Southwest Michigan fruit update – April 15, 2025
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EmailIt’s still cold and wet, so the fruit are moving slowly.
MSU fruit updates
Michigan State University Extension is in the process of filling the tree fruit specialist position based at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center. Because of this, there will be a more abbreviated tree fruit section in our weekly updates until the position is filled.
We are also moving our weekly integrated pest management (IPM) updates to a virtual format and dividing them into tree fruit-specific meetings and small fruit-specific meetings. The small fruit weekly updates are held Tuesday evenings. Tree fruit weekly updates begin Wednesday, April 16. We are hoping to return to joint small and tree fruit updates next year. Thank you for your understanding and happy spring!
Beginning next week, the MSU Extension Fruit & Nuts email digest will be released on Wednesdays instead of our more traditional Tuesday afternoons to accommodate more article updates that support our scouting reports and timely topics of interest. If you are not yet signed up to receive our weekly digests, sign up here.
Weather
Last week was cool and dry. High temperatures around the region stayed in the 40s for much of the week, climbing into the low 60s on Sunday, April 13, and Monday. Low temperatures were in the upper 20s to mid-30s until the weekend. We are still a week or more ahead of the long-term average on growing degree day development. Wednesday and early Thursday brought the only precipitation. Southwest Michigan saw about a quarter-inch of rain.
The next week should be warmer than the last. Most days should be near or in the 60s with Friday being the warmest day. Some areas may see mid 70s for highs. We are not expecting any mornings below freezing for the next week. Friday will see a chance for thunderstorms and some rain. With the warm weather this week, expect quick movement with many tree fruit varieties. Some small fruit may see quick advancement as well.
Tree fruit
Green fruitworm continue to be captured in monitoring traps in southwest Michigan over the last week. Egglaying should begin soon. The larvae of this early season moth can cause low levels of damage to developing leaves during and shortly after bloom and developing fruit as larvae mature.
Apricots are between full bloom and petal fall in Berrien County, depending on variety and location. Some small levels of freeze damage have been observed in some locations. Early indications are somewhere between 10-20% damage.
Japanese plums are between tight cluster and early bloom. European plums are mostly at tight cluster with some varieties showing some white. Expect significantly more bloom by the weekend.
Peach and nectarine buds are swollen. Most varieties are between calyx red and first pink. Early varieties are between immediate pre-bloom at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center.
Apple early variety Zestar is at first pink in Berrien County. Many varieties are at green tip. Scab sprays will be needed to protect against future rains as green tissue emerges. Protectants are preferred over systemic fungicides at this time of year for scab control.
Pear buds are at tight cluster. Pear psylla adults are flying. Scab sprays are needed as green tissue emerges.
Small fruit
Grapes are moving. Water bleeding from fresh cuts is common in most varieties. Bud swell is becoming more pronounced, especially in early varieties. Some, like the juice grapes and early hybrids, are at the doeskin or fuzzy bud stage. Expect more movement this week with the warmer temperatures.
Blueberries haven't moved much since last week. Buds are at bud swell up through southern Allegan County with some earlier varieties in the southernmost parts of the state flirting with early green tip. With the upcoming cold weather, here is an article about frost protection. As a reminder, blueberry buds at bud swell are hardy down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit and buds at bud break are hardy down to 20 F. Growers still have time to apply copper or sulfur products to suppress early season diseases but that window will close quickly.
Strawberry overwintering mulches should be removed and raked between the rows. Some growers are putting out floating row covers. Remember, critical temperatures for strawberry flower trusses are 10 F when they’re in the ground and 20 F when they’re out of the ground. Keep an eye on the phenology of your strawberries with the potential for cold weather this weekend. Growers are looking at early season herbicides to control overwintering weeds. When selecting an herbicide, check the preharvest interval.
Many bramble growers are dormant pruning, and leaves are emerging in some varieties. In summer bearing raspberries, last year’s primocanes should be headed (cut back) to the desired height and any remaining floricanes from last year should be removed. Fall bearing raspberries should be cut or mowed to the ground. Lime sulfur treatments for anthracnose can still be applied where foliage hasn’t emerged.
Surveys
Please fill out this survey from our colleagues across the Midwest about novel weed sprays!
Upcoming meetings
This year, in lieu of our historical Monday Night Fruit IPM Meetings, we will instead be hosting Tuesday night small fruit IPM meetings. They will take place entirely online at 5:30 p.m. starting April 1 and will occur weekly until June 24. Sign up here for the small fruit meetings.
The tree fruit IPM lunch meetings begin April 16. Sign up here for the tree fruit meetings.
If you are interested in new spraying technologies, MSU Extension is hosting an in-person workshop on spray drones at the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center near Frankenmuth on April 29. This event will combine presentations around effective use of spray drones and live demonstrations of spray drone technology and evaluation tools. This event will be valuable to people interested in spray drones regardless of the crop they grow. Learn more about this all-day fly-in.
