Southeast Michigan fruit update – July 29, 2025
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EmailPeach harvest is accelerating and we have the first veraison in grapes.
Welcome to the 17th in-season fruit article update for southeast Michigan for the 2025 season. Throughout the season these updates will include information about the weather in the past week and the upcoming week, a fruit-by-fruit guide to current conditions with appropriate pest and disease updates, and other relevant observations.
General observations
The last week was hot and relatively dry. We expect temperatures to drop by the end of the week with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s compared to the 90-plus degree highs from early in the week. There will be some potential for showers, but we are not expecting a great deal of rain. Growers continue picking blueberries and raspberries. Peaches are starting to ramp up with growers in the warmer parts of the region expecting Red Haven as early as Aug. 2.
Our weekly integrated pest management updates wrapped up in June. You can watch recordings of the fruit meetings for southern Michigan on MSU’s Kaltura Media Space at the small fruit channel and the tree fruit channel.
Fruit-by-fruit conditions
Apples
Fruit is expanding and growers should be somewhere around their sixth cover spray for the season. There is severe risk for powdery mildew infections all week. Risk for secondary scab is low.
Table 1. Normal and 2025 peak harvest dates for varieties for the southeast Michigan area.
|
Variety |
Normal |
Predicted |
Last Year |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Paulared |
22-Aug |
18-Aug |
7-Aug |
|
Zestar |
22-Aug |
18-Aug |
7-Aug |
|
Gingergold |
23-Aug |
19-Aug |
9-Aug |
|
Gala |
8-Sep |
4-Sep |
24-Aug |
|
McIntosh |
13-Sep |
9-Sep |
26-Aug |
|
Honeycrisp |
16-Sep |
12-Sep |
29-Aug |
|
Empire |
20-Sep |
17-Sep |
7-Sep |
|
Jonathan |
23-Sep |
22-Sep |
10-Sep |
|
Jonagold |
23-Sep |
20-Sep |
10-Sep |
|
Fuji |
25-Sep |
22-Sep |
13-Sep |
|
Golden Delicious |
29-Sep |
26-Sep |
13-Sep |
|
Red Delicious |
1-Oct |
29-Sep |
17-Sep |
|
Idared |
6-Oct |
2-Oct |
24-Sep |
|
Rome |
11-Oct |
7-Oct |
24-Sep |
|
Braeburn |
23-Oct |
19-Oct |
9-Oct |
|
Goldrush |
31-Oct |
27-Oct |
15-Oct |
Blueberries
Farms in the region are in the middle blueberry harvest. The main concern now is spotted wing drosophila.
Brambles
Harvest of summer raspberries continues while blackberries in warm areas can be spot picked. Black raspberry harvest continues. Fall raspberries are starting to flower at some location, with some already showing fruit. Sunscald and sunburn are major concerns in raspberries this time of year. This can be mitigated by irrigating or using a product like kaolin clay.
Cherries
Harvest has largely concluded.
Grapes
Veraison has been seen in Canadice grapes in Britton. There was a first blush in Marquette grapes in Ray Township. Grape berry moth trap counts remain low in Lenawee and Macomb counties. Powdery mildew infection risk is high throughout the week of July 29-Aug. 4. Black rot and downy mildew risk remain low this week.
Peaches and nectarines
Red Haven harvest is anticipated to start in the next week in warmer parts of the region. Most peaches are at the stage of expansion after pit hardening and are taking on color.
Pears
Pears in the region are expanding and starting to show some color.
Plums
Harvest has moved quickly for early golden plums in Romeo. Shiro and Methley plums observed in Romeo were getting close to harvest while Italian plums were taking on color.
Strawberries
Harvest has largely wrapped up in the region. Yield was spotty, with some farms having a normal yield and others with low yield. Renovation should proceed as soon after harvest as possible. You can read this 2023 article on strawberry renovation.
Insect conditions
More in-depth information can be found by watching the latest weekly fruit meetings on MSU’s Kaltura Media Space (these may take a few days to upload after the meetings).
Aphids: Green apple aphid and woolly apple aphids are present but seem to be under control in the region with woolly apple aphids moving to terminals.
Apple maggot: Catches have been reported on baited red balls for roughly four weeks, though numbers in southeast Michigan have declined. Catches at Fennville climbed very quickly and then dropped (remaining high).
Codling moth: Counts are rising low southeast Michigan and are remaining steady in Fennville. Some codling moth stings have been observed regionally. See this article for best management practices.
Grape berry moth: Counts are down in southeast Michigan but are starting to rise again at the Trevor Nichols Research Center in Fennville. Read this article on early season grape berry moth control.
Obliquebanded leafroller: Catches are down, with counts mostly below five in southeast Michigan and Fennville. Not much damage has been observed.
Oriental fruit moth: Counts remain low in southeast Michigan and continue dropping at the Trevor Nichols Research Center.
Pear psylla: Adults have been observed regionally along with some damage.
San Jose scale: Crawlers have waxed up, meaning larvicidal sprays will no longer be effective. Counts of males continue climbing at Fennville.
Spotted wing drosophila: Females have been caught in southeast Michigan cherry orchards and raspberry patches. The hot and humid conditions are likely to encourage their growth. If you have susceptible crops, you should assess fruit for larvae.
Disease conditions
Apple scab: Models indicate no remaining spores and the end of primary scab season. Very little scab has been reported, indicating low risk for secondary scab.
Brown rot: Fungicides may used again about three weeks before harvest in stone fruit.
Cherry leaf spot: We do not anticipate risk for additional cherry leaf spot infections this week. See this 2013 article on cherry leaf spot management.
Fire blight: Strikes have been reported in southeast Michigan in orchards with susceptible varieties and a history of fire blight, but these seem to be isolated.
Grape black rot: Control for grape black rot usually begins at 1-inch shoot length. We do not anticipate risk for new infections. See this 2014 article for grape black rot management options and consult E0154.
Grape downy mildew: We do not anticipate risk for new infections.
Phomopsis: In blueberries, the Phomopsis fungus is active from bud swell until after harvest.
Powdery mildew of apple and pear: Some powdery mildew has already been reported in the region, though treatments seem to have been effective at keeping it under control. Anticipated risk is high to severe in the next week from July 29-Aug. 4.
Powdery mildew of grape: Severe risk anticipated from July 29-Aug. 4.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, southeast Michigan has seen on average of 6.5 hours of rain accumulating to about 0.9 inches of precipitation. We are about 1.7 inches ahead of the five-year average in amount and 7 hours of rainfall ahead of the average.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- July 28, 2025, issued July 28, 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 14.0 | 238 | 14.6 | 244 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 15.1 | 235 | 14.2 | 233 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 14.4 | 247 | 14.5 | 232 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 16.9 | 229 | 13.5 | 242 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 15.1 | 284 | 14.7 | 239 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 12.5 | 216 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 14.4 | 246 | 14.6 | 237 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 13.2 | 225 | 12.5 | 221 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 18.0 | 246 | 14.1 | 246 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 11.9 | 230 | 13.2 | 222 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 15.7 | 287 | 11.5 | 222 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 18.1 | 241 | 12.7 | 214 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 19.4 | 228 | 15.3 | 235 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 14.9 | 217 | 12.1 | 252 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 15.3 | 240.6 | 13.6 | 233.8 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed July 21 and July 28, 2025; issued July 28, 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | ||
| Station (County) | 21-Jul | 28-Jul | Difference | 21-Jul | 28-Jul | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 12.9 | 14.0 | 1.1 | 231 | 238 | 7.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 14.4 | 15.1 | 0.7 | 225 | 235 | 10.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 13.7 | 14.4 | 0.6 | 242 | 247 | 5.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 16.2 | 16.9 | 0.8 | 223 | 229 | 6.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 15.0 | 15.1 | 0.1 | 281 | 284 | 3.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 12.1 | 12.5 | 0.4 | 211 | 216 | 5.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 13.4 | 14.4 | 0.9 | 236 | 246 | 10.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 13.2 | 13.2 | 0.0 | 224 | 225 | 1.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 16.6 | 18.0 | 1.5 | 240 | 246 | 6.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 11.4 | 11.9 | 0.5 | 221 | 230 | 9.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 13.4 | 15.7 | 2.3 | 274 | 287 | 13.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 16.7 | 18.1 | 1.4 | 238 | 241 | 3.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 19.1 | 19.4 | 0.3 | 222 | 228 | 6.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 13.4 | 14.9 | 1.5 | 210 | 217 | 7.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 14.4 | 15.3 | 0.9 | 234.1 | 240.6 | 6.5 |
In the short term, we are expecting hot and humid conditions with some potential for showers on Friday, Aug. 1, and showers on Wednesday and Thursday. Starting Wednesday temperatures will drop into highs in the upper 70s and low 80s while lows will dip into the 50s for the rest of the week.
In the medium term, we are expecting above normal temperatures and precipitation to be a little above normal. The long lead outlooks are calling for temperature to be above normal and precipitation to be near normal.
Around the region our growing degree day numbers have remained close to the four-year average. In the last week we gained an average of 163 growing degree days at base 50 in the region. Read this Michigan State University Extension article to learn more about degree days: Understanding growing degree-days.
| Degree Day Accumulation Mar. 1-July 28, 2025 Forecast from July 29-August 3, 2025; issued July 28, 2025 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Degree Days Base 42°F Current | Degree Days Base 42°F Average (4 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 42°F Forecast | Degree Days Base 45°F Current | Degree Days Base 45°F Average (4 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 45°F Forecast | Degree Days Base 50°F Current | Degree Days Base 50°F Average (4 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 50°F Forecast |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 2474 | 2390 | 2688 | 2139 | 2062 | 2332 | 1627 | 1564 | 1785 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 2732 | 2623 | 2943 | 2379 | 2277 | 2569 | 1837 | 1752 | 1992 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 2561 | 2450 | 2764 | 2219 | 2116 | 2402 | 1697 | 1613 | 1844 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 2265 | 2287 | 2460 | 1939 | 1962 | 2113 | 1450 | 1472 | 1589 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 2619 | 2531 | 2826 | 2277 | 2195 | 2463 | 1753 | 1685 | 1904 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 2448 | 2413 | 2650 | 2119 | 2086 | 2300 | 1622 | 1590 | 1768 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 2606 | 2528 | 2818 | 2267 | 2195 | 2457 | 1749 | 1689 | 1905 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 2574 | 2522 | 2777 | 2237 | 2189 | 2418 | 1724 | 1680 | 1871 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 2436 | 2376 | 2632 | 2104 | 2050 | 2279 | 1598 | 1558 | 1738 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 2232 | 2235 | 2428 | 1916 | 1918 | 2091 | 1442 | 1441 | 1582 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 2227 | 2274 | 2429 | 1910 | 1957 | 2092 | 1439 | 1479 | 1585 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 2471 | 2471 | 2669 | 2136 | 2139 | 2313 | 1627 | 1633 | 1769 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 2469 | 2417 | 2673 | 2133 | 2085 | 2316 | 1623 | 1582 | 1771 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 2338 | 2308 | 2532 | 2013 | 1989 | 2185 | 1524 | 1507 | 1661 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 2461 | 2416 | 2664 | 2128 | 2087 | 2309 | 1622 | 1589 | 1769 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2025 observed July 21 and July 28, 2025; issued July 28, 2025 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Degree Days Base 42°F | Degree Days Base 42°F | Degree Days Base 42°F | Degree Days Base 45°F | Degree Days Base 45°F | Degree Days Base 45°F | Degree Days Base 50°F | Degree Days Base 50°F | Degree Days Base 50°F |
| 21-Jul | 28-Jul | Difference | 21-Jul | 28-Jul | Difference | 21-Jul | 28-Jul | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 2249 | 2474 | 225.0 | 1936 | 2139 | 203.0 | 1458 | 1627 | 169.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 2503 | 2732 | 229.0 | 2171 | 2379 | 208.0 | 1665 | 1837 | 172.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 2331 | 2561 | 230.0 | 2011 | 2219 | 208.0 | 1523 | 1697 | 174.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 2080 | 2265 | 185.0 | 1774 | 1939 | 165.0 | 1320 | 1450 | 130.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 2383 | 2619 | 236.0 | 2063 | 2277 | 214.0 | 1573 | 1753 | 180.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 2228 | 2448 | 220.0 | 1920 | 2119 | 199.0 | 1458 | 1622 | 164.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 2379 | 2606 | 227.0 | 2060 | 2267 | 207.0 | 1577 | 1749 | 172.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 2343 | 2574 | 231.0 | 2027 | 2237 | 210.0 | 1549 | 1724 | 175.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 2218 | 2436 | 218.0 | 1908 | 2104 | 196.0 | 1436 | 1598 | 162.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 2027 | 2232 | 205.0 | 1732 | 1916 | 184.0 | 1292 | 1442 | 150.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 2017 | 2227 | 210.0 | 1721 | 1910 | 189.0 | 1284 | 1439 | 155.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 2252 | 2471 | 219.0 | 1938 | 2136 | 198.0 | 1464 | 1627 | 163.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 2248 | 2469 | 221.0 | 1933 | 2133 | 200.0 | 1458 | 1623 | 165.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 2127 | 2338 | 211.0 | 1823 | 2013 | 190.0 | 1368 | 1524 | 156.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 2242 | 2461 | 219 | 1930 | 2128 | 198 | 1459 | 1622 | 163 |
Watch Jeff Andresen's biweekly agricultural weather forecast reports.
More information and reports on normal weather conditions and departures from normal can be found on the NOAA Climate Prediction Center website, NOAA U.S. Climate Normals website, NOAA Climate Normals Quick Access Page (which may be searched by region), and Midwest Regional Climate Center website.
