Southeast Michigan fruit update – June 10, 2025
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EmailStrawberry harvest begins.
Welcome to the 10th 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 brought a few days of rain and a range of temperatures, but the season is progressing pretty normally. Growers in the region started harvesting strawberries last week and cherries are starting to take on some color. We expect wet conditions this week, which should keep temperatures down. This wetness can contribute to disease and it’s important as ever to get ahead of diseases with multiple generations, like scab.
We’re getting close to the end of our weekly integrated pest management (IPM) updates, which are scheduled through the end of June. Our weekly IPM updates are separated into two meetings: a small fruit meeting for southern Michigan on Tuesday evenings (register for small fruit IPM meetings) and a statewide tree fruit IPM update on Wednesdays at noon (register for tree fruit IPM meetings). It is a good opportunity to hear from experts, ask questions and receive restricted use pesticide (RUP) credits. See the latest fruit meetings for southern Michigan on MSU’s Kaltura Media Space (these may take a few days to upload after the meetings are held) at the small fruit channel and the tree fruit channel.
Fruit-by-fruit conditions
Apples
We are seeing fruit set and some sizing up apples around the region. King fruit on Zestar observed in Novi were 35 millimeters (mm) in diameter. Thinning efficacy has been spotty this season, with cool temperatures reducing effectiveness. I have not seen June drop in the region, but it will be coming soon. Most growers are between their first and second cover sprays.
Blueberries
We are seeing fruit expansion in blueberries. Bloom has finished.
Brambles
We are seeing fruit set in summer raspberries with some continuing bloom. In some areas blackberries are at prebloom, while other areas are already seeing fruit set. Fall raspberry shoots have elongated well past 24 inches in Hartland.
Cherries
We are seeing some pit hardening and the start of coloration in sweet and tart cherries.
Grapes
We are seeing continued shoot extension in grapes regionally with most varieties at pre-bloom. Wild grape bloom has begun but we have yet to see bloom in cultivated grapes.
Peaches and nectarines
Peaches in the region expanding with no evidence of pit hardening yet.
Pears
Pears in the region are expanding, with pears observed in Hartland at 20 mm diameter. Adult pear psylla has been reported in the region.
Plums
Shiro plums observed in Romeo were expanding.
Strawberries
Harvest has started throughout the region.
Insect conditions
Pollinators are still active in some fruit crops! This 2024 article on pollinator stewardship during bloom in tree fruit and the 2021 guide for pollinator stewardship in blueberries are particularly relevant at this time.
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: Evidence of green apple aphid, green peach aphid, light woolly apple aphids and rosy apple aphids found in the region. Damage hasn’t been extensive.
Codling moth: Codling moth counts are up, especially in conventional blocks. Larvicidal products can start being used at 200 GDD50 after biofix (May 9 for Romeo) with egg hatch starting at 250 GDD50. See this article for best management practices.
European apple sawfly: Some damage from has been reported regionally.
Grape berry moth: Counts have climbed at the Trevor Nichols Research Center in Fennville and they have been caught in southeast Michigan. Read this article on early season grape berry moth control.
Oriental fruit moth: Counts are low but starting to climb again in southeast Michigan.
Pear psylla: Adults have been observed in Macomb County. Larvae are maturing and a new generation of egg laying is expected in the next couple weeks.
Plum curculio: Catches continue. We are around the peak time for spring adult migration.
Redbanded leaf roller: Catches are down to low numbers in southeast Michigan.
San Jose scale: Crawlers have been spotted in the region and can be targeted in a cover spray.
Spotted wing drosophila has been caught in southwest Michigan. I have traps in southeast Michigan but we have no catches.
Control periods in the warmer parts of the region have passed for black stem borer, mites, first generation oriental fruit moth and rosy apple aphid.
Disease conditions
Apple scab: There is not a forecasted risk for infection this week. Early control of scab is important for reducing secondary scab infections that can affect fruit. Very little scab has been reported regionally yet. Rimpro models indicate that we are not quite at the end of primary scab season, though spore counts have dropped greatly.
Black knot: There is still time to prune out and burn black knot in plums and sour cherries. Fungicides may be used for limited control to supplement pruning and sanitation efforts.
Brown rot: Fungicides may used again about three weeks before harvest in stone fruit.
Cherry leaf spot: There is no forecasted risk for cherry leaf this week. See this article on cherry leaf spot management.
Fire blight: Anticipated risk is low in the next week. Some strikes have been reported in northwest Ohio.
Grape black rot: Control for grape black rot usually begins at 1-inch shoot length but we don’t anticipate risk this week. See this article for grape black rot management options and consult E0154.
Grape downy mildew: No risk is forecasted this week.
Mummy berry: We are still in the season for mummy berry infections. See E2846 for control methods.
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. You can start to include products labeled for powdery mildew in sprays starting at tight cluster. Anticipated risk is high to severe in the next week starting June 11 and climbing quickly through the end of the week.
Powdery mildew of grape: Severe risk anticipated from June 11-17, the whole week.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, southeast Michigan has seen on average 12.5 hours of rain accumulating to roughly 0.9 inch of precipitation. We are about 2 inches ahead of the 5-year average in amount and 17 hours of rainfall ahead of the average.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- June 9, 2025, issued June 9, 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 8.9 | 176 | 7.8 | 167 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 11.3 | 183 | 8.4 | 167 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 10.5 | 192 | 8.1 | 166 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 9.8 | 165 | 7.3 | 163 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 10.7 | 200 | 8.4 | 171 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 8.7 | 166 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 11.7 | 198 | 8.2 | 165 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 9.5 | 178 | 7.3 | 156 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 10.8 | 191 | 6.8 | 172 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 7.2 | 162 | 7.1 | 152 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 5.6 | 208 | 6.8 | 153 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 11.9 | 186 | 7.0 | 152 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 10.6 | 170 | 7.6 | 158 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 8.1 | 153 | 6.9 | 177 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 9.7 | 180.6 | 7.5 | 163.0 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed June 2 and June 9, 2025; issued June 9, 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | 2-Jun | 9-Jun | Difference | 2-Jun | 9-Jun | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 8.1 | 8.9 | 0.8 | 165 | 176 | 11.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 9.6 | 11.3 | 1.7 | 168 | 183 | 15.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 9.5 | 10.5 | 1.0 | 172 | 192 | 20.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 8.6 | 9.8 | 1.3 | 152 | 165 | 13.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 9.8 | 10.7 | 0.9 | 186 | 200 | 14.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 8.2 | 8.7 | 0.4 | 156 | 166 | 10.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 9.7 | 11.7 | 2.0 | 176 | 198 | 22.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 9.0 | 9.5 | 0.4 | 166 | 178 | 12.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 9.9 | 10.8 | 1.0 | 177 | 191 | 14.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 6.9 | 7.2 | 0.3 | 157 | 162 | 5.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 5.4 | 5.6 | 0.3 | 203 | 208 | 5.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 11.0 | 11.9 | 0.9 | 175 | 186 | 11.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 9.7 | 10.6 | 0.8 | 161 | 170 | 9.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 7.7 | 8.1 | 0.4 | 139 | 153 | 14.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 8.8 | 9.7 | 0.9 | 168.1 | 180.6 | 12.5 |
In the short term, we are expecting cool, dry and fair conditions midweek followed by showers and thunderstorms from Wednesday night into Thursday and continuing through Saturday. During this wet period, we expect temperature highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s. From Sunday until early next week, we expect fair and dry conditions.
In the medium term, we are expecting temperatures to be normal to slightly above normal with precipitation above normal levels. The long lead outlooks are calling for both temperature and precipitation to be near normal.
Around the region our growing degree day numbers have dropped below the 4-year average. In the last week we gained between 98-124 growing degree days at base 50 in the region, with the average accumulation being 110. Read this Michigan State University Extension article to learn more about degree days: Understanding growing degree-days.
| Degree Day Accumulation Mar. 1-June 9, 2025 Forecast from June 10-June 16, 2025; issued June 9, 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) | 984 | 1030 | 1152 | 796 | 848 | 944 | 528 | 593 | 641 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 1161 | 1180 | 1344 | 955 | 982 | 1167 | 659 | 699 | 785 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 1040 | 1080 | 1206 | 845 | 893 | 990 | 567 | 631 | 678 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 892 | 990 | 1048 | 713 | 812 | 847 | 469 | 562 | 569 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 1069 | 1114 | 1237 | 874 | 926 | 1021 | 595 | 658 | 707 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 963 | 1049 | 1120 | 781 | 869 | 917 | 529 | 616 | 630 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 1053 | 1109 | 1231 | 860 | 922 | 1017 | 587 | 659 | 709 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 1032 | 1110 | 1189 | 841 | 924 | 977 | 574 | 659 | 675 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 988 | 1045 | 1144 | 804 | 865 | 938 | 541 | 612 | 641 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 838 | 947 | 991 | 669 | 777 | 801 | 439 | 541 | 535 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 825 | 950 | 974 | 655 | 779 | 783 | 427 | 544 | 520 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 985 | 1092 | 1144 | 797 | 907 | 936 | 533 | 643 | 636 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 974 | 1040 | 1139 | 786 | 856 | 929 | 520 | 596 | 629 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 892 | 986 | 1041 | 713 | 812 | 841 | 469 | 570 | 562 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 978 | 1052 | 1140 | 792 | 869 | 936 | 531 | 613 | 637 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2025 observed June 2 and June 9, 2025; issued June 9, 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 |
| 2-Jun | 9-Jun | Difference | 2-Jun | 9-Jun | Difference | 2-Jun | 9-Jun | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 825 | 984 | 159.0 | 658 | 796 | 138.0 | 423 | 528 | 105.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 985 | 1161 | 176.0 | 799 | 955 | 156.0 | 536 | 659 | 123.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 876 | 1040 | 164.0 | 701 | 845 | 144.0 | 457 | 567 | 110.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 741 | 892 | 151.0 | 582 | 713 | 131.0 | 371 | 469 | 98.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 904 | 1069 | 165.0 | 730 | 874 | 144.0 | 485 | 595 | 110.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 790 | 963 | 173.0 | 629 | 781 | 152.0 | 410 | 529 | 119.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 888 | 1053 | 165.0 | 715 | 860 | 145.0 | 474 | 587 | 113.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 853 | 1032 | 179.0 | 683 | 841 | 158.0 | 450 | 574 | 124.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 835 | 988 | 153.0 | 670 | 804 | 134.0 | 441 | 541 | 100.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 680 | 838 | 158.0 | 532 | 669 | 137.0 | 335 | 439 | 104.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 674 | 825 | 151.0 | 524 | 655 | 131.0 | 329 | 427 | 98.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 811 | 985 | 174.0 | 644 | 797 | 153.0 | 413 | 533 | 120.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 815 | 974 | 159.0 | 647 | 786 | 139.0 | 415 | 520 | 105.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 734 | 892 | 158.0 | 576 | 713 | 137.0 | 365 | 469 | 104.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 815 | 978 | 163 | 649 | 792 | 143 | 422 | 531 | 110 |
Watch Jeff Andresen's weekly agricultural weather forecast reports here.
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.
