

Time of application	Crop	Insect and disease	Materials^{1, 2}
Dormant or delayed-dormant period	Blueberry	Lecanium scale	Dormant oil. Spray when temperatures are above freezing.
Early spring (before or just after buds swell)	Caneberries³	Anthracnose, Powdery mildew, Rust, Dryberry mites	Lime-sulfur. Apply as dormant or delayed-dormant spray as directed on the label.
Early spring (before or just after buds swell)	Caneberries³	Caterpillars	Bacillus thuringiensis (caterpillars only).
March through April	Caneberries³	Leaf and cane spot	Fixed copper. Apply when new canes are 1-2 ft tall; repeat 2-3 weeks later.
Prebloom treatment	Strawberry and Raspberry	Root weevils†	Malathion (1). For adult weevil control. Best control is achieved if applied at night when weevil adults are active.
		Leafrollers, armyworms, cutworms, and loopers	Bacillus thuringiensis.
		Aphids	Diazinon. Strawberries (5) and raspberries (7) OR Thiodan (4)—strawberries only.
		Mites	Commercial uses only.
	Blackberry	Redberry mite	Lime-sulfur as directed on label.
	Strawberry	Spittlebug	Thiodan (4). Difficult to control once spittle masses have been formed.
During bloom and fruit formation	Strawberry	Fruit rots	Captan During damp cloudy weather repeat applications as indicated on label.
During bloom and fruit formation	Blueberry	Leafrollers and other caterpillars	Bacillus thuringiensis
After blossom drop	Blueberry	Aphids	Diazinon (7). Do not apply if any blossoms are present—bee hazard.
		Leafrollers and other caterpillars	Bacillus thuringiensis (BT Caterpillar Killer Concentrate, Caterpillar Attack, Thuricide)
		Lecanium scale	Diazinon (7). Apply when crawlers are present. Do not apply if any blossoms are present—bee hazard.
Postharvest (Sept.)	Caneberries (excluding Raspberry)	Cane and leaf spot	Fixed copper (0). Spray after old canes have been removed, about September 15, or before the fall rains begin.
Between Oct. 1 and March 1	Caneberries³	Crown borers†	Diazinon (7). Apply to crown and lower 3 ft of canes. Must apply 2 consecutive years as larvae live in crowns for 2 years and generations overlap. Chemical application kills only very young larvae on canes, not those already in crown.
Bloom through growing season	Currant and Gooseberry	Imported currantworm, Aphids, Gooseberry maggot	No home garden products are registered for effectively controlling these pests on currant or gooseberry. Physical destruction or netting (e.g., Remay or Agrinet) where practice is an option.
Bloom through growing season	Currant and Gooseberry	Anthracnose and leaf spot	Fixed copper (0). Follow label directions.
Periodically throughout growing season	Grapes	Powdery mildew (susceptible varieties only)	Dust with sulfur when shoots are 6, 12, and 18 inches long, and then repeat at 2-week intervals until harvest (0). Do not apply when temperatures are above 85°F.
		Grape leafhopper	Diazinon (10) OR malathion (3). Spray as needed.
		Cutworms	Bacillus thuringiensis.
	Strawberry	Slugs	Metaldehyde bait. Apply around plants when slug activity commences. Avoid bait exposure to pets.
¹Add a spreader-sticker to sray mixes according to label directions. Do not use spreader-sticker with lime-sulfur. ²Numbers in parentheses, e.g. (5), indicate minimum days required between last application and harvest. ³Caneberries include red and black raspberries, and trailing berries such as blackberries, boysenberries, loganberries, etc. Caneberry or the specific berry must be listed on the label for use to be allowed. †Pest does not appear on product label. See explanation on page 1.

By Ed Adams, Ph.D., Washington State University Cooperative Extension plant pathologist,WSU Spokane; and Arthur L. Antonelli, Ph.D., WSU Cooperative Extension entomologist, WSU Puyallup.

Warning. Use pesticides with care. Apply them only to plants, animals, or sites listed on the label. When mixing and applying pesticides, follow all label precautions to protect yourself and others around you. It is a violation of the law to disregard label directions. If pesticides are spilled on skin or clothing, remove clothing and wash skin thoroughly. Store pesticides in their original containers and keep them out of the reach of children, pets, and livestock.

College of Agriculture and Home Economics, Pullman, Washington

Alternate formats of our educational materials are available upon request for persons with disabilities. Please contact the Information Department, College of Agriculture and Home Economics, Washington State University for more information.

Issued by Washington State University Cooperative Extension, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in furtherance of the Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Coorerative Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on nondiscrimination regarding race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, and sexual orientation. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Cooperative Extension office. Trade names have been used to simplify information; no endorsement is intended. Revised March 1998. Subject code 231. A. EB1015