Southeast Michigan fruit update – June 2, 2026
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EmailStrawberry harvest is starting soon and blueberry bloom is still going.
Welcome to the 10th 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
The last week has been warm and dry and those conditions are expected to continue, with the exception of some showers and storms coming through Friday into Saturday. These conditions are favorable in that the reduce disease pressure, but irrigation will likely be necessary to prevent water stress in your fields and ensure early season fruit development. The warm weather has pushed insect development forward, with increased counts in codling moth and the near end of plum curculio migration and first generation oriental fruit moth flight. The main disease we’re concerned about this week is apple powdery mildew, which thrives in warm, humid (but not wet) conditions. With consistent conditions we will move right into the typical cover spray schedule for the season.
Many of you will have already done spring weed control, but if not this 2020 MSU Extension article on spring herbicide applications 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 sizing up, with considerable variation in diameter depending on region and cultivar. We have yet to see June drop in the area.
Blueberries: We are seeing fruit sizing up warm parts of the region and fruit set in cooler areas.
Brambles: We are seeing fruit development in summer raspberries, shoot lengthening in fall raspberries, and floral buds emerging in blackberries.
Cherries: We are seeing hardened pits in both sweet and tart cherries in our warmer areas. The cool, extended bloom period along with frosts contributed to low crop set at some farms.
Grapes: We are seeing shoot growth over 24 inches in juice grapes with inflorescences close to bloom while hybrid wine grapes are closer to 12-inch growth. Wild grape bloom began in the last week in Britton and Ray Township. Growers should prepare for black rot sprays as bloom approaches.
Peaches and nectarines: Peaches are sizing up in the first growth phase. In our warmer areas they are approaching the pit hardening stage.
Pears: Pears observed in Britton and La Salle were sizing up with Bartlett at 22mm. There seems to be a wide variation in bloom patterns depending on cultivar and the specific locations of farms.
Plums: Japanese style plums still in the initial growth phase and some are starting to get to the pit hardening phase, while European style plums are in their initial growth phase.
Strawberries: We are seeing fruit sizing up along with continued bloom in strawberries in the region, with some growers in the warmest areas already picking early cultivars. Some areas have seen frost damage.
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).
The Trevor Nichols Research Center trapline saw first catches in spotted wing drosophila, dogwood borer, obliquebanded leafroller, variegated leaf roller, and cherry fruitworm.
Aphids: Aphid populations in apple (rosy apple aphid, woolly apple aphid) are climbing
Codling Moth: A provisional biofix has been set for May 8 at Romeo. Larvicidal products can be used starting about 250 GDD base 50 after biofix (around June 7 in Romeo).
European Apple Sawfly: Catches continue in Southeast Michigan. This is a pest that wasn’t an issue for many years but growers have been reporting damage in the last few seasons.
Grape Berry Moth: Growers in the region have observed wild grape bloom, which is the biofix for grape berry moth.
Mullein Plant Bug: Damage has been reported in Southeast Michigan in some orchards
Oriental Fruit Moth: Biofix was set in Romeo for April 22 (April 13 in Fennville) for the first generation. Numbers are down, but emergence of the next generation will be coming soon (see the Enviroweather model with biofix).
Pear Psylla: Few nymphs have been caught in southeast Michigan since cover sprays started.
Plum Curculio: Counts have been dropping, indicating the end of adult migration.
San Jose Scale: Additional males have been caught in Southeast Michigan and at the Trevor Nichols Research Center. The next time to control is when crawlers emerge in early summer.
Tumid Gallmaker: Galls can be found in many locations. If the scope is limited it won’t cause many problems, but if it becomes widespread products like Assail can be used to control it.
Disease conditions
Apple Scab: The RimPro model for Romeo indicates that primary scab season is over. From this point on growers with existing scab infections should focus on controlling secondary scab. We are not expecting high risk this week.
Cherry Leaf Spot: We are not expecting high cherry leaf spot risk in the next week. See this 2024 article on cherry leaf spot management.
Fire Blight: Since we have moved out of bloom there is low risk in apples and pears. Growers should check for shoot blight.
Grape Black Rot: Control for grape black is most important immediately pre-bloom and during bloom. See this 2014 article for grape black rot management options and consult E-154. Risk is expected to be low this week.
Grape Downy Mildew: We are not expecting measurable risk this week.
Grape Powdery Mildew: We are not expecting risk this week from June 6-9.
Mummy Berry: We are getting towards the end of mummy berry infection season. 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. We are expecting moderate to high risk from June 6-9.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, southeast Michigan has seen an average of 0 hours of rain accumulating to 0 inches of precipitation.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- June 2, 2026, issued June 2, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 11.5 | 160 | 7.3 | 159 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 12.0 | 171 | 8.1 | 161 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 11.8 | 159 | 7.7 | 160 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 10.5 | 169 | 7.2 | 152 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 11.7 | 164 | 7.8 | 167 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 10.7 | 147 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 11.1 | 172 | 8.0 | 159 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 13.1 | 159 | 7.4 | 154 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 11.4 | 170 | 6.9 | 164 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 11.7 | 172 | 6.7 | 148 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 9.8 | 171 | 6.2 | 157 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 11.5 | 158 | 7.4 | 151 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 10.6 | 147 | 7.5 | 150 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 9.8 | 148 | 6.6 | 156 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 11.2 | 161.9 | 7.3 | 156.8 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed May 26 and June 2, 2026; issued June 2, 2026 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | 26-May | 2-Jun | Difference | 26-May | 2-Jun | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 11.5 | 11.5 | 0.0 | 160 | 160 | 0.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 12.0 | 12.0 | 0.0 | 171 | 171 | 0.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 11.8 | 11.8 | 0.0 | 159 | 159 | 0.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 10.5 | 10.5 | 0.0 | 169 | 169 | 0.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 11.7 | 11.7 | 0.0 | 164 | 164 | 0.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 10.7 | 10.7 | 0.0 | 147 | 147 | 0.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 11.1 | 11.1 | 0.0 | 172 | 172 | 0.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 13.1 | 13.1 | 0.0 | 159 | 159 | 0.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 11.3 | 11.4 | 0.0 | 169 | 170 | 1.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 11.7 | 11.7 | 0.0 | 172 | 172 | 0.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 9.8 | 9.8 | 0.0 | 171 | 171 | 0.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 11.5 | 11.5 | 0.0 | 158 | 158 | 0.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 10.6 | 10.6 | 0.0 | 147 | 147 | 0.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 9.8 | 9.8 | 0.0 | 148 | 148 | 0.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 11.2 | 11.2 | 0.0 | 161.9 | 161.9 | 0.1 |
In the short term we are expecting a continuation of warm and dry conditions with the chance for showers and storms Friday into Saturday. Highs will stay in the 80s all weeks with lows ranging from the 50s early in the week to the 60s late in the week In the medium term we are expecting drier and warmer conditions than normal.
Our regional average growing degree day accumulation for the season are about 7-10 days ahead of the long term normals and about a 2 days ahead of the 5 year average. In the last week we accumulated on average 143 GDD at 48°F, 123 GDD at 45°F, and 92 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-June 2, 2026 Forecast from June 3- June 9, 2026; issued June 2, 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) | 923 | 855 | 1126 | 751 | 693 | 933 | 510 | 470 | 656 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 1113 | 1001 | 1314 | 918 | 821 | 1098 | 635 | 569 | 780 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 1007 | 904 | 1206 | 827 | 736 | 1006 | 571 | 504 | 714 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 807 | 809 | 994 | 650 | 651 | 816 | 432 | 436 | 565 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 980 | 932 | 1184 | 806 | 763 | 989 | 558 | 527 | 706 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 839 | 857 | 1031 | 679 | 697 | 850 | 453 | 477 | 589 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 1035 | 926 | 1233 | 853 | 758 | 1030 | 592 | 526 | 734 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 934 | 911 | 1131 | 764 | 744 | 941 | 523 | 513 | 665 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 922 | 872 | 1117 | 758 | 711 | 932 | 526 | 489 | 666 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 717 | 760 | 901 | 567 | 611 | 729 | 363 | 410 | 491 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 727 | 762 | 919 | 579 | 612 | 749 | 374 | 412 | 509 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 900 | 893 | 1097 | 764 | 729 | 941 | 523 | 499 | 665 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 908 | 857 | 1106 | 737 | 692 | 914 | 498 | 466 | 641 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 788 | 800 | 969 | 633 | 646 | 793 | 418 | 437 | 544 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 900 | 867 | 1095 | 735 | 705 | 909 | 498 | 481 | 638 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2026 observed May 26 and June 2, 2026; issued June 2, 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 |
| 26-May | 2-Jun | Difference | 26-May | 2-Jun | Difference | 26-May | 2-Jun | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 779 | 923 | 144.0 | 628 | 751 | 123.0 | 419 | 510 | 91.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 959 | 1113 | 154.0 | 785 | 918 | 133.0 | 534 | 635 | 101.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 859 | 1007 | 148.0 | 700 | 827 | 127.0 | 475 | 571 | 96.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 682 | 807 | 125.0 | 544 | 650 | 106.0 | 355 | 432 | 77.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 829 | 980 | 151.0 | 676 | 806 | 130.0 | 460 | 558 | 98.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 691 | 839 | 148.0 | 552 | 679 | 127.0 | 358 | 453 | 95.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 887 | 1035 | 148.0 | 725 | 853 | 128.0 | 496 | 592 | 96.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 772 | 934 | 162.0 | 624 | 764 | 140.0 | 416 | 523 | 107.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 789 | 922 | 133.0 | 644 | 758 | 114.0 | 441 | 526 | 85.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 586 | 717 | 131.0 | 455 | 567 | 112.0 | 282 | 363 | 81.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 596 | 727 | 131.0 | 468 | 579 | 111.0 | 294 | 374 | 80.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 747 | 900 | 153.0 | 624 | 764 | 140.0 | 416 | 523 | 107.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 770 | 908 | 138.0 | 620 | 737 | 117.0 | 412 | 498 | 86.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 651 | 788 | 137.0 | 516 | 633 | 117.0 | 332 | 418 | 86.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 757 | 900 | 143 | 612 | 735 | 123 | 406 | 498 | 92 |
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.
