Unless fruiting raspberry plants are routinely sprayed in the spring, almost up to 10 days of picking fruit, you would be better off buying raspberries at a supermarket. Destructive diseases and insects are quite common on raspberry plants, so it's imperative that you prevent pathogens and insects with a dedicated spray program. If you are adamant against using pesticides, rely on fruit from a supermarket.Products needed:
* Granular or powdered lime-sulfur: for the control anthracnose leaf spot, cane blight and spur blight;
* Wettable sulfur: the safest control for spring and summer powdery mildew disease.
Spray program:
Lime-sulfur: before spring growth begins, spray lime-sulfur liberally to canes and dormant flower buds to control anthracnose and blights. Check the forecast to make sure no rain will follow the application for 12 hours.
Sulfur: spray every 7-10 days after the new shoots are 5-to-7 inches long and up to 2 weeks before harvesting the first fruit. Liberal sprays are needed to prevent outbreaks of powdery mildew. Check the local forecast so rain doesn't follow the application.
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