Southeast Michigan fruit update – April 29, 2026
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Welcome to the fifth 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
Last week our fruit crops jumped forward phenologically, with most of our crops in bloom or getting close to it. Cool temperatures this week will keep blooms around for a longer period of time, which can increase the chances for pollination if it’s warm enough for bees to fly while also maintaining some risk for blossom blight. We are expecting a relatively dry and cool week with a good deal of wind, which may make spraying difficult. There is a chance for frost on Friday and Saturday morning.
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: Apples in the region are mostly between first bloom and full bloom, though late blooming cultivars and cooler regions may still be in the pink stage. Green tip in McIntosh was observed on April 1 Romeo, setting the biofix for apple scab. This will be used as the biofix for monitoring apple scab. At full pink, first bloom, full bloom, and post bloom the critical temperatures are 28 F for 10% kill and 25 F for 90% kill.
Frost damaged apples can be set with plant growth regulators if necessary.
Blueberries: We are seeing late pink bud in blueberry plantings in Britton, close to the Ohio border, and early pink bud in cooler regions. 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 early pink bud we see damage from 23-25 F and at late pink bud that range is 24-27 F.
Brambles: We are seeing tight cluster in summer raspberries, new shoot growth in fall raspberries, and leafing out in blackberries.
Cherries: We are seeing first bloom in sweet and tart cherries in cooler areas and in warmer areas we are moving into petal fall in sweets. At first bloom and full bloom the critical temperatures for tart cherries are 28 F for 10% kill and 24 F for 90% kill. From first bloom to petal fall the critical temperatures for sweet cherries are 28 F for 10% kill and 25 F for 90% kill.
Grapes: We are seeing some bud burst in Concord grapes in Britton along with full swell in wild grapes and hybrid wine grapes. At bud burst the critical temperatures are 25 F for 10% kill and 16 F for 90% kill.
Peaches and nectarines: Peaches in warmer parts of the region have hit petal fall while in cooler parts of the region they are in full bloom. Some growers in the region have reported that they are now seeing dieback and winter damage from earlier on in the season, while some were touched by the frost damage from April 20. This is a good opportunity to look at trees that have slower-developing buds to see where winter damage may have occurred. At first bloom the critical temperatures are 26 F for 10% kill and 21 F for 90% kill. At full bloom the critical temperatures are 27 F for 10% kill and 24° F for 90% kill.
Pears: Pears observed in Britton were at petal fall, while cooler parts of the region have hit full bloom. At first bloom the critical temperatures are 27 F for 10% kill and 23 F for 90% kill. From full bloom to petal fall the critical temperatures are 28 F for 10% kill and 24 F for 90% kill.
Plums: Japanese style plums are at petal fall while European style plums are at full bloom. From full bloom to petal fall the critical temperatures are 28 F for 10% kill and 23 F for 90% kill. Prune out black knot and dispose of the knots by burning or removing them from the orchard. Sanitation is an important step in managing this disease.
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Strawberries: We are seeing some greening in field strawberries in Romeo, with some new leaf development. Most growers have removed straw. 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: First catch happened last week in Monroe County. Females start to search for new sites to deposit eggs around 100 GDD50, which was hit a couple weeks ago in most of the region, so the main control window is shutting.
Grape berry moth: First catches were trapped at Fennville.
Green fruit worm: Catches continue in Fennville. These can be controlled with insecticides post-bloom.
Oriental fruit moth: First catch occurred in Romeo last week. In cooler parts of the region, mating disruption can still be applied. The next control time is at egglaying which will happen in the next few weeks.
Pear psylla: Eggs continue hatching.
Plum curculio: First catch was reported at the Trevor Nichols Research Center. This is the timing for Avaunt in tart cherry. We will hit that timing in apple soon.
San Jose scale: The next time to control is when crawlers emerge in early summer.
Disease conditions
Apple scab: Biofix is set at green tip in McIntosh, which happened March 31. Early control of scab is important for reducing secondary scab infections that can affect fruit. We expecting moderate risk April 29-30.
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, which is happening now in stone fruit. Read this article about brown rot control options. 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 high cherry leaf spot risk in the next week, though conditions could become favorable for its proliferation. See this 2024 article on cherry leaf spot management.
Fire blight: With warm conditions and bloom, we are expecting low to moderate fire blight risk in apples and pears throughout the link.
Grape black rot: Control for grape black rot usually begins at 1-inch shoot length, but we are not yet at bud burst. 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 the linked document 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 had on average about 7 hours of rain, accumulating to roughly 0.6 inches of precipitation.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- April 28, 2026, issued April 28, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 8.9 | 118 | 4.8 | 104 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 9.2 | 120 | 4.6 | 102 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 10.3 | 128 | 5.4 | 108 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 9.0 | 134 | 4.6 | 98 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 9.7 | 131 | 5.1 | 108 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 9.9 | 126 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 8.9 | 120 | 4.9 | 102 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 11.7 | 130 | 4.8 | 106 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 10.2 | 139 | 4.4 | 110 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 10.5 | 143 | 4.5 | 100 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 8.8 | 143 | 4.0 | 101 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 10.5 | 134 | 4.7 | 99 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 8.2 | 110 | 4.5 | 96 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 8.6 | 122 | 4.5 | 98 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 9.6 | 128.4 | 4.7 | 102.5 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed April 21 and April 28, 2026; issued April 28, 2026 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | Apr. 21 | Apr. 28 | Difference | Apr. 21 | Apr. 28 | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 8.6 | 8.9 | 0.3 | 110 | 118 | 8.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 8.4 | 9.2 | 0.8 | 109 | 120 | 11.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 10.0 | 10.3 | 0.3 | 124 | 128 | 4.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 8.2 | 9.0 | 0.8 | 123 | 134 | 11.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 8.7 | 9.7 | 1.0 | 124 | 131 | 7.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 9.5 | 9.9 | 0.4 | 122 | 126 | 4.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 8.5 | 8.9 | 0.4 | 113 | 120 | 7.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 11.2 | 11.7 | 0.5 | 126 | 130 | 4.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 8.9 | 10.2 | 1.4 | 132 | 139 | 7.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 9.9 | 10.5 | 0.6 | 138 | 143 | 5.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 8.3 | 8.8 | 0.6 | 134 | 143 | 9.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 9.6 | 10.5 | 0.9 | 127 | 134 | 7.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 8.0 | 8.2 | 0.2 | 103 | 110 | 7.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 8.0 | 8.6 | 0.7 | 113 | 122 | 9.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 9.0 | 9.6 | 0.6 | 121.3 | 128.4 | 7.1 |
In the short term, we are expecting cool, dry and windy conditions for most of the week. Highs will be in the high 50s to low 60s. Lows will go between the 30s and 40s for most of the next week with potential for frost Friday and Saturday morning.
In the medium term, we are expecting temperatures to be near to below normal and precipitation totals to be normal to below 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 is about two weeks ahead of the long-term normals and about a week ahead of the five-year average. In the last week, we accumulated on average 98 GDD at 42 F, 80 GDD at 45 F and 55 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-April 28, 2026 Forecast from Apr. 29- May 5, 2026; issued April 28, 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) | 425 | 292 | 477 | 340 | 221 | 377 | 225 | 133 | 243 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 553 | 370 | 614 | 450 | 285 | 497 | 305 | 178 | 330 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 479 | 330 | 528 | 388 | 254 | 423 | 261 | 157 | 277 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 353 | 277 | 396 | 277 | 208 | 306 | 177 | 123 | 192 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 451 | 330 | 500 | 365 | 254 | 401 | 247 | 157 | 265 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 339 | 278 | 384 | 267 | 210 | 299 | 170 | 128 | 185 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 511 | 323 | 568 | 417 | 248 | 459 | 284 | 155 | 306 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 411 | 303 | 459 | 331 | 230 | 365 | 223 | 140 | 239 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 428 | 314 | 475 | 347 | 241 | 380 | 237 | 149 | 253 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 275 | 237 | 318 | 208 | 178 | 239 | 125 | 106 | 139 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 288 | 245 | 325 | 224 | 184 | 248 | 138 | 110 | 149 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 389 | 303 | 436 | 312 | 231 | 345 | 210 | 140 | 226 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 407 | 293 | 458 | 323 | 221 | 359 | 211 | 132 | 229 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 333 | 264 | 371 | 261 | 200 | 287 | 165 | 121 | 178 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 403 | 297 | 451 | 322 | 226 | 356 | 213 | 138 | 229 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2026 observed April 21 and April 28, 2026; issued April 28, 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 |
| Apr. 21 | Apr. 28 | Difference | Apr. 21 | Apr. 28 | Difference | Apr. 21 | Apr. 28 | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 324 | 425 | 101.0 | 257 | 340 | 83.0 | 168 | 225 | 57.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 440 | 553 | 113.0 | 358 | 450 | 92.0 | 242 | 305 | 63.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 364 | 479 | 115.0 | 292 | 388 | 96.0 | 193 | 261 | 68.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 275 | 353 | 78.0 | 214 | 277 | 63.0 | 136 | 177 | 41.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 339 | 451 | 112.0 | 272 | 365 | 93.0 | 179 | 247 | 68.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 242 | 339 | 97.0 | 187 | 267 | 80.0 | 115 | 170 | 55.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 403 | 511 | 108.0 | 327 | 417 | 90.0 | 221 | 284 | 63.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 296 | 411 | 115.0 | 234 | 331 | 97.0 | 152 | 223 | 71.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 328 | 428 | 100.0 | 264 | 347 | 83.0 | 178 | 237 | 59.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 199 | 275 | 76.0 | 149 | 208 | 59.0 | 87 | 125 | 38.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 206 | 288 | 82.0 | 157 | 224 | 67.0 | 93 | 138 | 45.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 284 | 389 | 105.0 | 225 | 312 | 87.0 | 148 | 210 | 62.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 321 | 407 | 86.0 | 255 | 323 | 68.0 | 167 | 211 | 44.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 256 | 333 | 77.0 | 200 | 261 | 61.0 | 125 | 165 | 40.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 306 | 403 | 98 | 242 | 322 | 80 | 157 | 213 | 55 |
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.
