Blueberry plant stem/branch problems

Hello all,

I am not sure how I missed this last year, or perhaps it is something that developed over winter, but one of my blueberry plants has developed what looks like rusting.
This ‘rust’ is evident on the majority of stems/branches.

Another couple of plants potentially have it in some areas, but not widespread.

A google search suggests it may be blight or some kind of canker spots.

Does anyone know what it may be, and if there is any chance of saving the plant? If blight the online consensus seems to be that I should remove the stems and hope for the best.

Before doing so I wondered if there is anything else I could do?


Any thoughts or advice would be much appreciated.

 

I was wondering if it was scale insects but the second photo doesn't look like them. The shoots look healthy, I would wait and see how it goes.

 

I have just looked at my blueberry and the bark on it is brown. I think it may be just the older branches look like that. Mine is 25+ years old.

 

Yes I had a look at my 3 and one (Patriot) does have similar looking marks on some of the older branches too.
I do find scale insects on them now and then and they're really tricky to spot as they look just like buds.
I can see flowers forming on mine so gave them their 1st feed of the season.

 

Thank you both for responding and taking the time to check your plants.

This is potentially very good news then. I did already cut one stem off, but will leave them alone for now then and hope for the best.

Aside from this - they all seem fine, flowering and looking healthy.

Fingers crossed then - and i'll read up on scale insects - I hadn't heard of them before.

 

And Pete - 25 years plus! That's mightily impressive.
Could I ask how tall and wide it is?

 

I think the above question is for @Baalmaiden

But if you're interested, mine are about 8 yrs old now, in 25L pots and are about 5ft high and 3-4ft wide

 

I must say I don't do much to mine but they are in the ground in a good place which is semi shade and damp soil. If there's a drought I chuck the washing water around it. One (Bluecrop I think) is about 5 ft tall and 4ft across. The other (Herbert) is much smaller. The year before last I cut the oldest and tallest stems out and I think it has done them some good with some newer ones coming. There's a nice lot of flowers so fingers crossed. The autumn leaves look good too.

 

Thank you both.
My oldest ones are 3 years now - and the highest (Ozark Blue) are approx 4ft. Other varieties are quite small, though grew quite aggressively last summer.