Southeast Michigan fruit update – May 7, 2025
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EmailBlueberries and strawberries are blooming.
Welcome to the fifth 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
We have had a busy weather week with wind, warm temperatures and driving rain. The heat has pushed many of our small fruit crops into bloom while the rain has increased disease risk.
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 king bloom in later varieties like Northern Spy while other cultivars are between full bloom and petal fall. At the bloom stage the critical temperatures are 28 degrees Fahrenheit for 10% kill and 25 F for 90% kill.
Blueberries
We are seeing early bloom in some blueberry varieties with later varieties staying in the pink bud stage in Hartland. We are still in the risk period for mummy berry and it is time to start paying attention to phomopsis. FRAC 3 fungicides are reported to be efficacious for both mummy berry and phomopsis. At late pink bud we see damage when temperatures drop to the 24-27 F range. At bloom we see damage when temperatures drop to 28 F.
Brambles
We are seeing continued shoot growth in summer raspberries and blackberries with a few floral buds emerging. Fall raspberry shoots are also starting to elongate.
Cherries
We are seeing the start of petal fall in both sweet and tart cherries.
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 still blooming with some petal fall. 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 petal fall, with some still blooming. At bloom the critical temperatures are 28 F for 10% kill and 24 F for 90% kill.
Plums
European plums observed in Romeo were at petal fall.
Strawberries
Flowers are starting to appear. 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).
Green fruit worm: Higher catches this week in Fennville. These can be controlled with insecticides post-bloom.
Oriental fruit moth: First catches of oriental fruit moth have been reported in southeast Michigan while numbers have climbed in Fennville. Ovicidal products are most effective 100-150 growing degree days base 45 (GDD45) after first adult emergence.
Pear psylla: Egg hatch continues to climb.
Plum curculio: Catches reported in Fennville.
Red banded leaf roller: Catches are 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: Do not mow, disc or mechanically weed during the critical window. Tarnished plant bug 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 on May 7 and 8. Early control of scab is important for reducing secondary scab infections that can affect fruit.
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 risk for cherry leaf spot on May 7 and 8. See this 2013 article on cherry leaf spot management.
Fire blight: There is some risk for fire blight May 7 and 9.
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: You can start to include products labeled for powdery mildew in sprays starting at tight cluster. There is forecasted risk for infection on May 13.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, southeast Michigan has seen on average of nearly 16 hours of rain accumulating to roughly 1.5 inches of precipitation. We are ahead of the five-year average in amount of rainfall.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- May 5, 2025, issued May 5, 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 6.7 | 129 | 5.6 | 127 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 7.9 | 128 | 5.6 | 125 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 7.0 | 125 | 6.2 | 131 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 6.6 | 112 | 5.2 | 123 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 7.1 | 131 | 5.6 | 129 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 5.5 | 106 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 7.5 | 130 | 5.6 | 123 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 6.4 | 118 | 5.2 | 122 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 7.5 | 129 | 4.5 | 130 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 4.7 | 109 | 5.4 | 117 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 4.1 | 137 | 4.9 | 117 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 7.6 | 118 | 4.9 | 116 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 7.6 | 126 | 5.1 | 119 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 5.8 | 96 | 5.1 | 124 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 6.6 | 121.0 | 5.3 | 123.3 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed Apr. 27 and May 5, 2025; issued May 6, 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | 27-Apr | 5-May | Difference | 27-Apr | 5-May | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 4.9 | 6.7 | 1.8 | 108 | 129 | 21.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 5.1 | 7.9 | 2.7 | 108 | 128 | 20.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 5.4 | 7.0 | 1.7 | 103 | 125 | 22.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 5.6 | 6.6 | 1.0 | 94 | 112 | 18.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 6.0 | 7.1 | 1.1 | 113 | 131 | 18.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 4.4 | 5.5 | 1.2 | 97 | 106 | 9.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 6.2 | 7.5 | 1.3 | 111 | 130 | 19.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 5.6 | 6.4 | 0.8 | 106 | 118 | 12.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 6.6 | 7.5 | 0.9 | 115 | 129 | 14.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 4.0 | 4.7 | 0.8 | 98 | 109 | 11.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 3.6 | 4.1 | 0.5 | 125 | 137 | 12.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 6.5 | 7.6 | 1.1 | 105 | 118 | 13.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 5.8 | 7.6 | 1.8 | 103 | 126 | 23.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 5.0 | 5.8 | 0.8 | 86 | 96 | 10.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 5.3 | 6.6 | 1.2 | 105.1 | 121.0 | 15.9 |
In the short term, we are expecting cloudy and cool temperatures on Wednesday and Thursday followed by a warmup into the weekend. Lows through the week will be in the 40s while highs will start in the 50s and 60s midweek followed by 60s and 70s on the weekend.
In the medium term, we are expecting temperatures to be above normal with precipitation below normal. The long lead outlooks are calling for both temperature and precipitation to be near normal.
In our 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 5, 2025 Forecast from April 27-May 5, 2025; issued May 6, 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) | 444 | 369 | 547 | 348 | 281 | 431 | 217 | 171 | 304 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 544 | 463 | 654 | 432 | 359 | 522 | 282 | 226 | 342 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 482 | 404 | 579 | 378 | 310 | 457 | 238 | 192 | 289 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 387 | 358 | 473 | 296 | 271 | 364 | 180 | 163 | 222 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 487 | 415 | 584 | 384 | 320 | 463 | 245 | 200 | 297 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 367 | 362 | 456 | 278 | 277 | 349 | 166 | 170 | 210 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 479 | 408 | 588 | 378 | 316 | 467 | 244 | 198 | 272 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 419 | 388 | 516 | 323 | 297 | 401 | 198 | 183 | 249 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 451 | 395 | 542 | 355 | 305 | 428 | 226 | 190 | 273 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 310 | 309 | 398 | 231 | 231 | 301 | 134 | 138 | 177 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 316 | 317 | 387 | 235 | 238 | 288 | 136 | 142 | 164 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 403 | 391 | 493 | 308 | 301 | 379 | 184 | 184 | 229 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 433 | 374 | 533 | 336 | 284 | 417 | 210 | 171 | 262 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 372 | 337 | 451 | 282 | 255 | 344 | 168 | 155 | 205 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 421 | 378 | 514 | 326 | 289 | 401 | 202 | 177 | 250 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2025 observed Apr. 27 and May 5, 2025; issued May 6, 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 |
| Apr. 27 | 5-May | Difference | Apr. 27 | 5-May | Difference | Apr. 27 | 5-May | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 344 | 444 | 100.0 | 267 | 348 | 81.0 | 165 | 217 | 52.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 424 | 544 | 120.0 | 334 | 432 | 98.0 | 215 | 282 | 67.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 374 | 482 | 108.0 | 291 | 378 | 87.0 | 181 | 238 | 57.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 302 | 387 | 85.0 | 230 | 296 | 66.0 | 137 | 180 | 43.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 382 | 487 | 105.0 | 300 | 384 | 84.0 | 190 | 245 | 55.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 276 | 367 | 91.0 | 207 | 278 | 71.0 | 122 | 166 | 44.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 365 | 479 | 114.0 | 285 | 378 | 93.0 | 181 | 244 | 63.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 324 | 419 | 95.0 | 247 | 323 | 76.0 | 148 | 198 | 50.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 355 | 451 | 96.0 | 278 | 355 | 77.0 | 175 | 226 | 51.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 232 | 310 | 78.0 | 172 | 231 | 59.0 | 98 | 134 | 36.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 245 | 316 | 71.0 | 181 | 235 | 54.0 | 103 | 136 | 33.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 311 | 403 | 92.0 | 235 | 308 | 73.0 | 138 | 184 | 46.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 337 | 433 | 96.0 | 260 | 336 | 76.0 | 161 | 210 | 49.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 291 | 372 | 81.0 | 219 | 282 | 63.0 | 129 | 168 | 39.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 326 | 421 | 95 | 250 | 326 | 76 | 153 | 202 | 49 |
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.
