green blueberry clusters dropping from plant - Ask Extension
blueberry bushes about 20 years old look the best they have - so many berries. however when trying to pick the blue ones knocking the plant causes clu...
Knowledgebase
green blueberry clusters dropping from plant #876282
Asked July 08, 2024, 9:25 AM EDT
blueberry bushes about 20 years old look the best they have - so many berries. however when trying to pick the blue ones knocking the plant causes clusters of green berries to drop. is there a way to stop this? I read one source said something about a calcium deficiency - though that is the only info i could find on the web. thank you
Washington County Vermont
Expert Response
Hi Thea,
Thank you for contacting the UVM Master Gardener helpline and providing an excellent photo. Your issue was forwarded to Laura McDermott, Berry specialist at Cornell. She mentioned that the fruit specialists have seen a lot of berry drop this year and they are not sure why but think it is due to oversetting of fruit. Because there are so many berries, it is a natural response of the plant since it takes too much energy to ripen all of those seeds.
Let me provide a website with general information on blueberries:
https://extension.umn.edu/fruit/growing-blueberries-home-garden
I hope this helps and enjoy your bountiful harvest!
