Southeast Michigan fruit update – June 2, 2025
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EmailCover sprays and upcoming rain are taking place in southeast Michigan.
Welcome to the ninth 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
While not as cold as the week before, the last week has been cool and dry. We are seeing slowed movement in both plants and insects. 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.
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 apples around the region. King fruit on Golden Delicious observed in South Lyon were 19 millimeters (mm) in diameter. Some growers have already done thinning sprays, though protracted bloom has made fruit set somewhat more difficult to assess.
Blueberries
Fruit set is occurring in all blueberry varieties with bloom mostly completed.
Brambles
Summer raspberries and blackberries are in bloom with some fruit set in both. Fall raspberry shoots have elongated to about 24 inches in Hartland.
Cherries
There is some pit hardening and the start of coloration in sweet and tart cherries.
Grapes
There has been continued shoot extension in grapes regionally, with Concord in Hartland at 24-inch growth. Hybrid wine grapes in the region are between 10-12-inch shoot growth. Wild grape bloom has begun but we have yet to see bloom in cultivated grapes.
Peaches and nectarines
Peaches in the region are expanding with no evidence of pit hardening.
Pears
Pears in the region are expanding, with pears in Hartland at 20 mm diameter.
Plums
Italian plums in Romeo were expanding.
Strawberries
Flowers are starting to become abundant, and fruit is starting to set. Harvest has started in the warmer parts of the region.
Insect conditions
Pollinators are still active in some fruit crops! This 2024 article on pollinator stewardship during bloom in tree fruit and the 2021 guide for pollinator stewardship in blueberries 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 green apple aphid, green peach aphid, light woolly apple aphids and rosy apple aphids have been found in the region.
Codling moth: Codling moth counts are up, especially in conventional blocks. 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 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 and they have been caught in southeast Michigan. Read this article on early season grape berry moth control.
Oriental fruit moth: Counts are low in southeast Michigan.
Pear psylla: Adults have been observed in Macomb County. Larvae are maturing and a new generation of egglaying is expected in the next couple weeks.
Plum curculio: Catches continue. We are around the peak time for spring adult migration.
Red banded leaf roller: Catches are down to low numbers in southeast Michigan.
Spotted tentiform leafminer: Control is usually not necessary, but may be useful in problem areas beginning at tight cluster in apples
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, first generation oriental fruit moth and rosy apple aphid.
Disease conditions
Apple scab: There is a forecasted risk for infection from June 6-7. Early control is important for reducing secondary scab infections that can affect fruit. No scab has been reported regionally.
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 used again about three weeks before harvest in stone fruit.
Cherry leaf spot: There is moderate risk for cherry leaf spot from June 5-7. See this article on cherry leaf spot management.
Fire blight: Anticipated risk is low in the next week. Some strikes have been reported in northwest Ohio.
Grape black rot: Control usually begins at 1-inch shoot length. Some risk is anticipated June 5-6. See this article for grape black rot management options and consult E0154.
Grape downy mildew: Some risk is anticipated June 5-7.
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, though treatments seem to have been effective at keeping it under control. Start to include products labeled for powdery mildew in sprays starting at tight cluster. Anticipated risk is low in the next week.
Powdery mildew of grape: Some risk is anticipated June 9-11.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, southeast Michigan has seen on average just under 5 hours of rain, accumulating to roughly 0.1 inch of precipitation. We are ahead of the five-year average in amount and hours of rainfall.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- June 2, 2025, issued June 2, 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 8.1 | 165 | 7.1 | 158 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 9.6 | 168 | 7.7 | 159 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 9.5 | 172 | 7.3 | 158 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 8.6 | 152 | 6.8 | 152 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 9.8 | 186 | 7.3 | 162 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 8.2 | 156 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 9.7 | 176 | 7.6 | 155 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 9.0 | 166 | 7.0 | 151 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 9.9 | 177 | 6.2 | 161 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 6.9 | 157 | 6.7 | 146 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 5.4 | 203 | 6.5 | 145 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 11.0 | 175 | 6.5 | 146 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 9.7 | 161 | 7.0 | 148 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 7.7 | 139 | 6.3 | 160 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 8.8 | 168.1 | 6.9 | 153.9 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed May 27 and June 2, 2025; issued June 2, 2025 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | 27-May | 2-Jun | Difference | 27-May | 2-Jun | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 8.0 | 8.1 | 0.1 | 161 | 165 | 4.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 9.6 | 9.6 | 0.0 | 166 | 168 | 2.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 9.4 | 9.5 | 0.1 | 170 | 172 | 2.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 8.5 | 8.6 | 0.1 | 149 | 152 | 3.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 9.7 | 9.8 | 0.2 | 179 | 186 | 7.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 8.1 | 8.2 | 0.2 | 147 | 156 | 9.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 9.6 | 9.7 | 0.0 | 173 | 176 | 3.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 9.0 | 9.0 | 0.1 | 162 | 166 | 4.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 9.8 | 9.9 | 0.1 | 171 | 177 | 6.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 6.8 | 6.9 | 0.1 | 150 | 157 | 7.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 5.2 | 5.4 | 0.1 | 195 | 203 | 8.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 10.8 | 11.0 | 0.1 | 166 | 175 | 9.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 9.6 | 9.7 | 0.1 | 159 | 161 | 2.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 7.7 | 7.7 | 0.0 | 137 | 139 | 2.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 8.7 | 8.8 | 0.1 | 163.2 | 168.1 | 4.9 |
In the short term, we are expecting warm conditions with scattered showers through the end of the week followed by fair and cool conditions on the weekend. More showers are expected in the early week. Low temperatures are expected in the 40s and 50s. Highs will mostly stay in the 70s with some time in the 80s.
In the medium term, we are expecting temperatures to be normal with precipitation above normal levels. The long lead outlooks are calling for both temperature and precipitation to be near normal.
Around the region our growing degree day numbers have dropped below the four-year average. Read this Michigan State University Extension article to learn more about degree days: Understanding growing degree-days.
| Degree Day Accumulation Mar. 1-June 2, 2025 Forecast from June 3-June 9, 2025; issued June 2, 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) | 825 | 863 | 1007 | 658 | 702 | 819 | 423 | 481 | 550 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 985 | 1005 | 1174 | 799 | 827 | 968 | 536 | 577 | 670 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 876 | 911 | 1049 | 701 | 745 | 854 | 457 | 516 | 576 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 741 | 826 | 907 | 582 | 668 | 728 | 371 | 452 | 483 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 904 | 939 | 1082 | 730 | 771 | 887 | 485 | 538 | 608 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 790 | 874 | 958 | 629 | 714 | 776 | 410 | 494 | 523 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 888 | 935 | 1076 | 715 | 769 | 882 | 474 | 539 | 606 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 853 | 925 | 1020 | 683 | 760 | 793 | 450 | 529 | 529 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 835 | 882 | 1005 | 670 | 722 | 819 | 441 | 501 | 556 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 680 | 780 | 843 | 532 | 631 | 674 | 335 | 429 | 443 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 674 | 784 | 828 | 524 | 634 | 658 | 329 | 432 | 428 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 811 | 913 | 981 | 644 | 750 | 793 | 413 | 520 | 529 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 815 | 867 | 994 | 647 | 703 | 805 | 415 | 478 | 539 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 734 | 817 | 894 | 576 | 664 | 715 | 365 | 455 | 470 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 815 | 880 | 987 | 649 | 719 | 798 | 422 | 496 | 536 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2025 observed May 27 and June 2, 2025; issued June 2, 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 |
| 27-May | 2-Jun | Difference | 27-May | 2-Jun | Difference | 27-May | 2-Jun | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 735 | 825 | 90.0 | 586 | 658 | 72.0 | 378 | 423 | 45.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 884 | 985 | 101.0 | 716 | 799 | 83.0 | 480 | 536 | 56.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 781 | 876 | 95.0 | 624 | 701 | 77.0 | 405 | 457 | 52.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 657 | 741 | 84.0 | 514 | 582 | 68.0 | 327 | 371 | 44.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 803 | 904 | 101.0 | 647 | 730 | 83.0 | 428 | 485 | 57.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 680 | 790 | 110.0 | 536 | 629 | 93.0 | 345 | 410 | 65.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 796 | 888 | 92.0 | 640 | 715 | 75.0 | 424 | 474 | 50.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 742 | 853 | 111.0 | 589 | 683 | 94.0 | 383 | 450 | 67.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 741 | 835 | 94.0 | 594 | 670 | 76.0 | 389 | 441 | 52.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 580 | 680 | 100.0 | 449 | 532 | 83.0 | 279 | 335 | 56.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 577 | 674 | 97.0 | 446 | 524 | 78.0 | 276 | 329 | 53.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 707 | 811 | 104.0 | 557 | 644 | 87.0 | 353 | 413 | 60.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 720 | 815 | 95.0 | 567 | 647 | 80.0 | 364 | 415 | 51.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 642 | 734 | 92.0 | 501 | 576 | 75.0 | 315 | 365 | 50.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 718 | 815 | 98 | 569 | 649 | 80 | 368 | 422 | 54 |
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.
