As readers of this space already know, the utility of fall applied lime sulfur for controlling redberry mites in blackberries has been questioned.  Previous collaborative work has shown that 3-4 applications of Golden Pest Spray oil at a dilution of 1.2 – 2% volume to volume applied at the 50% green fruit stage in the spring is the most effective way to control this pest in blackberry.

This past year, the authors partnered to test the thesis that fall applied lime sulfur, with and without flowable sulfur, would not have an effect on total redberry mite infestation later on in the season.  The trial consisted of each treatment (no winter application, 15 gal/A lime sulfur applied twice, and 15 gal/A lime sulfur + 10 lb/A flowable sulfur applied twice) being replicated four times. In turn, each treatment replicate plot was composed of three side by side 250 foot long tunnels, with each tunnel covering three rows of blackberries (meaning each treatment replicate had nine rows of blackberries).

First application of 15 gal of lime sulfur and 15 gal of lime sulfur + 10 lbs wettable sulfur was made November 18, 2013 and the second application of the same was made January 17, 2014.   In the spring, two applications each were made of of wettable sulfur (12 lbs per acre) and Golden Pest Spray oil (1.5% to 2%).  All other crop and pest management procedures were made as necessary to the maintenance of the crop.

Starting June 29 and continuing weekly through the end of July for a total of six evaluations,   total number of marketable fruit and redberry mite fruit were counted in a four foot long section of each three tunnel replicate plot. Statistical evaluation was done as a percentage redberry mite infested fruit compared to total amount of fruit.

As the reader can see from the data presentation below, lime sulfur used either alone or lime sulfur applied with sulfur had no effect on redberry mite incidence in the field in this study.    While it is to be noted that this is a single trial run in a drought year, it nevertheless adds a good data set to the consideration of the question of the utility of fall sulfur applications for redberry mite.

None of the means of the percentages of redberry mite infested fruit differ significantly at the 5% level.