Southeast Michigan fruit update – September 9, 2025
Print
EmailHoneycrisp are being harvested.
Welcome to the 22nd 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. As we get further into harvest these reports will wind down.
General observations
Around the state we have been experiencing true autumn-like weather, which has been great for cider mills and apple orchards opening up to the public. We’re expecting fair conditions to continue with highs climbing back up by midweek and the chance for rain on the weekend. Apple harvest has moved into Gala and Honeycrisp and grapes are currently at X. Some late peaches remain on trees and blackberry and fall raspberry harvests continue.
Our weekly integrated pest management updates wrapped up in June. You can watch recordings of the fruit meetings for southern Michigan on MSU’s Kaltura Media Space at the small fruit channel and the tree fruit channel.
Fruit-by-fruit conditions
Apples
Growers have started with some Gala strains and are moving into Honeycrisp. The statewide apple maturity report and regional reports can be found on the MSU Extension Apple Maturity Page and are typically updated on Wednesday or Thursday. There is some risk for powdery mildew infections on Sept. 13-15 with airborne conidia being present all week. Risk for secondary scab is low. Sooty blotch risk is low, but keep in mind that later varieties like GoldRush and Northern Spy may need additional protection.
Table 1. Normal and 2025 peak harvest dates for varieties for southeast Michigan.
|
Variety |
Normal |
Predicted |
Last Year |
|
Paulared |
22-Aug |
18-Aug |
7-Aug |
|
Zestar |
22-Aug |
18-Aug |
7-Aug |
|
Gingergold |
23-Aug |
19-Aug |
9-Aug |
|
Gala |
8-Sep |
4-Sep |
24-Aug |
|
McIntosh |
13-Sep |
9-Sep |
26-Aug |
|
Honeycrisp |
16-Sep |
12-Sep |
29-Aug |
|
Empire |
20-Sep |
17-Sep |
7-Sep |
|
Jonathan |
23-Sep |
22-Sep |
10-Sep |
|
Jonagold |
23-Sep |
20-Sep |
10-Sep |
|
Early Fuji |
25-Sep |
22-Sep |
13-Sep |
|
Golden Delicious |
29-Sep |
26-Sep |
13-Sep |
|
Red Delicious |
1-Oct |
29-Sep |
17-Sep |
|
Idared |
6-Oct |
2-Oct |
24-Sep |
|
Rome |
11-Oct |
7-Oct |
24-Sep |
|
Late Fuji |
22-Oct |
18-Oct |
9-Oct |
|
Braeburn |
23-Oct |
19-Oct |
9-Oct |
|
Goldrush |
31-Oct |
27-Oct |
15-Oct |
Blueberries
Farms in the region have wrapped up blueberry harvest.
Brambles
Harvest of fall raspberries and blackberries continues.
Cherries
Harvest has concluded.
Grapes
Concord continues to add color while more varieties undergo harvest. The table grape Vanessa was picked in Britton, Michigan, while Frontenac Blanc was harvested at Youngblood’s in Ray Township, Michigan. Growers are letting wine grapes hang while weather conditions are good. More information can be found in the latest grape scouting report, which comes out on Wednesdays.
Peaches and nectarines
Growers are picking late season peaches like Messina and August Rose, with Victoria expected in the next week or so.
Pears
Bartlett pear harvest has largely concluded.
Plums
Harvest continues in many plum varieties, including Italian prune plums.
Strawberries
Harvest has concluded in the region. Yield was spotty, with some farms having a normal yield and others with low yield. Renovation should proceed as soon after harvest as possible. You can read this 2023 article on strawberry renovation.
Insect conditions
Many regional scouts have stopped trapping or reduced their trapping frequency as harvest progresses.
Apple maggot: Catches in Fennville have dropped and southeast Michigan scouts have removed traps.
Brown marmorated stink bug: Some damage has been seen. Brown marmorated stink bug is hard to control because it is active so close to apple harvest.
Codling moth: Codling moth counts have dropped in southeast Michigan as well as Fennville. With the current weather patterns and our growing degree day accumulation we anticipate the possibility of a third generation this year in the region. See this 2024 article for best management practices.
Grape berry moth: Counts have dropped to almost zero at Trevor Nichols Research Center in Fennville. Read this article on early season grape berry moth control.
Obliquebanded leafroller: Catches are down, with counts averaging one per trap in Fennville. Not much damage has been observed, though some scouts have noted some damage on peach this year, which is out of the ordinary.
Oriental fruit moth: Counts remain low in southeast Michigan and at the Trevor Nichols Research Center.
San Jose scale: Male counts remain low in Fennville.
Disease conditions
Apple scab: Very little scab has been reported, indicating low risk for secondary scab.
Black rot in apple: Light infections seen around the region on fruit and leaves. More has been reported as the season progresses.
Cherry leaf spot: We do not anticipate risk for cherry leaf spot infection this week. See this 2013 article on cherry leaf spot management.
Fire blight: Strikes have been reported in southeast Michigan in orchards with susceptible varieties and a history of fire blight, but these seem to be isolated.
Grape black rot: Control for grape black rot usually begins at 1 inch shoot length. We do not anticipate risk for new infections this week. See this 2014 article for grape black rot management options and consult E-154.
Grape downy mildew: We do not anticipate risk for new infections this week.
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. Anticipated risk is present for Sept. 13-15 with airborne conidia present all week.
Powdery mildew of grape: Risk anticipated all week from Sept. 10-16.
Sooty blotch and fly speck: Trace amounts seen around the region, no additional risk anticipated this week.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, southeast Michigan has seen on average 8 hours of rain accumulating to about 0.5 inches of precipitation.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- Sep. 8, 2025, issued September 8, 2025 | ||||
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 16.4 | 282 | 21.0 | 289 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 18.1 | 268 | 18.2 | 276 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 16.7 | 279 | 18.8 | 280 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 20.3 | 274 | 17.6 | 287 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 18.5 | 331 | 20.4 | 287 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 16.6 | 263 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 16.9 | 273 | 17.5 | 277 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 17.6 | 263 | 17.4 | 271 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 22.4 | 291 | 17.7 | 307 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 14.9 | 270 | 17.6 | 268 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 18.3 | 318 | 16.0 | 277 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 21.9 | 282 | 17.8 | 263 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 21.8 | 266 | 20.7 | 281 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 17.5 | 255 | 15.6 | 336 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 18.4 | 279.6 | 18.2 | 284.5 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed September2 and September 8, 2025; issued September 8, 2025 | ||||||
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | 2-Sep | 8-Sep | Difference | 2-Sep | 8-Sep | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 16.0 | 16.4 | 0.3 | 272 | 282 | 10.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 17.7 | 18.1 | 0.4 | 263 | 268 | 5.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 16.0 | 16.7 | 0.7 | 273 | 279 | 6.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 20.0 | 20.3 | 0.4 | 264 | 274 | 10.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 18.1 | 18.5 | 0.5 | 323 | 331 | 8.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 15.5 | 16.6 | 1.0 | 255 | 263 | 8.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 16.6 | 16.9 | 0.3 | 267 | 273 | 6.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 16.9 | 17.6 | 0.8 | 256 | 263 | 7.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 22.1 | 22.4 | 0.3 | 284 | 291 | 7.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 14.5 | 14.9 | 0.4 | 262 | 270 | 8.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 17.7 | 18.3 | 0.6 | 308 | 318 | 10.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 21.5 | 21.9 | 0.4 | 274 | 282 | 8.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 21.5 | 21.8 | 0.3 | 256 | 266 | 10.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 17.1 | 17.5 | 0.4 | 246 | 255 | 9.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 17.9 | 18.4 | 0.5 | 271.6 | 279.6 | 8.0 |
In the short term, we are expecting a continuation of fair and dry conditions with a warm-up taking highs to the upper 70s and low 80s for the next week. Temperature lows will stay in the 50s for the foreseeable future.
In the medium term, we are expecting below normal temperatures and precipitation to be a little below normal. We expect a warming trend in mid-September. The long lead outlooks are calling for temperature to be above normal and precipitation to be near normal.
Around the region our growing degree day numbers have remained close to the four-year average. In the last week, we gained an average of 53 growing degree days at base 50. Read this Michigan State University Extension article to learn more about degree days: Understanding growing degree-days.
| Degree Day Accumulation Mar. 1-September 8, 2025 Forecast from Sep. 9-14, 2025; issued Sep. 8, 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) | 3526 | 3548 | 3686 | 3067 | 3093 | 3206 | 2353 | 2387 | 2459 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 3831 | 3830 | 3993 | 3355 | 3359 | 3496 | 2616 | 2627 | 2725 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 3615 | 3590 | 3773 | 3151 | 3130 | 3289 | 2434 | 2420 | 2540 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 3207 | 3352 | 3351 | 2758 | 2902 | 2881 | 2074 | 2206 | 2165 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 3747 | 3726 | 3901 | 3279 | 3264 | 3421 | 2551 | 2545 | 2660 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 3518 | 3536 | 3667 | 3065 | 3083 | 3194 | 2369 | 2381 | 2466 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 3638 | 3696 | 3798 | 3180 | 3238 | 3320 | 2475 | 2527 | 2582 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 3668 | 3697 | 3823 | 3205 | 3238 | 3340 | 2492 | 2521 | 2595 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 3467 | 3505 | 3618 | 3012 | 3053 | 3143 | 2311 | 2356 | 2410 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 3222 | 3310 | 3366 | 2785 | 2869 | 2909 | 2117 | 2186 | 2209 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 3275 | 3391 | 3417 | 2833 | 2948 | 2954 | 2161 | 2262 | 2249 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 3520 | 3613 | 3670 | 3061 | 3156 | 3190 | 2350 | 2441 | 2447 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 3555 | 3589 | 3710 | 3094 | 3132 | 3228 | 2380 | 2420 | 2481 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 3398 | 3425 | 3541 | 2948 | 2980 | 3070 | 2259 | 2291 | 2350 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 3513 | 3558 | 3665 | 3057 | 3103 | 3189 | 2353 | 2398 | 2453 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2025 observed September 2 and September 8, 2025; issued September 8, 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 |
| 2-Sep | 8-Sep | Difference | 2-Sep | 8-Sep | Difference | 2-Sep | 8-Sep | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 3432 | 3526 | 94.0 | 2990 | 3067 | 77.0 | 2302 | 2353 | 51.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 3727 | 3831 | 104.0 | 3268 | 3355 | 87.0 | 2553 | 2616 | 63.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 3524 | 3615 | 91.0 | 3076 | 3151 | 75.0 | 2381 | 2434 | 53.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 3129 | 3207 | 78.0 | 2696 | 2758 | 62.0 | 2034 | 2074 | 40.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 3643 | 3747 | 104.0 | 3194 | 3279 | 85.0 | 2493 | 2551 | 58.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 3421 | 3518 | 97.0 | 2985 | 3065 | 80.0 | 2314 | 2369 | 55.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 3549 | 3638 | 89.0 | 3105 | 3180 | 75.0 | 2419 | 2475 | 56.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 3575 | 3668 | 93.0 | 3129 | 3205 | 76.0 | 2441 | 2492 | 51.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 3374 | 3467 | 93.0 | 2936 | 3012 | 76.0 | 2258 | 2311 | 53.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 3140 | 3222 | 82.0 | 2719 | 2785 | 66.0 | 2073 | 2117 | 44.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 3177 | 3275 | 98.0 | 2753 | 2833 | 80.0 | 2107 | 2161 | 54.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 3423 | 3520 | 97.0 | 2981 | 3061 | 80.0 | 2296 | 2350 | 54.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 3450 | 3555 | 105.0 | 3007 | 3094 | 87.0 | 2319 | 2380 | 61.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 3300 | 3398 | 98.0 | 2867 | 2948 | 81.0 | 2204 | 2259 | 55.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 3419 | 3513 | 95 | 2979 | 3057 | 78 | 2300 | 2353 | 53 |
Jeff Andresen's biweekly agricultural weather forecast reports have concluded for the season.
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.
