Southwest Michigan fruit update – April 22, 2025
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EmailPlants are moving. The end of the week is going to be warm.
MSU fruit updates
Michigan State University Extension is in the process of filling the tree fruit specialist position based at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center. Because of this, there will be a more abbreviated tree fruit section in our weekly updates until the position is filled.
We are also moving our weekly integrated pest management (IPM) updates to a virtual format and dividing them into tree fruit-specific meetings and small fruit-specific meetings. The small fruit weekly updates are held Tuesday evenings. Tree fruit weekly updates begin Wednesday, April 16. We are hoping to return to joint small and tree fruit updates next year. Thank you for your understanding and happy spring!
The MSU Extension Fruit & Nuts email digest will be released on Wednesdays instead of our more traditional Tuesday afternoons to accommodate more article updates that support our scouting reports and timely topics of interest. If you are not yet signed up to receive our weekly digests, sign up here.
Weather
Southwest Michigan experienced a mix of weather patterns in classic spring fashion. Temperatures fluctuated, with highs reaching up to 76 degrees Fahrenheit at the end of the week and lows dipping down to 23 F in certain areas of the region. This last week, heat helped move the progression of many crops more than we have seen this spring. Precipitation was notable, with southwest Michigan receiving between 0.5 to 2 inches of rain, contributing to already moist soil conditions, and helping us get out of the abnormally dry conditions we were experiencing earlier this year. These wet conditions, combined with cooler temperatures, may have delayed fieldwork and planting activities.
This week in southwest Michigan, we expect more spring weather. Temperatures will be mild, with daytime highs around 55 F and nighttime lows near 38 F. Rainfall is anticipated on several days, so check your local weather if you are planning on spraying.
Tree fruit
Green fruitworm continue to be captured in monitoring traps in southwest Michigan over the last week, with this week seeing slightly more than the last. Egglaying should begin soon. The larvae of this early season moth can cause low levels of damage to developing leaves during and shortly after bloom and developing fruit as larvae mature.
Apricots are at petal fall in Berrien County, depending on variety and location. Some small levels of freeze damage has been observed in some locations. Early indications are somewhere between 10-20% damage.
Japanese plums are blooming. European plums are slightly behind, with many varieties showing some white.
Peach and nectarine are at first pink with some varieties blooming.
The early apple variety Zestar is at first pink in Berrien County. Many varieties are at green tip. Scab sprays will be needed to protect against future rains as green tissue emerges. Protectants are preferred over systemic fungicides at this time of year for scab control.
Pear psylla adults are flying. Scab sprays are needed as green tissue emerges.
Small fruit
Grapes are moving. Water bleeding from fresh cuts is common in most varieties. Bud swell is becoming more pronounced, especially in early varieties. Some, like the juice grapes and early hybrids, are at the doeskin or fuzzy bud stage. Expect more movement this week with the warmer temperatures.
Blueberries have moved and woken up since last week. Buds are at bud break up through southern Allegan County with some earlier varieties in the southernmost parts of the state who are in tight cluster. Growers with later varieties might still have time to apply copper or sulfur products to suppress early season diseases, but that window is closing and has already closed for many varieties as leaf tissue has emerged.
Pollination is around the corner. Check out MSU Extension’s Blueberry Pollinator Stewardship Guide to help keep up your hive health.
Strawberry growers are looking at early season herbicides to control overwintering weeds. When selecting an herbicide, check the preharvest interval.
Bramble leaves are beginning to emerge in many varieties. In summer bearing raspberries, last year’s primocanes should be headed (cut back) to the desired height and any remaining floricanes from last year should be removed. Fall bearing raspberries should be cut or mowed to the ground.
Surveys
Please fill out this survey from our colleagues across the Midwest about novel weed sprays!
Upcoming meetings
This year, in lieu of our historical Monday Night Fruit IPM Meetings, we will instead be hosting Tuesday night small fruit IPM meetings. They will take place entirely online at 5:30 p.m. starting April 1 and will occur weekly until June 24. Sign up here for the small fruit meetings.
The tree fruit IPM lunch meetings begin April 16. Sign up here for the tree fruit meetings.
If you are interested in new spraying technologies, MSU Extension is hosting an in-person workshop on spray drones at the Saginaw Valley Research and Extension Center near Frankenmuth on April 29. This event will combine presentations around effective use of spray drones and live demonstrations of spray drone technology and evaluation tools. This event will be valuable to people interested in spray drones regardless of the crop they grow. Learn more about this all-day fly-in.
