SW Michigan Fruit Update

Check the Index for earlier postings

May 3, 2005

Mark Longstroth
Bill Shane
Al Gaus;

Weather

There is a frost warning for tonight. This event will be a classic radiation frost and wind machines and sprinklers will be effective. See the MSU Frost warning page.

It was a chilly week with highs in the 50s and lows in the 30s. We only picked up 30 GDD base 42, and 6 GDD base 50. No reported frosts last week, with low temperatures generally in the mid 30s. There is a frost warning for Wednesday morning we will have freezing temperatures with clear, calm conditions. Temperatures below 30 or 29 F will cause damage to most fruit crops. Precipitation totals for last week were less than a tenth of an inch. All soils are becoming dry. Soil temperatures are about 50. Warm dry weather is forecast for the upcoming week.

Southwest Michigan Growing Degree Day Totals, March 1 through May 1, 2005				Grapes April 1
Location	GDD 42	GDD 45	GDD 50	GDD 50
SWMREC:	366	289	190	168
Bainbridge:	384	306	204	181
Lawton:	375		195	175
Hartford:	350	278	181	161
Grand Junction:	407	327	220	195
Fennville:	320	252	163	143
Last week Lawton was missing 4/18-4/19 - 45 GDD base 42 and 31 GDD base 50

Tree fruit

Insect activity stopped with the cold weather and trap catches were generally zero. Plant development was slow. There is little damage from last week’s winter storm. Wind burn and freeze damage is easy to find on the Northern edges of fruit plantings. Damage consists of browning petals and leaves and tattered leaves. Generally plant growth looks weak and yellow due to the cold temperatures. Color should improve when warm temperatures return.

Apricots are emerging from the shuck.

Peaches are in the shuck. Growers are seeing vertical splitting of bark on the trunk due to winter damage. We are going to ignore the first flight of Oriental fruit moth and Biofix on the adult emergence after the weather warms up. If temperatures rise into the 60s with rain then grower should protect against brown rot. Tarnished plant bug adults are out.

Cherries: Sweet Cherries are in the shuck and show good growth.  Tart Cherries are still blooming. Cherries are in the shuck for the first blooms out about 2 weeks ago. Leaves are beginning to unfold and growers need to protect against cherry leaf spot. There was little damage from last week’s snow. Damage consists of browning petals and blown off flowers. Newly opened flowers appear white while older flowers are singed brown. Cold weather has reduced pollination in tart cherries. It will be interesting to see what final fruit set is.

Plum bloom is ending. European plums still have some late bloom. Growers need to protect against black knot if it ever rains.

Apples bloom continues. We are at full bloom in Berrien County, King bloom in Van Buren and first bloom in Allegan County. Warm conditions by the weekend will be good for fire blight blossom infection. No new apple scab infection periods, but it seems likely that many areas had infections last weekend during the rain and snow. Higher exposed areas probably dried off early but there were many areas that stayed wet long enough for an infection. European red mites have hatched. No reports of leafroller larvae feeding.

Pear bloom continues. Most of the flowers have opened. Pear Psylla eggs are hatching; we can expect a heavy hatch with warmer weather this week.

Small fruit

Blueberries are at pink bud. Leaves have unfolded.  Early varieties have opened in Berrien County. Cold, dry weather has held back mummyberry. Growers should apply fungicides to control mummyberry if they get a freeze.

In Grapes, the most advanced Concord shoots have one leaf out. Chardonnay buds are still at bud burst. No insects, and no grape berry moth. There are reports of the most exposed flower clusters being frozen. This is probably due to the melting of snow by a cold north wind after the April 24 snow.

Strawberry trusses are emerging. Earliglo is blooming and Allstar bloom has begun in Central Berrien County. Many growers have been irrigating because of the dry soil.

Summer Raspberry leaves are out. We are seeing a wide range of winter injury symptoms. Some varieties are leafing out normally and others show few live buds or only new shoot growth from the ground. Flower buds are plainly visible in Prelude.

Cranberry buds are swelling.

Miscellaneous

Growers have been busy watering new plantings. The next Monday Update meeting will be, Monday May 9, at the Fruit Acres Farm in Berrien County. There will be one MDA restricted use pesticide recertification credit available at this meeting.