Brown Spots on Blueberries v.2

[Harveyshot]

I heard back from the extension office and this is the reply to my brown spots.
The brown spots are getting worse and I don't know what to do.
The report mentioned Neem Oil but I used that AFTER the spots showed up, not before.
They are in 25 gallon grow bags with good drainage. We have had a lot of rain with high temperatures. I checked the soil about eight inches deep and it was damp, not wet.
Ph is 3-4. I know that's low and I'm trying to slowly get it up with garden lime.
The first image is the new growth (suckers?) that is on two of the three plants. Al least they look good.
Any clues out there?
Thanks.

 

[oneeye]

All you can do at this point is to do a pour-through and test the pH and EC of the soil. It may be pH-related, or too much or not enough EC. The only to know for sure is to test the soil.

 

[DiggersJo]

That looks more like sun or handling damage to me, but it also does NOT look too bad or extensive.

 

[Meadowlark]

That looks more like sun or handling damage to me, but it also does NOT look too bad or extensive.

Yes, yes.

 

[Harveyshot]

All you can do at this point is to do a pour-through and test the pH and EC of the soil. It may be pH-related, or too much or not enough EC. The only to know for sure is to test the soil.

I have done the tests and the ph is low, 3-4.

Here are the ph et al screenshots of the three plants.

 

[Harveyshot]

I have done the tests and the ph is low, 3-

The ph is improving, it seems. Keep in mind, I can get 4 different readings if I check 4 different areas of each plant. The 25 gallon grow bags are pretty wide.

 

[Harveyshot]

That looks more like sun or handling damage to me, but it also does NOT look too bad or extensive.

I really don't 'handle' them. Maybe sun. It's been hotter than hell for awhile.

 

[oneeye]

I have done the tests and the ph is low, 3-4.

Your plants are starving for nutrients if the EC above is correct. Your EC is way too low friend. For blueberries in a 25 gallon soil pot you need to keep your EC range at least (0.8 to 1.0 mS/cm).

 

[Meadowlark]

Good catch @oneeye

I found a reference for EC reading for blueberry growth: "0.45–1.0 dS/m is the recommended upper limit."

Going to check mine right now.

 

[Martin Mikulcik]

Looks fungal to me rather than soil related. I'd be careful blindly trusting ph meters because cheap electrical meters can give weird results and in general lime is not a blueberry friend. If anything buffer the soil higher with your native garden soil

Things in pots run out of fertility fast and water

 

[Harveyshot]

Your plants are starving for nutrients if the EC above is correct. Your EC is way too low friend. For blueberries in a 25 gallon soil pot you need to keep your EC range at least (0.8 to 1.0 mS/cm).

Thanks for the reply. So, how do I go about it? What range should they be?

 

[oneeye]

Thanks for the reply. So, how do I go about it? What range should they be?

Since they are in containers, you will need to supplement nutrients to raise the EC. Are you giving your plants fertilizer, if so, what kind, how much and how often?

 

[Harveyshot]

Since they are in containers, you will need to supplement nutrients to raise the EC. Are you giving your plants fertilizer, if so, what kind, how much and how often?

I have used cottonseed meal and Azalea food, 1/4-1/2 cups each. Last time was beginning of June.

 

[Harveyshot]

Since they are in containers, you will need to supplement nutrients to raise the EC. Are you giving your plants fertilizer, if so, what kind, how much and how often?

Azalea food 9-15-13

 

[Harveyshot]

I have used cottonseed meal and Azalea food, 1/4-1/2 cups each. Last time was beginning of June.