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Everyone who grows berry crops on their plots must allocate space for raspberries. Both children and adults love raspberries. It is not difficult to grow; care consists of techniques familiar to gardeners. But if this berry didn’t hurt, it would be much easier for summer residents. In addition to competent compliance with agricultural technology requirements, you need to know which raspberry diseases and pests are most common in the region. Protecting raspberries from pests and diseases is an important step in growing berries. Let's look at two topics in this article:
- What are the signs to identify raspberry diseases and how to deal with them.
- What raspberry pests exist and how to combat them.
It is very important to notice any damage and diseases in time so that your raspberries will delight you with a high yield.
Types of diseases of garden berries
Let's look at raspberry diseases and their treatment.The main types of diseases to which raspberries are exposed are infections of viral origin and fungal infections. More simply, they can be called viral and fungal diseases of garden raspberries. Many varieties are susceptible to these diseases, although modern catalogs contain quite disease-resistant species. But there are no completely immune people yet. To protect plantings from diseases, it is necessary:
- have a description of each ailment with photographs;
- know how they are treated;
- Learn what preventive measures exist.
Let us dwell in more detail on each type of disease to which garden raspberries are susceptible. Let's look at common raspberry diseases, photos of their symptoms and how to treat each disease.
Diseases of fungal origin
These types of diseases can be classified as raspberry diseases. It is the berries that are more susceptible to fungal infections. Fungal diseases of raspberries are very common in plantings. Therefore, a description of their symptoms and control measures should be familiar to every gardener.
Gray rot (botrytis)
The most common disease. Small gray spots appear on the fruits, which increase in size and affect the entire berry. It begins to rot and becomes covered with a gray coating that contains fungal spores. Spores spread with moisture and air and can affect the entire raspberry tree. An outbreak of the disease is noticed during fairly cool days with high humidity.
The disease affects not only berries, but also leaves and shoots. Infected plants do not survive winter and die.
Measures to combat the disease:
- bushes with signs of disease are removed and burned;
- competently treat plants with preparations for protection;
- restore agricultural technology if there were violations.
To say in more detail, raspberry plantings should not be processed just in case, and it is important to follow the berry planting pattern. All drugs that help fight the disease must be used before the berries ripen. If an overdose of chemicals occurs, the raspberries will be weakened and will not be able to withstand possible problems. In addition:
- Plant density leads to the rapid development and spread of gray rot, so plantings are always thinned out. This makes it possible to ensure good ventilation and protection from disease.
- Diseased bushes are removed and burned, in the spring the raspberry plantings are well cleaned of remaining leaves and debris, and then treated with Bordeaux mixture.
Anthracnose
The second fungal disease that brings worry to summer residents. In addition to berries, the disease also affects stems and leaves.
Appears as single spots on raspberry stems. The shade of the spots is grayish-white, and there is a purple edging along the edges. The fabric dries out where stains appear. Subsequently, the spots merge and form ulcerative lesions. The bark on the stems peels off, and the leaves curl and dry.
The main forces must be directed to:
- removal of diseased plants;
- spraying with preparations containing copper in their composition;
- reduction of planting density;
- ensuring good ventilation.
Raspberries will have to be treated against disease at least three times per season. It is imperative to monitor plantings during periods of rain and high humidity. This is the weather that favors the spread of anthracnose.
White and purple spotting
Common fungal diseases of raspberries. The disease affects leaves and stems. White spotting appears as brown spots that gradually turn white, with black dots visible in them. Purple spots have a reddish tint. Basic measures to combat the disease:
- plant only healthy material;
- thin out plantings;
- treat with preparations containing copper;
- remove affected bushes.
Rust crimson
The disease affects the stems and leaves of raspberries. Yellow growths appear on them, which cause brittleness and drying of the stem, and wilting of the foliage. In spring, spores appear on the leaves; in summer, orange and dark cushions of the fungus are noticeable on the underside of the leaves. They calmly endure the winter on fallen leaves. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully remove remaining foliage from areas where raspberries are grown. During the wet period, the development of the disease continues until late autumn. Control measures are to collect and burn the leaves, dig deeply between the rows, and spray the raspberries three times with Bordeaux mixture (1%).
Viral diseases of raspberry bushes
Another group of diseases to which raspberries are exposed. It is very difficult to treat viral diseases of raspberries, so every gardener should know preventive measures. They affect the root system, stems, leaves of the bush and lead to the death of the plant. These include:
Raspberry Curl
When sick, the leaves become stiff, curl into a tube, and change color. First they turn brown, then they dry out. The same result applies to berries. They become deformed and become sour. The plant is not cured and dies after 2-3 years. You need to be especially careful when purchasing planting material.Otherwise, you may introduce the disease into your plantings and lose your favorite variety. Diseased plants are destroyed.
Mosaic
The main symptom appears on the leaves. They have irregularly shaped areas that become mottled by the end of summer. The leaves become smaller, the shoots weaken, and their growth slows down. The berries become woody and become unsuitable for consumption. Raspberries do not die, but it is impossible to completely cure the disease. The disease is transmitted by aphids.
Raspberry sprout or "witch's broom"
This is the name of mycoplasma raspberry disease. Many non-fruiting shoots are formed on the bushes. They are small, but the number can reach up to 200 pieces on one bush.
It spreads to other bushes very quickly, so the detected problem is immediately removed.
The disease is spread to the site by cicadas and cannot be treated.
Bacterial problems in raspberries
Pathogenic microorganisms, which include bacteria, cause crop diseases. There are diseases that are widespread everywhere. Regardless of the region in which raspberries are grown, they can be affected by cancer.
Stem and root cancer
The main sign of infection is the appearance of small tumors (overgrown seals) on the roots. Gradually they merge and form a common bumpy surface with a rough crust. If such tumors affect the stems, they grow together and tear the bark. Bushes affected by this disease become weakened, do not tolerate winter frosts well and die.
Pests for planting raspberries in summer cottages
In addition to various diseases, raspberries are subject to attacks by parasites and pests. How to treat the plantings to protect raspberries from damage? How to deal with pests that have already appeared? These questions constantly worry summer residents. Let's look at the main pests and parasites of raspberry plantings that plague gardeners. It’s better to get acquainted with raspberry pests in pictures so that you know what they look like. The most unpleasant thing is that, in addition to the harm caused by the parasites themselves, they are also carriers of many raspberry diseases.
Raspberry beetle
The pest overwinters in the soil at a depth of 10 cm, and when the soil warms up to 10-12°C it comes to the surface. Until the raspberry buds appear, the beetle feeds on the nectar of other plants. Then the pest moves to the raspberry bushes and begins to feed on the contents of the buds. As soon as the raspberries begin to bloom, the female raspberry beetles lay eggs and then the larvae continue their destructive work. When harvesting, the pest goes back into the ground for the winter. The beetle damages the buds, and the larvae damage the berries. What control methods do gardeners use against the pest? Firstly, autumn digging of the soil in order to destroy the larvae of the raspberry beetle. Secondly, collect beetles by shaking them off the buds. Thirdly, treatment of raspberries from pests in the bud formation phase. In this case, karbofos helps well. At the time of picking berries, gardeners cover the containers with linen or waterproof paper. The larvae that crawl out of the berries are immediately destroyed.
Raspberry stem fly
The pest larvae overwinter under bushes at a depth of 5 cm. After the ground warms up, they pupate, then flies appear.The harm caused by insect pests is that they lay eggs in the axils of leaves and on the tops of raspberry shoots. Pest larvae feed on the core of the shoots, damaging the stems from the inside. Before the raspberries begin to bloom, they gnaw through the stems and go back into the ground. To combat the pest, dig up the soil in the fall, and before the raspberries bloom, cut out and destroy the affected bushes. Spraying with karbofos during the summer of flies.
Stem raspberry gall midge
Very familiar to gardeners in central and southern Russia. A small insect (up to 2 mm) has transparent wings and a brown back.
The main damage caused by gall midge larvae is to raspberry stems. Characteristic swellings called galls appear on the middle and lower parts of the shoots.
Pest larvae overwinter in them. In the spring, they feed on the contents of the stems, and during the raspberry flowering phase, an adult insect appears and lays eggs on young shoots. Within a month, swellings are visible on them - the habitat of the pest larvae. Above formation, the shoots dry out and then break off. On the galls themselves, the skin cracks and falls off. If no measures are taken, the tiny gall midge can destroy up to 70% of raspberry plantings. How to stop the pest? First, in spring and autumn, the plantings are thoroughly cleaned of damaged stems. They must be cut out and burned.
On the remaining part, raspberries can produce a new harvest. Treatments against the pest are carried out with chemical preparations “Aktellik”, “Fufanon”, “Alatar”, “Iskra-M”. The time of spraying is the laying of eggs by gall midges and the summer period of adult insects. The selected drugs must be alternated to achieve the desired result.
Raspberry nutcracker
The damage caused by this pest is similar to galls, but differs in size. The galls on the stems are about 3 cm long, and after the gallworm larvae invade, swellings 10 cm long appear. However, pest control measures are identical to those above.
Raspberry shoot aphid
A familiar pest to gardeners in all regions. It is very harmful if the raspberry plant is located in a shaded place. It settles on inflorescences and ends of shoots; the pest forms entire colonies. As a result of damage by the pest, leaves curl, shoots bend and grow poorly, and flowers dry out. A very small insect, but causing great harm. In addition to damage to shoots, it serves as a carrier of raspberry viral diseases. Aphids are more dangerous in dry years. The pest must be controlled using the chemicals listed in the section on gall midges.
What other pests can be found on raspberry plantings? Raspberry plantings are damaged by the beetle - weevil,
raspberry glass
and ticks.
The same drugs that are used against gall midges work well against weevils. And glass does not tolerate low cutting of shoots and burning of damaged stems. Against the mite, use “Iskra-M”, “Aktelik” or “Fufanon” for ordinary raspberry varieties.
Remontant ones are treated with “Grey garden, colloidal” or “Tiovit-Jet”.
Conclusion
Pests, raspberry diseases and their control are an important part of berry care. Without timely measures, you can lose your harvest and lose your favorite varieties. The fight against them is carried out throughout the season - from spring to autumn. Be sure to treat the bushes in early spring for preventive purposes and do not forget to inspect them regularly.
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