Southeast Michigan Fruit Update- May 20, 2025
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EmailBlueberries and strawberries are blooming and in fruit set.
Welcome to the seventh 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
Cooler weather moved into the region and wet conditions will continue through the end of the week. 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 continued potential for storms 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 fruit set and some sizing up in early varieties like Zestar. Most varieties are at petal fall. Growers are starting to put their petal fall sprays on, though some varieties are seeing a protracted bloom. In a protracted bloom, trees are at greater risk for fire blight.
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 floral buds emerging in summer raspberries. Fall raspberry shoots have elongated to about 10 inches in Hartland, Michigan. Wild black raspberry bloom has started.
Cherries
We are seeing fruit set in sweet and tart cherries, with sweet fruitlets at 14 millimeters (mm) in Britton and tarts at 9 mm in Britton
Grapes
We are seeing continued shoot extension in grapes regionally, with Concord observed in Hartland, Michigan, at 10 inches growth.
Peaches and nectarines
Peaches in the region are mostly in the shuck with some trees still at petal fall.
Pears
Pears in the region are at fruit set, with pears observed in Hartland at 13 mm diameter.
Plums
Italian plums observed in Romeo were at fruit set.
Strawberries
Flowers are starting to become abundant and fruit is starting to set. Treatments during bloom should focus on leaf spot and fruit rots.
Insect conditions
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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).
Aphids: Evidence of light woolly apple aphids and rosy apple aphids were found in the region.
Codling moth: Codling moth has been caught in southeast Michigan (biofix set for May 9) and numbers are climbing. Ovicidal products are most effective 100-200 growing degree days base 45 (GDD45) after first adult emergence while larvicidal products can start being used at 200 GDD45. See this 2024 article for best management practices.
European apple sawfly: Some damage from European apple sawfly has been reported regionally.
Grape berry moth: Counts have climbed at the Trevor Nichols Research Center in Fennville, Michigan. Read this article on early season grape berry moth control.
Green fruit worm: No green fruit worm catches reported in southeast Michigan or 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 while larvicidal products can start being used at 170-195 GDD45.
Pear psylla: Egg hatch has leveled off and most larvae are approaching later development stages.
Plum curculio: Catches reported at a few sites around southeast Michigan on May 13.
Red banded leaf roller: Catches are down to low numbers 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 21-24. 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 moderate risk for cherry leaf spot from May 22-23. See this 2013 article on cherry leaf spot management.
Fire blight: Anticipated risk is low in the next week. No fire blight has been reported regionally yet.
Grape black rot: Control for grape black rot usually begins at 1-inch shoot length and some risk is anticipated May 22-23. 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. Anticipated risk is low in the next week.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, southeast Michigan has seen on average of over 7 hours of rain accumulating to roughly 0.7 inches of precipitation. We are ahead of the five-year average in amount of rainfall.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- May 19, 2025, issued May 19, 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 7.6 | 146 | 6.2 | 142 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 8.5 | 147 | 6.5 | 144 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 8.5 | 144 | 6.5 | 142 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 7.8 | 124 | 5.7 | 135 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 8.7 | 147 | 6.2 | 142 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 7.3 | 125 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 9.0 | 153 | 6.5 | 142 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 8.0 | 136 | 5.6 | 132 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 8.9 | 149 | 5.1 | 143 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 6.2 | 128 | 5.7 | 126 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 4.7 | 167 | 5.3 | 126 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 9.7 | 140 | 5.6 | 127 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 9.1 | 147 | 5.7 | 130 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 6.7 | 106 | 5.5 | 134 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 7.9 | 139.9 | 5.9 | 135.8 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed May 12 and May 19, 2025; issued May 19, 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | 12-May | 19-May | Difference | 12-May | 19-May | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 7.2 | 7.6 | 0.3 | 140 | 146 | 6.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 8.4 | 8.5 | 0.1 | 141 | 147 | 6.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 8.0 | 8.5 | 0.5 | 138 | 144 | 6.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 6.9 | 7.8 | 0.9 | 118 | 124 | 6.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 7.8 | 8.7 | 0.9 | 140 | 147 | 7.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 6.3 | 7.3 | 1.1 | 116 | 125 | 9.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 8.7 | 9.0 | 0.3 | 146 | 153 | 7.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 7.1 | 8.0 | 0.9 | 128 | 136 | 8.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 7.8 | 8.9 | 1.1 | 136 | 149 | 13.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 5.5 | 6.2 | 0.7 | 119 | 128 | 9.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 4.5 | 4.7 | 0.2 | 163 | 167 | 4.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 8.4 | 9.7 | 1.3 | 128 | 140 | 12.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 8.2 | 9.1 | 1.0 | 138 | 147 | 9.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 6.2 | 6.7 | 0.6 | 102 | 106 | 4.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 7.2 | 7.9 | 0.7 | 132.4 | 139.9 | 7.6 |
In the short term, we are expecting cool and wet conditions through the end of the week followed by a slow warm-up on the weekend. Low temperatures are expected in the high 30s and low 40s. Highs will start in the 50s midweek followed by 60s on the weekend.
In the medium term, we are expecting temperatures to be cooler than normal with precipitation normal to below 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 19, 2025 Forecast from May 20-May 26, 2025; issued May 19, 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) | 674 | 568 | 745 | 543 | 446 | 594 | 357 | 287 | 382 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 796 | 682 | 876 | 648 | 544 | 708 | 442 | 357 | 475 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 716 | 611 | 782 | 577 | 484 | 626 | 382 | 315 | 407 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 601 | 546 | 663 | 476 | 427 | 519 | 309 | 270 | 329 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 735 | 627 | 805 | 597 | 499 | 648 | 403 | 328 | 428 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 608 | 569 | 672 | 484 | 450 | 529 | 317 | 292 | 338 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 718 | 618 | 793 | 581 | 491 | 638 | 392 | 324 | 422 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 670 | 608 | 736 | 537 | 483 | 584 | 356 | 317 | 380 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 678 | 591 | 739 | 548 | 469 | 591 | 365 | 307 | 386 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 516 | 494 | 574 | 403 | 385 | 443 | 258 | 244 | 275 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 518 | 498 | 575 | 405 | 388 | 443 | 258 | 247 | 275 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 636 | 601 | 699 | 506 | 477 | 550 | 327 | 311 | 348 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 653 | 570 | 722 | 521 | 446 | 571 | 341 | 283 | 366 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 583 | 528 | 638 | 461 | 414 | 497 | 297 | 266 | 312 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 650 | 579 | 716 | 521 | 457 | 567 | 343 | 296 | 366 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2025 observed May 12 and May 19, 2025; issued May 19, 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 |
| 12-May | 19-May | Difference | 12-May | 19-May | Difference | 12-May | 19-May | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 522 | 674 | 152.0 | 411 | 543 | 132.0 | 259 | 357 | 98.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 632 | 796 | 164.0 | 504 | 648 | 144.0 | 331 | 442 | 111.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 558 | 716 | 158.0 | 440 | 577 | 137.0 | 279 | 382 | 103.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 452 | 601 | 149.0 | 348 | 476 | 128.0 | 213 | 309 | 96.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 569 | 735 | 166.0 | 452 | 597 | 145.0 | 292 | 403 | 111.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 442 | 608 | 166.0 | 339 | 484 | 145.0 | 205 | 317 | 112.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 560 | 718 | 158.0 | 444 | 581 | 137.0 | 288 | 392 | 104.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 503 | 670 | 167.0 | 391 | 537 | 146.0 | 244 | 356 | 112.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 524 | 678 | 154.0 | 414 | 548 | 134.0 | 265 | 365 | 100.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 370 | 516 | 146.0 | 278 | 403 | 125.0 | 162 | 258 | 96.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 364 | 518 | 154.0 | 271 | 405 | 134.0 | 157 | 258 | 101.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 473 | 636 | 163.0 | 364 | 506 | 142.0 | 249 | 327 | 78.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 505 | 653 | 148.0 | 393 | 521 | 128.0 | 247 | 341 | 94.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 434 | 583 | 149.0 | 332 | 461 | 129.0 | 200 | 297 | 97.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 493 | 650 | 157 | 384 | 521 | 136 | 242 | 343 | 101 |
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.
