Southeast Michigan fruit update – April 1, 2026
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EmailApples are at green tip in apples and blueberries are at bud swell.
Welcome to the first in-season fruit article update for southeast Michigan for the 2026 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 are still early in the season. We are starting to accumulate some growing degree days and the warm temperatures expected in the next week will push phenological progress forward. The trapline at Trevor Nichols Research Center in Fennville, Michigan, has started with the first catches of redbanded leaf roller and green fruitworms being reported.
Many of you will have already done spring weed control, but if not, this 2020 article on spring herbicide applications from Michigan State University Extension lists some available options.
This year, our weekly integrated pest management (IPM) updates have returned to the 2023 and 2024 format of Tuesday evening virtual meetings covering both small fruit and tree fruit in southeast and southwest Michigan. You can register online at 2026 South Michigan Fruit IPM Updates. It is a good opportunity to hear from experts, ask questions and receive restricted use pesticide (RUP) credits. See the latest weekly fruit meetings for southern Michigan on MSU’s Kaltura Media Space (these may take a few days to upload after the meetings are held).
Fruit-by-fruit conditions
Apples
Green tip in McIntosh is anticipated in the next couple days in Romeo. This will be used as the biofix for monitoring apple scab. At silver tip the critical temperatures are 15 degrees Fahrenheit for 10% kill and 2 F for 90% kill. At green tip the critical temperatures are 18 F for 10% kill and 10 F for 90% kill. At half-inch green the critical temperatures are 23 F for 10% kill and 15 F for 90% kill.
Blueberries
We are at bud swell in blueberry plantings in Fenton. This is the primary 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 bud swell we see damage when temperatures drop to the 10-15 F range.
Brambles
We have yet to see movement in raspberries and blackberries.
Cherries
We are seeing swollen bud stage in sweet and tart cherries and some tarts are moving in to side green. At swollen bud the critical temperatures for tart cherries are 15 F for 10% kill and 0 F for 90% kill. At side green the critical temperatures for tart cherries are 24 F for 10% kill and 10 F for 90% kill. At swollen bud the critical temperatures for sweet cherries are 17 F for 10% kill and 5 F for 90% kill. At side green the critical temperatures for sweet cherries are 22 F for 10% kill and 9 F for 90% kill.
Grapes
Some growers are still pruning grapes. We have yet to see first swell in the region, but it has been seen in southwest Michigan. At first swell the critical temperatures are 13 F for 10% kill and -3 F for 90% kill.
Peaches and nectarines
Peaches in Britton are at the swollen bud stage. At swollen bud the critical temperatures are 18 F for 10% kill and 1 F for 90% kill.
Pears
Pears observed in Britton were at bud scale separation. At bud scale separation the critical temperatures are 15 F for 10% kill and 0 F for 90% kill. When blossom buds are exposed the critical temperatures are 20 F for 10% kill and 6 F for 90% kill.
Plums
At first swell the critical temperatures are 14 F for 10% kill and 0 F for 90% kill. Prune out black knot and dispose of the knots by burning or removing from the orchard. Sanitation is an important step in managing this disease.
Strawberries
We are seeing some greening in field strawberries in Fenton, with some new leaf development. Early season fungicides should focus on controlling leaf spot.
Insect conditions
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).
Black stem borer: Females start to search for new sites to deposit eggs around 100 growing degree days base 50 F (GDD50). The main control is to target emerging females at that point. Our warmest regions are forecast to get to 100 GDD50 next week.
European red mite: Control for European red mite usually begins at tight cluster in apples and should be completed before the pink stage.
Green fruit worm: First catches have been reported in Fennville. These can be controlled with insecticides post-bloom.
Pear psylla: Egg hatch will slowly be starting in the next week.
Rosy apple aphid: Egg hatch is usually complete around the half-inch green stage and control is best applied around tight cluster.
San Jose scale: A delayed dormant oil spray between green tip and pink can be used to control scale. After this period, the next time to control is when crawlers emerge in early summer.
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
Disease conditions
Apple scab: While a biofix has not been set, we are expecting scab risk over the next few days as warm temperatures push bud progression quickly. 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: This disease affects stone fruit and can proliferate during bloom, but we have not reached bloom yet. Fungicides may be necessary to control if bloom is during a warm period, especially in orchards that have had brown rot presence in previous seasons.
Cherry leaf spot: We are not expecting cherry leaf spot risk in the next week. See this 2013 article on cherry leaf spot management.
Grape black rot: Control for grape black rot usually begins at 1-inch shoot length, but we have yet to see grapes past first swell in the region. See this 2014 article for grape black rot management options and consult E-154.
Mummy berry: We are in the primary season for mummy berry infections. See bulletin 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.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, southeast Michigan has seen on average of about 5 hours of rain accumulating to roughly 0.4 inch of precipitation.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- March 24, 2026, issued March 31, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 3.6 | 50 | 2.1 | 52 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 4.2 | 46 | 2.1 | 51 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 3.8 | 53 | 2.3 | 53 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 3.4 | 52 | 2.0 | 48 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 3.2 | 53 | 2.3 | 54 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 3.7 | 48 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 4.5 | 51 | 2.6 | 54 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 3.8 | 47 | 2.3 | 53 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 2.9 | 56 | 2.0 | 50 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 3.3 | 48 | 2.3 | 51 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 2.8 | 59 | 2.0 | 50 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 4.1 | 55 | 2.2 | 50 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 3.1 | 41 | 1.9 | 48 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 2.7 | 47 | 2.0 | 46 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 3.5 | 50.4 | 2.2 | 50.8 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed March 24 and March 31, 2026; issued March 31, 2026 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | Mar. 24 | Mar. 31 | Difference | Mar. 24 | Mar. 31 | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 3.1 | 3.6 | 0.5 | 43 | 50 | 7.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 3.5 | 4.2 | 0.7 | 41 | 46 | 5.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 3.2 | 3.8 | 0.6 | 48 | 53 | 5.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 2.9 | 3.4 | 0.5 | 46 | 52 | 6.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 2.7 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 47 | 53 | 6.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 3.6 | 3.7 | 0.1 | 41 | 48 | 7.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 3.5 | 4.5 | 1.0 | 45 | 51 | 6.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 3.8 | 3.8 | 0.0 | 44 | 47 | 3.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 2.4 | 2.9 | 0.5 | 50 | 56 | 6.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 3.3 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 45 | 48 | 3.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 2.7 | 2.8 | 0.1 | 54 | 59 | 5.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 3.9 | 4.1 | 0.2 | 51 | 55 | 4.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 2.3 | 3.1 | 0.8 | 34 | 41 | 7.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 2.4 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 41 | 47 | 6.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 3.1 | 3.5 | 0.4 | 45.0 | 50.4 | 5.4 |
In the short term, we’ll have rainy conditions through early next week, with warm temperatures Thursday, April 2, to Saturday, April 4, dropping to highs in the 40s and potential lows below freezing on Sunday.
In the medium term, we are expecting temperatures to be near normal and precipitation totals to be slightly above normal. The long lead outlooks are calling for both temperature and precipitation to be near normal.
Our regional average growing degree day accumulation for the season are slightly ahead of the 5-year average, but at this early stage this may change. In the last week we accumulated on average 33 GDD at 42 F, 26 GDD at 45 F and 16 GDD at 50 F (see table below). Read this Michigan State University Extension article to learn more about degree days: Understanding growing degree-days.
| Degree Day Accumulation Mar. 1-March 24, 2026 Forecast from Apr. 1-6, 2026; issued March 31, 2026 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Degree Days Base 42°F Current | Degree Days Base 42°F Average (5 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 42°F Forecast | Degree Days Base 45°F Current | Degree Days Base 45°F Average (5 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 45°F Forecast | Degree Days Base 50°F Current | Degree Days Base 50°F Average (5 Yr.) | Degree Days Base 50°F Forecast |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 121 | 93 | 198 | 92 | 67 | 154 | 55 | 36 | 96 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 173 | 127 | 265 | 137 | 95 | 213 | 88 | 55 | 141 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 133 | 106 | 209 | 102 | 77 | 164 | 61 | 43 | 103 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 96 | 80 | 160 | 70 | 56 | 121 | 40 | 29 | 73 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 121 | 105 | 189 | 92 | 77 | 145 | 54 | 44 | 89 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 74 | 74 | 113 | 54 | 52 | 82 | 30 | 28 | 43 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 156 | 110 | 245 | 123 | 81 | 197 | 78 | 47 | 130 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 87 | 88 | 138 | 63 | 63 | 102 | 35 | 34 | 57 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 122 | 100 | 189 | 95 | 73 | 148 | 58 | 41 | 93 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 61 | 63 | 93 | 43 | 44 | 64 | 23 | 24 | 32 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 57 | 66 | 77 | 42 | 47 | 54 | 23 | 26 | 27 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 84 | 88 | 133 | 61 | 63 | 98 | 34 | 33 | 54 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 119 | 89 | 191 | 90 | 63 | 147 | 53 | 34 | 91 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 81 | 74 | 130 | 60 | 53 | 96 | 33 | 29 | 54 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 106 | 90 | 166 | 80 | 65 | 128 | 48 | 36 | 77 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2026 observed March 24 and March 31, 2026; issued March 31, 2026 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Mar. 24 | Mar. 31 | Difference | Mar. 24 | Mar. 31 | Difference | Mar. 24 | Mar. 31 | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 89 | 121 | 32.0 | 67 | 92 | 25.0 | 40 | 55 | 15.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 120 | 173 | 53.0 | 93 | 137 | 44.0 | 59 | 88 | 29.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 96 | 133 | 37.0 | 72 | 102 | 30.0 | 42 | 61 | 19.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 67 | 96 | 29.0 | 49 | 70 | 21.0 | 28 | 40 | 12.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 86 | 121 | 35.0 | 65 | 92 | 27.0 | 37 | 54 | 17.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 44 | 74 | 30.0 | 32 | 54 | 22.0 | 17 | 30 | 13.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 112 | 156 | 44.0 | 88 | 123 | 35.0 | 54 | 78 | 24.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 54 | 87 | 33.0 | 38 | 63 | 25.0 | 20 | 35 | 15.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 86 | 122 | 36.0 | 66 | 95 | 29.0 | 40 | 58 | 18.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 36 | 61 | 25.0 | 25 | 43 | 18.0 | 13 | 23 | 10.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 33 | 57 | 24.0 | 24 | 42 | 18.0 | 13 | 23 | 10.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 52 | 84 | 32.0 | 37 | 61 | 24.0 | 20 | 34 | 14.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 86 | 119 | 33.0 | 64 | 90 | 26.0 | 37 | 53 | 16.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 56 | 81 | 25.0 | 41 | 60 | 19.0 | 23 | 33 | 10.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 73 | 106 | 33 | 54 | 80 | 26 | 32 | 48 | 16 |
Watch Jeff Andresen's weekly 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.
This work is supported by the Crop Protection and Pest Management Program [grant no 2024-70006-43569] from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
