Southeast Michigan fruit update – September 1, 2026
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EmailThe last of peaches are being harvested. Cider mills and U-picks are opening.
Welcome to the 23rd 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 of August was a little warmer than the week before and finally brought some additional precipitation to the region. We are expecting hot conditions mid-week followed by a cold front bringing rain and storms from Thursday, Sept. 3, to Friday and cooler temperatures over the weekend. High temperatures will start in the low 90s and drop to the low 80s after the cold front.
Growers are picking their final peaches and continuing fall raspberries. Some orchards held on to mainline apple varieties in anticipation of a big opening weekend for Labor Day, where harvest will include ‘Gala’ and early ‘Honeycrisp.’ Harvest has started in European style plums and more grape varieties are being picked, like ‘Venus’ and ‘Vanessa’ in table grapes and ‘Itasca’ in hybrid wine grapes.
Powdery mildew is again the biggest disease risk this week. Brown marmorated stink bug damage has been detected in some orchards. This weekend continues the opening of many regional u-pick operations and cider mills, which is always a busy and exciting time of year.
Regional and statewide apple maturity reports have started MSU Extension educators recently published the 2026 apple maturity prediction tables, including the apple harvest prediction dates for southeast Michigan.
Fruit-by-fruit conditions
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Apples: While we are at the end of cover sprays for most varieties it is important to remember that some late cultivars may need an additional fungicide treatment. We are moving along with harvest main season cultivars with many orchards opening for early ‘McIntosh’ and early ‘Gala’ strains as well as ‘Premier Honeycrisp.’
Statewide apple maturity reports started last week and can be read at our apple maturity hub. Our main concerns at this time of year are powdery mildew, apple maggot, brown marmorated stink bug, and codling moth. Pay attention to pre-harvest intervals for any spray applied at this time of year.
Blueberries: The main harvest season has wrapped up.
Brambles: Fall raspberry and blackberry harvests continue, though blackberry is getting towards the end of its season. Fruit rots and spotted wing drosophila management are the main concerns for production.
Cherries: Harvest has wrapped up in both sweet and tart cherries at farms that decided to harvest this year. Growers should still pay attention to cherry leaf spot management.
Grapes: Harvest has continued in table grapes like ‘Venus’ and ‘Vanessa.’ Harvest is expected to start with week for hybrid wine grapes like ‘Itasca’ and ‘Marquette.’ ‘Concord’ grapes have hit veraison and are becoming aromatic. Some growers have put up bird netting for high-value cultivars.
Peaches and nectarines: Harvest is coming to an end with growers picking late cultivars like ‘Crest Haven’ and ‘Victoria.’
Pears: Early pears like ‘Bartlett’ have been harvested. Pears should be picked when they start to soften and the ground color changes from green to a more yellow color.
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Plums: European style plum harvest has started with ‘Italian’ plums hitting the market. ‘Stanley’ and ‘Damson’ plums are still on the trees.
Strawberries: Harvest is done in the region and most growers have already renovated.
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).
Apple maggot: Counts at Fennville have increased with roughly 5 per trap compared to 0 last week.
Blueberry maggot: Numbers remain low in Fennville with less than 1 per trap.
Borers: Catch of greater peach tree borer of lesser peachtree borer are down in Fennville.
Brown marmorated stink bug: Adults and damage have been observed in Southeast Michigan orchards. Because adults are active so close to harvest you need to pay close attention to your pre-harvest intervals.
Codling moth: Adult catches have declined again in Fennville with 11 per trap compared to 16 last week. Regionally growers have treated based on counts above threshold.
Grape berry moth: Counts in Fennville have remained low around 3 per trap.
Japanese beetle: Counts continue to decline in Fennville.
Mites: Mite counts have been dropping regionally. European red mites and rust mites are responsible for some bronzing in orchards. Two spotted spider mites will put out webbing.
Oriental fruit moth: Counts have climbed from 2.7 to 9 per trap in Fennville.
San Jose scale: Counts of adult males in Fennville have climbed from 2 to 10 per trap.
Spotted lanternfly: Look for nymphs in parts of the state that have documented populations (Detroit, Monroe County, Oakland County).
Disease conditions
Apple scab: We don’t anticipate risk for secondary scab infections on fruit this week, though leaf infection may occur Sept. 4.
Cherry leaf spot: We anticipate slight to moderate risk this week from Sept. 4-5. 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, however if there is hail damage, growers should spray for fire blight.
Grape downy mildew: We anticipate medium to moderate risk on Sept. 2 and 5.
Grape powdery mildew: We are expecting slight to severe risk from Sept. 3-4 and 8-9.
Phomopsis: In blueberries the Phomopsis fungus is active from bud swell until after harvest.
Powdery mildew of apple and pear: There will be airborne conidia all week and models indicate moderate to severe risk on Sept. 2-3 and Sept. 5.
Sooty blotch: We anticipate some risk on Sept. 4-5.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, Southeast Michigan has seen an average of 14.4 hours of rain accumulating to 0.9 inches of precipitation.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- September 1, 2026, issued September 1, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 17.8 | 256 | 19.8 | 283 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 23.6 | 261 | 17.9 | 270 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 20.9 | 287 | 18.1 | 274 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 19.4 | 304 | 17.5 | 280 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 19.5 | 269 | 19.7 | 291 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 19.3 | 243 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 19.8 | 275 | 17.1 | 272 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 20.5 | 275 | 16.6 | 263 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 19.4 | 294 | 18.4 | 299 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 21.2 | 285 | 16.4 | 263 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 19.4 | 291 | 15.7 | 279 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 21.1 | 263 | 18.1 | 261 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 21.2 | 271 | 20.6 | 273 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 18.5 | 269 | 15.6 | 315 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 20.1 | 274.5 | 17.8 | 278.7 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed August 25 and September 1, 2026; issued September 1, 2026 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | 25-Aug | 1-Sep | Difference | 25-Aug | 1-Sep | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 17.4 | 17.8 | 0.4 | 246 | 256 | 10.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 23.2 | 23.6 | 0.3 | 251 | 261 | 10.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 20.3 | 20.9 | 0.5 | 277 | 287 | 10.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 18.4 | 19.4 | 1.0 | 284 | 304 | 20.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 18.4 | 19.5 | 1.2 | 257 | 269 | 12.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 18.8 | 19.3 | 0.5 | 227 | 243 | 16.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 19.6 | 19.8 | 0.2 | 265 | 275 | 10.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 19.7 | 20.5 | 0.8 | 262 | 275 | 13.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 17.8 | 19.4 | 1.6 | 277 | 294 | 17.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 20.5 | 21.2 | 0.7 | 268 | 285 | 17.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 17.9 | 19.4 | 1.5 | 273 | 291 | 18.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 20.0 | 21.1 | 1.1 | 247 | 263 | 16.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 20.4 | 21.2 | 0.9 | 259 | 271 | 12.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 17.2 | 18.5 | 1.3 | 249 | 269 | 20.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 19.2 | 20.1 | 0.9 | 260.1 | 274.5 | 14.4 |
In the short term we are expecting hot and humid conditions mid-week with highs in the low 90s. Rain and storms will come through on Thursday and Friday with cooler air following. Highs on the weekend will be in the upper 70s to low 80 with a partial chance of rain. We are expecting above normal temperatures and normal precipitation as we move into September and a fall that is warmer and drier than normal.
Our regional average growing degree day (GDD) accumulation for the season are about seven days ahead of the long term normals and about three days ahead of the five-year average. In the last week, we accumulated on average 187 GDD at 42 F, 166 GDD at 45 F, and 131 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-Sep. 1, 2026 Forecast from Sep. 2-Sep. 8, 2026; issued Sep. 1, 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) | 3525 | 3383 | 3765 | 3080 | 2948 | 3299 | 2386 | 2274 | 2570 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 3813 | 3663 | 4055 | 3345 | 3211 | 3566 | 2609 | 2510 | 2795 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 3593 | 3439 | 3828 | 3141 | 2999 | 3354 | 2433 | 2319 | 2612 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 3269 | 3175 | 3491 | 2839 | 2746 | 3040 | 2173 | 2085 | 2339 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 3699 | 3563 | 3935 | 3252 | 3121 | 3467 | 2551 | 2435 | 3732 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 3393 | 3379 | 3611 | 2960 | 2947 | 3157 | 2281 | 2279 | 2443 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 3653 | 3527 | 3896 | 3199 | 3089 | 3421 | 2491 | 2410 | 2678 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 3616 | 3529 | 3844 | 3173 | 3090 | 3380 | 2478 | 2408 | 2650 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 3479 | 3342 | 3705 | 3044 | 2910 | 3249 | 2363 | 2244 | 2534 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 3112 | 3145 | 3323 | 2689 | 2724 | 2878 | 2036 | 2076 | 2191 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 3208 | 3211 | 3413 | 2787 | 2788 | 2970 | 2128 | 2139 | 2277 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 3489 | 3435 | 3709 | 3051 | 2998 | 3251 | 2367 | 2317 | 2532 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 3564 | 3420 | 3797 | 3120 | 2983 | 3332 | 2428 | 2304 | 2605 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 3345 | 3261 | 3557 | 2917 | 2836 | 3108 | 2250 | 2180 | 2405 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 3483 | 3391 | 3709 | 3043 | 2956 | 3248 | 2355 | 2284 | 2597 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2026 observed August 25 and September 1, 2026; issued September 1, 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 |
| 25-Aug | 1-Sep | Difference | 25-Aug | 1-Sep | Difference | 25-Aug | 1-Sep | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 3335 | 3525 | 190.0 | 2911 | 3080 | 169.0 | 2252 | 2386 | 134.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 3621 | 3813 | 192.0 | 3174 | 3345 | 171.0 | 2473 | 2609 | 136.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 3406 | 3593 | 187.0 | 2975 | 3141 | 166.0 | 2302 | 2433 | 131.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 3090 | 3269 | 179.0 | 2682 | 2839 | 157.0 | 2051 | 2173 | 122.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 3505 | 3699 | 194.0 | 3079 | 3252 | 173.0 | 2414 | 2551 | 137.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 3208 | 3393 | 185.0 | 2796 | 2960 | 164.0 | 2152 | 2281 | 129.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 3470 | 3653 | 183.0 | 3037 | 3199 | 162.0 | 2363 | 2491 | 128.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 3424 | 3616 | 192.0 | 3002 | 3173 | 171.0 | 2342 | 2478 | 136.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 3294 | 3479 | 185.0 | 2879 | 3044 | 165.0 | 2234 | 2363 | 129.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 2939 | 3112 | 173.0 | 2537 | 2689 | 152.0 | 1918 | 2036 | 118.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 3025 | 3208 | 183.0 | 2625 | 2787 | 162.0 | 2001 | 2128 | 127.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 3299 | 3489 | 190.0 | 2883 | 3051 | 168.0 | 2234 | 2367 | 133.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 3370 | 3564 | 194.0 | 2948 | 3120 | 172.0 | 2290 | 2428 | 138.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 3158 | 3345 | 187.0 | 2751 | 2917 | 166.0 | 2118 | 2250 | 132.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 3296 | 3483 | 187 | 2877 | 3043 | 166 | 2225 | 2355 | 131 |
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.
