Southeast Michigan fruit update – April 22, 2026
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EmailAssess fruit for frost damage and protect against fire blight.
Welcome to the fourth 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
We had a potentially damaging cold event overnight Sunday into Monday (April 19-20), with temperatures dropping to the 26-27 degrees Fahrenheit range in much of the region. The effects of these low temperatures on fruit depend on the phenological progression of the fruit (cherries in bloom were more susceptible to damage than grapes at bud swell) and the length of time at damaging temperatures.
The best time to assess for frost damage is a couple days after the frost event. Temperatures measured at the weather stations did not get as cold as the forecasts predicted, but weather experienced at your own farm will vary from the nearest weather station and you may have seen lower temperatures (e.g., in low-lying areas). Compare the lowest temperatures experienced to the critical temperatures (tree fruit and blueberries.)
| Location | Minimum Temp. April 19-20 |
|---|---|
| Commerce (Oakland) | 26.5 F |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 31.0 F |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 27.4 F |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 23.8 F |
| Flint (Genesee) | 26.8 F |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 25.2 F |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 27.4 F |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 26.7 F |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 24.9 F |
| Linwood (Bay) | 24.9 F |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 27.2 F |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 25.9 F |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 26.8 F |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 25.8 F |
The warm temperatures late last week sped up bud progression, bringing about bloom at some farms in sweet cherries, tart cherries, plums, peaches, and the first apples. Continued warm temperatures this week will push bloom along even further and bring with it risk for fire blight. We are expecting a relatively dry and warm week, though there is potential for showers overnight Friday into Saturday as well as Monday.
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 pink and first bloom with warm temperatures pushing us into full bloom this week. Green tip in McIntosh was observed on April 1 in 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 tight cluster and the first signs of early pink bud in blueberry plantings in Hartland. 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 tight cluster we see damage when temperatures drop to the 20-23 F range and at early pink bud that range is 23-25 F.
Brambles
We are seeing first swell in summer raspberries and new shoot growth in fall raspberries.
Cherries
We are seeing first bloom in sweet and tart cherries and in warmer areas we are moving into full bloom. At first bloom and full bloom the critical temperatures for tart cherries are 28 F for 10% kill and 24 F for 90% kill. At first bloom and full bloom the critical temperatures for sweet cherries are 28 F for 10% kill and 25 F for 90% kill.
Grapes
We are seeing some full swell and sap flowing in Niagara grapes along with full swell in wild grapes and hybrid wine grapes. At full swell the critical temperatures are 21 F for 10% kill and 10 F for 90% kill.
Peaches and nectarines
Peaches in warmer parts of the region have started blooming. Some growers in the region have reported that they are now seeing dieback and winter damage from earlier on in the season (not frost damage from Sunday night). This is a good opportunity to look at trees that have slower-developing buds to see where winter damage may have occurred. At calyx red the critical temperatures are 23 F for 10% kill and 15 F for 90% kill. At first pink the critical temperatures are 25 F for 10% kill and 15° F for 90% kill. 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 Hartland were at tight cluster, while warmer parts of the region have hit first bloom. At tight cluster, the critical temperatures are 24 F for 10% kill and 15 F for 90% kill. At first bloom the critical temperatures are 27 F for 10% kill and 23 F for 90% kill.
Plums
Japanese style plums are at full bloom while European style plums are between tight cluster and first white. At first white the critical temperatures are 26 F for 22% kill and 0 F for 90% kill. At full bloom 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 from the orchard. Sanitation is an important step in managing this disease.
Strawberries
We are seeing some greening in field strawberries in Romeo, with some new leaf development. Some growers are removing straw this week. 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 this week in Monroe County. Females start to search for new sites to deposit eggs around 100 GDD50. The main control is to target emerging females at that point. Our cooler regions are forecast to get to 100 GDD50 next week.
European red mite: Control for European red mite usually begins at tight cluster in apples and should be completed before the pink stage.
Green fruitworm: Catches continue in Fennville. These can be controlled with insecticides post-bloom.
Oriental fruit moth: First catch occurred in Fennville this week. In cooler parts of the region mating disruption can still be applied. The next control time is at egg laying which will happen in a couple weeks.
Pear psylla: Eggs continue hatching.
San Jose scale: A delayed dormant oil spray between green tip and pink can be used to control scale. After this period the next time to control is when crawlers emerge in early summer.
Spotted tentiform leafminer: Control for spotted tentiform leafminer is usually not necessary, but may be useful in problem areas beginning at tight cluster in apples
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 are not expecting this week to have high risk for scab.
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. You can 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 high fire blight risk in apples and pears this week, especially April 25–28.
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 has seen on average of about 24 hours of rain accumulating to roughly 2 inches of precipitation.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- April 14, 2026, issued April 14, 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 8.6 | 110 | 4.4 | 94 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 8.4 | 109 | 4.2 | 90 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 10.0 | 124 | 4.7 | 98 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 8.2 | 123 | 4.2 | 90 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 8.7 | 124 | 4.9 | 99 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 9.5 | 122 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 8.5 | 113 | 4.6 | 92 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 11.2 | 126 | 4.6 | 98 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 8.9 | 132 | 4.0 | 98 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 9.9 | 138 | 4.3 | 93 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 8.3 | 134 | 3.6 | 93 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 9.6 | 127 | 4.5 | 92 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 8.0 | 103 | 4.1 | 87 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 8.0 | 113 | 4.1 | 89 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 9.0 | 121.3 | 4.3 | 93.3 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed April 14 and April 21, 2026; issued April 21, 2026 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | Apr. 14 | Apr. 21 | Difference | Apr. 14 | Apr. 21 | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 5.9 | 8.6 | 2.7 | 84 | 110 | 26.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 6.4 | 8.4 | 2.0 | 85 | 109 | 24.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 7.4 | 10.0 | 2.6 | 95 | 124 | 29.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 6.7 | 8.2 | 1.5 | 97 | 123 | 26.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 7.3 | 8.7 | 1.4 | 103 | 124 | 21.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 7.4 | 9.5 | 2.1 | 102 | 122 | 20.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 6.4 | 8.5 | 2.1 | 88 | 113 | 25.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 8.1 | 11.2 | 3.1 | 103 | 126 | 23.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 6.9 | 8.9 | 2.0 | 104 | 132 | 28.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 7.5 | 9.9 | 2.4 | 110 | 138 | 28.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 6.9 | 8.3 | 1.4 | 113 | 134 | 21.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 8.1 | 9.6 | 1.5 | 109 | 127 | 18.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 5.9 | 8.0 | 2.1 | 78 | 103 | 25.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 6.5 | 8.0 | 1.5 | 92 | 113 | 21.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 7.0 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 97.4 | 121.3 | 23.9 |
In the short term we are expecting warm and dry conditions for most of the week with potential for showers overnight Friday into Saturday and again on Monday. Highs will be in the low 70s late this week dropping to the 60s on the weekend. Lows will go between the 40s and 50s for most of the next week.
In the medium term we are expecting temperatures to be near to below normal and precipitation totals to be normal to above 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 are about two weeks ahead of the long term normals and about a week ahead of the 5 year average,. In the last week we accumulated on average 97 GDD at 42 F, 80 GDD at 45 F and 56 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 21, 2026 Forecast from Apr. 22-28, 2026; issued April 21, 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) | 324 | 237 | 431 | 257 | 178 | 345 | 168 | 106 | 226 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 440 | 302 | 559 | 358 | 231 | 457 | 242 | 141 | 309 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 364 | 259 | 476 | 292 | 196 | 384 | 193 | 118 | 255 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 275 | 219 | 361 | 214 | 163 | 283 | 136 | 95 | 179 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 339 | 266 | 444 | 272 | 202 | 357 | 179 | 123 | 237 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 242 | 219 | 331 | 187 | 165 | 258 | 115 | 100 | 159 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 403 | 264 | 524 | 327 | 201 | 429 | 221 | 124 | 291 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 296 | 239 | 397 | 234 | 180 | 317 | 152 | 108 | 207 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 328 | 253 | 425 | 264 | 193 | 342 | 178 | 117 | 229 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 199 | 188 | 279 | 149 | 140 | 212 | 87 | 84 | 125 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 206 | 194 | 271 | 157 | 144 | 205 | 93 | 86 | 118 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 284 | 242 | 379 | 225 | 183 | 302 | 148 | 109 | 198 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 321 | 235 | 421 | 255 | 175 | 335 | 167 | 103 | 220 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 256 | 211 | 330 | 200 | 158 | 257 | 125 | 94 | 159 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 306 | 238 | 402 | 242 | 179 | 320 | 157 | 108 | 208 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2026 observed April 14 and April 21, 2026; issued April 21, 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. 14 | Apr. 21 | Difference | Apr. 14 | Apr. 21 | Difference | Apr. 14 | Apr. 21 | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 230 | 324 | 94.0 | 178 | 257 | 79.0 | 112 | 168 | 56.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 299 | 440 | 141.0 | 240 | 358 | 118.0 | 158 | 242 | 84.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 259 | 364 | 105.0 | 203 | 292 | 89.0 | 129 | 193 | 64.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 191 | 275 | 84.0 | 146 | 214 | 68.0 | 91 | 136 | 45.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 237 | 339 | 102.0 | 186 | 272 | 86.0 | 117 | 179 | 62.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 154 | 242 | 88.0 | 116 | 187 | 71.0 | 66 | 115 | 49.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 299 | 403 | 104.0 | 240 | 327 | 87.0 | 158 | 221 | 63.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 195 | 296 | 101.0 | 150 | 234 | 84.0 | 92 | 152 | 60.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 229 | 328 | 99.0 | 181 | 264 | 83.0 | 118 | 178 | 60.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 127 | 199 | 72.0 | 92 | 149 | 57.0 | 52 | 87 | 35.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 127 | 206 | 79.0 | 94 | 157 | 63.0 | 52 | 93 | 41.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 185 | 284 | 99.0 | 141 | 225 | 84.0 | 88 | 148 | 60.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 224 | 321 | 97.0 | 174 | 255 | 81.0 | 111 | 167 | 56.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 170 | 256 | 86.0 | 129 | 200 | 71.0 | 77 | 125 | 48.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 209 | 306 | 97 | 162 | 242 | 80 | 102 | 157 | 56 |
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.
