SW Michigan Fruit Update

Check the Index for earlier postings

Southwest Michigan, March 31, 2009

Mark Longstroth, Bill Shane

Weather

Spring has begun in Southwest Michigan.  The weather for the last two weeks was relatively warm, with highs in the 50s and lows above freezing.  Buds are beginning to swell. At this time, we would need temperatures below 20F to cause significant freeze injury at this time.  When buds become noticeably swollen temperatures in the low 20s will cause damage.

The enviroweather website has changed a bit.  You can now compare the current growing season with the last 5 years or compare several sites in the region.  Click on the site closest to you and then choose fruit.  Weather comparisons are located at the bottom of the page. 

Southwest Michigan Growing Degree Days March 1 through March 29, 2009				Grapes,  April 1
Location	GDD 42	GDD 45	GDD 50	GDD 50
Berrien Springs	118	86	49
Cassopolis	112	80	42
Scottdale	110	81	45
SWMREC:	106	76	40
Bainbridge:	106	78	43
Keeler	102	72	37
Lawton	103	75	40
Hartford:	95	69	37
Grand Junction:	109	81	45
South Haven	80	56	28
Fennville:	77	53	26

Tree fruit

Fruit tree buds are beginning to swell.  Growers are beginning to assess and report winter damage in stone fruit and small fruit such as strawberries and blueberries.  While some damage has been reported many growers are surprised at how many viable buds there are.  Growers still have the opportunity to apply dormant sprays to reduce overwintering disease inoculum.

Apricot buds are at calyx red. 

Peaches buds are swelling.  No green tissue is exposed.  It is probably too late to apply peach leaf curl sprays in the more advanced areas, but were buds have not started to swell peach leaf curl sprays should be applied. 

Both sweet cherries and tart cherriesare at swollen bud.  Copper can still be applied to sweet cherries as a dormant spray to reduce bacterial canker.

In Plums, Oriental plum buds are at white side.  European plums buds have just begun to swell.

Apples are at silver tip.  Growers need be ready for apple scab. Because of mild conditions in March, we expect scab spores from the leaf litter will be ready as soon as green tissue is available for infection.  Growers should be ready to apply scab sprays as green tissue appears.

Pears buds are beginning to swell.  Pear Psylla adults should emerge soon when warm weather returns.

Small fruit

In small fruit now is the window for lime sulfur applications in blueberries, grapes and brambles to suppress diseases that overwinter on the plant.

Blueberry fruit buds are beginning to swell, but leaf buds have not moved.  It is too early to look for mummyberry mushrooms the soils are too cool.

Grape buds are tight and dormant.  Growers are tying canes. 

In Strawberries growth is just beginning, there are few new leaves emerged. Growers are applying herbicides and putting down straw mulch.

Raspberries are dormant.  Now is the window for Lime Sulfur applications to suppress anthracnose.

Cranberries are dormant.

Miscellaneous

Growers are pruning and clearing brush.

 

The Fruit Code-A-Phones in Van Buren (269) 657-8217 and Berrien (269) 944-4126 ext 1, will be working and updated by April 1.  The first Monday Fruit IPM Update meeting will be, Monday April 13, at the Fruit Acres Farm in Berrien County. 

 

MSU Fruit Specific Websites

Michigan State University now has four fruit specific websites

§      Grapeswww.grapes.msu.edu

§      Blueberrieswww.blueberries.msu.edu

§      Cherrieswww.cherries.msu.edu

§      Appleswww.apples.msu.edu