Southeast Michigan fruit update – May 13, 2025
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EmailBlueberries and strawberries are blooming and in fruit set.
Welcome to the sixth 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
Despite projections of warmer and drier weather, we have seen continued rain in the region. Mixed with warm temperatures, this wetness can contribute to disease and it’s important as ever to get ahead of diseases with multiple generations, like scab. The coming week is expected to start with more rain with warmer temperatures followed by a cool-down. With the potential for storms coming through Thursday, May 15, it may be helpful to read through this Michigan State University Extension article on responding to hail and severe storms.
This year, our weekly integrated pest management (IPM) updates will be 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 petal fall and fruit set in early varieties like Zestar while even later varieties like Northern Spy are seeing petal fall. Some varieties are seeing a protracted bloom, where flowers take a longer time to fall off. In a protracted bloom, trees are at greater risk for fire blight.
Zestar apple blossoms at the Tollgate Farm in Novi, Michigan, on May 12, 2025. Photo by Derek Plotkowski, MSU Extension.
Blueberries
We are seeing full bloom in some early blueberry varieties with later varieties starting their first bloom. At bloom we see damage when temperatures drop to 28 degrees Fahrenheit.
Brambles
We are seeing continued shoot growth in summer raspberries and blackberries with a few floral buds emerging in summer raspberries. Fall raspberry shoots have elongated to about 8 inches in Hartland.
Cherries
We are seeing fruit set in sweet cherries, with fruitlets at 5 millimeters (mm) in Hartland. Tart cherries are still at petal fall with some lingering blossoms.
Grapes
Bud burst, first leaves and even floral bud exposure have been observed in southeast Michigan. At first leaf the critical temperatures are 27 F for 10% kill and 21 F for 90% kill.
Peaches and nectarines
Peaches in the region are mostly at petal fall with some lingering bloom. At full bloom the critical temperatures are 27 F for 10% kill and 24 F for 90% kill.
Pears
Pears in the region are at fruit set, with pears observed in Hartland at 7 mm diameter.
Plums
Italian plums observed in Romeo were at petal fall.
Strawberries
Flowers are starting to become abundant. Treatments during bloom should focus on leaf spot and fruit rots.
Insect conditions
Pollinators are active in the orchard. This 2024 article on pollinator stewardship during bloom in tree fruit and the 2021 Blueberry Guide for Pollinator Stewardship 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).
Codling moth: Codling moth has been caught in southeast Michigan (biofix set for May 9). Ovicidal products are most effective 100-150 growing degree days base 45 (GDD45) after first adult emergence. See this 2024 article for best management practices.
Grape berry moth: Green berry moth has been caught at the Trevor Nichols Research Center in Fennville. Read this article on early season grape berry moth control.
Green fruit worm: No green fruit worm catches in southeast Michigan. Higher catches this week in Fennville. These can be controlled with insecticides post-bloom.
Oriental fruit moth: Threshold catches of oriental fruit moth have been reported in southeast Michigan while numbers have climbed in Fennville. Ovicidal products are most effective 100-150 GDD45 after first adult emergence.
Pear psylla: Egg hatch continues to climb.
Plum curculio: Catches reported in Fennville. None reported yet in southeast Michigan, though they are surely out.
Redbanded leafroller: Catches are down but remain high in southeast Michigan.
Spotted tentiform leafminer: Control for spotted tentiform leafminer is usually not necessary, but may be useful in problem areas beginning at tight cluster in apples
Tarnished plant bug: Tarnished plant bug damage has been seen in the region in addition to catches. Do not mow, disc or mechanically weed during the critical window as the insect can feed on flowers and developing fruit. Control is usually done at petal fall only if the pest is an issue in your orchard.
Control periods in the warmer parts of the region have passed for black stem borer, mites, scale and rosy apple aphid.
Disease conditions
Apple scab: There is a forecasted risk for infection from May 14-16. Early control of scab is important for reducing secondary scab infections that can affect fruit. No scab has been reported regionally yet.
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 be necessary to control if there are high temperatures during bloom, especially in orchards that have had brown rot presence in previous seasons.
Cherry leaf spot: There is low risk for cherry leaf spot in the next week. See this 2013 article on cherry leaf spot management.
Fire blight: There is some risk for fire blight in trees with lingering blossoms. No fire blight has been reported regionally yet.
Grape black rot: Control for grape black rot usually begins at 1-inch shoot length. See this 2014 article for grape black rot management options and consult E0154.
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. You can start to include products labeled for powdery mildew in sprays starting at tight cluster. There is forecasted risk for infection from May 18-20.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, southeast Michigan has seen on average over 11 hours of rain accumulating to roughly 0.6 inches of precipitation. We are ahead of the five-year average in amount of rainfall.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- May 12, 2025, issued May 12, 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 7.2 | 140 | 6.0 | 135 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 8.4 | 141 | 6.1 | 136 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 8.0 | 138 | 6.4 | 137 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 6.9 | 118 | 5.4 | 128 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 7.8 | 140 | 5.9 | 135 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 6.3 | 116 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 8.7 | 146 | 6.1 | 133 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 7.1 | 128 | 5.4 | 127 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 7.8 | 136 | 4.7 | 136 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 5.5 | 119 | 5.6 | 124 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 4.5 | 163 | 5.2 | 123 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 8.4 | 128 | 5.1 | 122 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 8.2 | 138 | 5.4 | 125 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 6.2 | 102 | 5.2 | 129 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 7.2 | 132.4 | 5.6 | 130.0 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed May 5 and May 12, 2025; issued May 12, 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | 5-May | 12-May | Difference | 5-May | 12-May | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 6.7 | 7.2 | 0.5 | 129 | 140 | 11.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 7.9 | 8.4 | 0.5 | 128 | 141 | 13.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 7.0 | 8.0 | 1.0 | 125 | 138 | 13.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 6.6 | 6.9 | 0.3 | 112 | 118 | 6.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 7.1 | 7.8 | 0.8 | 131 | 140 | 9.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 5.5 | 6.3 | 0.7 | 106 | 116 | 10.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 7.5 | 8.7 | 1.2 | 130 | 146 | 16.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 6.4 | 7.1 | 0.7 | 118 | 128 | 10.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 7.5 | 7.8 | 0.3 | 129 | 136 | 7.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 4.7 | 5.5 | 0.7 | 109 | 119 | 10.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 4.1 | 4.5 | 0.4 | 137 | 163 | 26.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 7.6 | 8.4 | 0.9 | 118 | 128 | 10.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 7.6 | 8.2 | 0.6 | 126 | 138 | 12.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 5.8 | 6.2 | 0.3 | 96 | 102 | 6.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 6.6 | 7.2 | 0.6 | 121.0 | 132.4 | 11.4 |
In the short term, we are expecting warm and wet conditions through the end of the week followed by a cool-down on the weekend. Storms may develop Thursday evening into Friday. Lows through the week will be in the 50s followed by 40s on the weekend. Highs will start in the 70s and 80s midweek followed by 60s on the weekend.
In the medium term, we are expecting temperatures to be cooler than normal with precipitation above normal. This is a change from past weeks where we’ve been expecting warmer and drier conditions. The long lead outlooks are calling for both temperature and precipitation to be near normal.
In the warmer parts of the region, we are further ahead of the five-year average in growing degree day accumulations while the cooler areas in the northern part of Southeast Michigan have growing degree day numbers very close to the five-year average. Read this Michigan State University Extension article to learn more about degree days: Understanding growing degree-days.
| Degree Day Accumulation Mar. 1-May 12, 2025 Forecast from May 13-May 19, 2025; issued May 12, 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) | 522 | 444 | 693 | 411 | 341 | 561 | 259 | 210 | 374 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 632 | 548 | 809 | 504 | 429 | 660 | 331 | 273 | 453 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 558 | 485 | 726 | 440 | 376 | 587 | 279 | 237 | 391 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 452 | 428 | 612 | 348 | 328 | 487 | 213 | 199 | 319 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 569 | 497 | 742 | 452 | 387 | 603 | 292 | 245 | 408 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 442 | 441 | 603 | 339 | 340 | 479 | 205 | 211 | 312 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 560 | 487 | 736 | 444 | 379 | 599 | 288 | 241 | 409 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 503 | 473 | 665 | 391 | 367 | 533 | 244 | 230 | 352 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 524 | 468 | 686 | 414 | 364 | 555 | 265 | 230 | 373 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 370 | 376 | 522 | 278 | 284 | 409 | 162 | 171 | 260 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 364 | 384 | 506 | 271 | 291 | 393 | 157 | 177 | 244 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 473 | 470 | 636 | 364 | 365 | 506 | 249 | 227 | 328 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 505 | 447 | 671 | 393 | 342 | 539 | 247 | 208 | 358 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 434 | 406 | 584 | 332 | 310 | 462 | 200 | 190 | 296 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 493 | 454 | 657 | 384 | 350 | 527 | 242 | 218 | 348 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2025 observed May 5 and May 12, 2025; issued May 12, 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 |
| 5-May | 12-May | Difference | 5-May | 12-May | Difference | 5-May | 12-May | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 444 | 522 | 78.0 | 348 | 411 | 63.0 | 217 | 259 | 42.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 544 | 632 | 88.0 | 432 | 504 | 72.0 | 282 | 331 | 49.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 482 | 558 | 76.0 | 378 | 440 | 62.0 | 238 | 279 | 41.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 387 | 452 | 65.0 | 296 | 348 | 52.0 | 180 | 213 | 33.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 487 | 569 | 82.0 | 384 | 452 | 68.0 | 245 | 292 | 47.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 367 | 442 | 75.0 | 278 | 339 | 61.0 | 166 | 205 | 39.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 479 | 560 | 81.0 | 378 | 444 | 66.0 | 244 | 288 | 44.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 419 | 503 | 84.0 | 323 | 391 | 68.0 | 198 | 244 | 46.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 451 | 524 | 73.0 | 355 | 414 | 59.0 | 226 | 265 | 39.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 310 | 370 | 60.0 | 231 | 278 | 47.0 | 134 | 162 | 28.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 316 | 364 | 48.0 | 235 | 271 | 36.0 | 136 | 157 | 21.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 403 | 473 | 70.0 | 308 | 364 | 56.0 | 184 | 249 | 65.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 433 | 505 | 72.0 | 336 | 393 | 57.0 | 210 | 247 | 37.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 372 | 434 | 62.0 | 282 | 332 | 50.0 | 168 | 200 | 32.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 421 | 493 | 72 | 326 | 384 | 58 | 202 | 242 | 40 |
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.
This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no 2024-70006-43569] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
