Southeast Michigan fruit update – August 26, 2025
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EmailWine grape harvest begins.
Welcome to the 20th 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
Southeast Michigan has moved into cool and fair weather over the last week, and we expect these conditions to continue with some scattered storms and showers. Early grape harvest continues with cultivars like Canadice, and the first wine grapes will be coming off the vines in the next week. Blueberry harvest concluded but blackberry and fall raspberry harvest continues.
Our weekly integrated pest management updates wrapped up in June. You can watch recordings of the fruit meetings for southern Michigan on MSU’s Kaltura Media Space at the small fruit channel and the tree fruit channel.
Fruit-by-fruit conditions
Apples
Growers have moved into Ginger Gold with Gala and Blondee coming up. The statewide apple maturity reports will start this week. Fruit is expanding and many growers are between their seventh and eighth cover sprays. There is some risk for powdery mildew infections on Aug. 28 with airborne conidia being present all week. Risk for secondary scab is low. Sooty blotch risk is low, but later varieties like GoldRush and Northern Spy may need additional protection.
Table 1. Normal and 2025 peak harvest dates for varieties for southeast Michigan.
|
Variety |
Normal |
Predicted |
Last Year |
|
Paulared |
22-Aug |
18-Aug |
7-Aug |
|
Zestar |
22-Aug |
18-Aug |
7-Aug |
|
Gingergold |
23-Aug |
19-Aug |
9-Aug |
|
Gala |
8-Sep |
4-Sep |
24-Aug |
|
McIntosh |
13-Sep |
9-Sep |
26-Aug |
|
Honeycrisp |
16-Sep |
12-Sep |
29-Aug |
|
Empire |
20-Sep |
17-Sep |
7-Sep |
|
Jonathan |
23-Sep |
22-Sep |
10-Sep |
|
Jonagold |
23-Sep |
20-Sep |
10-Sep |
|
Early Fuji |
25-Sep |
22-Sep |
13-Sep |
|
Golden Delicious |
29-Sep |
26-Sep |
13-Sep |
|
Red Delicious |
1-Oct |
29-Sep |
17-Sep |
|
Idared |
6-Oct |
2-Oct |
24-Sep |
|
Rome |
11-Oct |
7-Oct |
24-Sep |
|
Late Fuji |
22-Oct |
18-Oct |
9-Oct |
|
Braeburn |
23-Oct |
19-Oct |
9-Oct |
|
Goldrush |
31-Oct |
27-Oct |
15-Oct |
Blueberries
Farms in the region have wrapped up blueberry harvest.
Brambles
Harvest of fall raspberries and blackberries continues. Some growers have mentioned leaf damage from insects, which could be caused by remaining Japanese beetles.
Cherries
Harvest has concluded.
Grapes
Concord is at veraison while more varieties undergo harvest. The table grape Canadice was picked in Britton, Michigan. Growers are letting wine grapes hang while weather conditions are good, but harvest is likely to start over the weekend. There is no anticipated risk for downy mildew or black rot this week, but powdery mildew infection risk is severe all week from Aug. 26-Sept. 2. More information can be found in the latest grape scouting report, which comes out on Wednesdays.
Peaches and nectarines
Growers are moving into mid- to late season peaches like Coral Star, but with this year’s bumper crop there are still Haven series being picked.
Pears
Bartlett pear harvest has started. Asian pears are getting close to harvest.
Plums
Harvest continues in many plum varieties. Shiro, Methley and Santa Rosa plums have been picked in the region while Italian plums are at full color.
Strawberries
Harvest has concluded. Yield was spotty, with some farms having a normal yield and others with low yield. Renovation should proceed as soon after harvest as possible. Read this 2023 article on strawberry renovation.
Insect conditions
Aphids: Green apple aphid numbers seem to be on the rise in the southern part of the region and northwest Ohio, but lower in the Romeo area. Woolly apple aphids are present but seem to be under control in the region.
Apple maggot: Catches in southeast Michigan have declined, with scouts typically catching zero to two. Catches at Fennville have also dropped off.
Brown marmorated stink bug: Some damage has been seen. Brown marmorated stink bug is hard to control because it is active so close to apple harvest.
Codling moth: Counts have dropped in southeast Michigan. With the current weather patterns and our growing degree day accumulation, we anticipate the possibility of a third generation. See this 2024 article for best management practices.
Grape berry moth: Counts remain low in southeast Michigan and at the Trevor Nichols Research Center in Fennville. Read this article on early season grape berry moth control.
Obliquebanded leafroller: Catches are down, with counts mostly below five in southeast Michigan and Fennville. Not much damage has been observed, though some scouts have noted some damage on peach this year, which is out of the ordinary.
Oriental fruit moth: Counts remain low in southeast Michigan and at the Trevor Nichols Research Center.
Pear psylla: Adults and some damage have been observed regionally.
Rust mites: Bronzing damage has been seen.
San Jose scale: Male counts have declined in Fennville.
Spotted wing drosophila: Most traps have been taken down. Counts are down in remaining traps due to control.
Disease conditions
Apple scab: Very little scab has been reported, indicating low risk for secondary scab.
Black rot in apple: Light infections seen around the region on fruit and leaves. More has been reported as the season progresses.
Cherry leaf spot: There is a slight risk for cherry leaf spot infection Aug. 29-30. See this 2013 article on cherry leaf spot management.
Fire blight: Strikes have been reported in southeast Michigan in orchards with susceptible varieties and a history of fire blight, but these seem to be isolated.
Grape black rot: Control for grape black rot usually begins at 1-inch shoot length. We do not anticipate risk for new infections this week. See this 2014 article for grape black rot management options and consult E-154.
Grape downy mildew: We do not anticipate risk for new infections this week.
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. Anticipated risk is high for Aug. 28 with airborne conidia present all week.
Powdery mildew of grape: Risk anticipated from Aug. 26-Sept. 2.
Sooty blotch and fly speck: Trace amounts seen around the region.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, southeast Michigan has seen on average 9.5 hours of rain accumulating to about 0.6 inches of precipitation.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- August 25, 2025, issued August 25, 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 15.9 | 267 | 20.2 | 279 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 17.7 | 260 | 16.9 | 265 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 15.6 | 271 | 18.0 | 269 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 19.6 | 257 | 16.6 | 278 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 17.5 | 314 | 18.9 | 276 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 15.2 | 250 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 16.6 | 267 | 16.9 | 268 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 16.7 | 251 | 15.7 | 259 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 21.5 | 276 | 16.8 | 297 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 14.3 | 259 | 15.9 | 256 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 17.5 | 305 | 14.6 | 265 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 21.4 | 270 | 16.3 | 249 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 21.3 | 251 | 20.0 | 270 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 16.9 | 242 | 14.9 | 318 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 17.7 | 267.1 | 17.1 | 273.0 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed August 18 and August 25, 2025; issued August 25, 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | 18-Aug | 25-Aug | Difference | 18-Aug | 25-Aug | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 15.6 | 15.9 | 0.2 | 261 | 267 | 6.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 17.4 | 17.7 | 0.3 | 253 | 260 | 7.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 15.1 | 15.6 | 0.4 | 265 | 271 | 6.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 18.5 | 19.6 | 1.1 | 245 | 257 | 12.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 17.0 | 17.5 | 0.5 | 303 | 314 | 11.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 14.5 | 15.2 | 0.7 | 237 | 250 | 13.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 16.1 | 16.6 | 0.5 | 262 | 267 | 5.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 15.4 | 16.7 | 1.3 | 243 | 251 | 8.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 21.1 | 21.5 | 0.4 | 265 | 276 | 11.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 14.1 | 14.3 | 0.3 | 247 | 259 | 12.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 16.9 | 17.5 | 0.6 | 296 | 305 | 9.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 20.1 | 21.4 | 1.3 | 257 | 270 | 13.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 21.0 | 21.3 | 0.3 | 246 | 251 | 5.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 16.4 | 16.9 | 0.6 | 227 | 242 | 15.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 17.1 | 17.7 | 0.6 | 257.6 | 267.1 | 9.5 |
In the short term, we are expecting cool and fair conditions with some potential for scattered showers on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 22-23. Temperature highs will stay in the 70s all week with lows between the low 50s to low 60s.
In the medium term, we are expecting below normal temperatures and precipitation to be a little below normal. The long lead outlooks are calling for temperature to be above normal and precipitation to be near normal.
Around the region our growing degree day numbers have remained close to the four-year average. In the last two weeks we gained an average of 339 growing degree days at base 50 in the region. Read this Michigan State University Extension article to learn more about degree days: Understanding growing degree-days.
| Degree Day Accumulation Mar. 1-August 25, 2025 Forecast from August 26-31, 2025; issued August 25, 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) | 3295 | 3173 | 3424 | 2877 | 2760 | 2985 | 2224 | 2123 | 2299 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 3582 | 3440 | 3710 | 3145 | 3011 | 3252 | 2464 | 2347 | 2538 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 3390 | 3221 | 3516 | 2965 | 2803 | 3069 | 2302 | 2161 | 2375 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 3003 | 3005 | 3123 | 2592 | 2596 | 2691 | 1964 | 1968 | 2030 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 3492 | 3341 | 3620 | 3066 | 2921 | 3174 | 2402 | 2271 | 2477 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 3273 | 3179 | 3398 | 2860 | 2769 | 2964 | 2223 | 2134 | 2295 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 3421 | 3322 | 3546 | 2997 | 2905 | 3101 | 2341 | 2261 | 2413 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 3424 | 3319 | 3551 | 3002 | 2902 | 3108 | 2350 | 2254 | 2424 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 3242 | 3142 | 3361 | 2826 | 2732 | 2925 | 2181 | 2101 | 2247 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 3006 | 2965 | 3128 | 2606 | 2564 | 2708 | 1992 | 1949 | 2062 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 3036 | 3035 | 3174 | 2635 | 2633 | 2752 | 2024 | 2015 | 2106 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 3284 | 3246 | 3404 | 2865 | 2831 | 2965 | 2216 | 2184 | 2283 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 3306 | 3214 | 3433 | 2887 | 2798 | 2992 | 2236 | 2156 | 2308 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 3159 | 3065 | 3281 | 2749 | 2662 | 2850 | 2121 | 2040 | 2189 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 3280 | 3191 | 3405 | 2862 | 2778 | 2967 | 2217 | 2140 | 2289 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2025 observed August 18 and August 25, 2025; issued August 25, 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 |
| 18-Aug | 25-Aug | Difference | 18-Aug | 25-Aug | Difference | 18-Aug | 25-Aug | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 3119 | 3295 | 176.0 | 2721 | 2877 | 156.0 | 2104 | 2224 | 120.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 3395 | 3582 | 187.0 | 2979 | 3145 | 166.0 | 2332 | 2464 | 132.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 3213 | 3390 | 177.0 | 2809 | 2965 | 156.0 | 2181 | 2302 | 121.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 2844 | 3003 | 159.0 | 2455 | 2592 | 137.0 | 1861 | 1964 | 103.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 3309 | 3492 | 183.0 | 2904 | 3066 | 162.0 | 2275 | 2402 | 127.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 3101 | 3273 | 172.0 | 2709 | 2860 | 151.0 | 2107 | 2223 | 116.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 3247 | 3421 | 174.0 | 2844 | 2997 | 153.0 | 2222 | 2341 | 119.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 3248 | 3424 | 176.0 | 2847 | 3002 | 155.0 | 2230 | 2350 | 120.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 3075 | 3242 | 167.0 | 2680 | 2826 | 146.0 | 2069 | 2181 | 112.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 2847 | 3006 | 159.0 | 2468 | 2606 | 138.0 | 1889 | 1992 | 103.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 2865 | 3036 | 171.0 | 2485 | 2635 | 150.0 | 1909 | 2024 | 115.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 3115 | 3284 | 169.0 | 2718 | 2865 | 147.0 | 2103 | 2216 | 113.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 3126 | 3306 | 180.0 | 2728 | 2887 | 159.0 | 2112 | 2236 | 124.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 2985 | 3159 | 174.0 | 2597 | 2749 | 152.0 | 2003 | 2121 | 118.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 3106 | 3280 | 173 | 2710 | 2862 | 152 | 2100 | 2217 | 117 |
Watch Jeff Andresen's biweekly agricultural weather forecast reports.
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.
