Southeast Michigan fruit update – September 22, 2026
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EmailMain apple harvest season is underway while we wait on fall weather to arrive.
Welcome to the 26th and final 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’re finally getting a dose of fall weather after a rainy week and we expect customers to be itching to get out to the apple orchards this weekend. We are expecting cool and sunny conditions lasting into next week with temperatures peaking in the low to mid 70s. Grape harvest has largely concluded, with only some late-harvested hybrid grapes still on the vines. In apples, we are moving into ‘Empire,’ ‘Red Delicious,’ and ‘Golden Delicious.’
Spotted lanternfly, which was first detected in Michigan in 2022, continues to spread. We are seeing more sightings of it in urban and residential areas this year than in the last few years. See our spotted lanternfly resources.
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
Apples: While we are harvesting many cultivars it is important to remember that some late cultivars may need an additional fungicide treatment. In warmer parts of the region growers are working through ‘Empire’ and ‘Red Delicious’ and starting to pick ‘Golden Delicious.’ Cool temperatures have slowed down maturing in some cultivars, and some farms are waiting to harvest or extending the picking window.
Statewide apple maturity reports started last week and can be read at our apple maturity hub. Our main concerns 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.
Brambles: Fall raspberry harvest will continue until we get our first frosts. Fruit rots and spotted wing drosophila management are the main concerns for production.
Grapes: Most hybrid wine grape cultivars have already been harvested such as ‘Petite Pearl’ and ‘Prairie Star’ with only later season cultivars left like ‘Frontenac’. Most growers have wrapped up late table grapes like ‘Mars’ as well as juice grapes like ‘Concord.’
Pears: Pears should be picked when they start to soften and the ground color changes from green to a more yellow color.
Disease conditions
Apple scab: We don’t anticipate risk for secondary scab infections on fruit this week.
Cherry leaf spot: We don’t anticipate risk this week. See this 2024 article on cherry leaf spot management.
Grape downy mildew: We don’t anticipate risk this week.
Grape powdery mildew: We are expecting moderate to severe risk all week.
Powdery mildew of apple and pear: There will be airborne conidia all week but models indicate little infection risk.
Sooty blotch: We don’t anticipate risk this week.
Seasonal weather update
In the last week, Southeast Michigan has seen an average of 16.1 hours of rain accumulating to 0.7 inches of precipitation, but rain volume was highly variable based on site with some sites getting 2 or more inches of rain.
| Liquid Precipitation Accumulation Mar. 1- September 22, 2026, issued September 22, 2026 | ||||
| Station (County) | Rainfall Total (in.) Current | Hours with Rainfall Current | Rainfall Total Average (5 Yr.) | Hours with Rainfall Average (5 Yr.) |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 22.7 | 304 | 22.5 | 280 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 27.4 | 303 | 19.9 | 287 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 23.4 | 330 | 19.0 | 290 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 20.7 | 325 | 19.3 | 295 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 21.1 | 305 | 20.6 | 306 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 20.8 | 262 | . | . |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 24.2 | 321 | 19.3 | 273 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 22.1 | 302 | 18.1 | 280 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 21.6 | 336 | 19.5 | 312 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 22.0 | 304 | 17.7 | 279 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 19.4 | 291 | 15.2 | 246 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 22.6 | 289 | 16.9 | 229 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 22.7 | 303 | 24.2 | 247 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 20.1 | 293 | 16.8 | 328 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 22.2 | 304.9 | 19.2 | 280.9 |
| Difference in Liquid Precipitation Accumulation from Mar. 1 observed September 15 and September 22, 2026; issued September 22, 2026 | ||||||
| Rainfall Total (in.) | Rainfall Total (in.) | Hours with Rainfall | Hours with Rainfall | |||
| Station (County) | 15-Sep | 22-Sep | Difference | 15-Sep | 22-Sep | Difference |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 21.8 | 22.7 | 0.9 | 280 | 304 | 24.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 25.7 | 27.4 | 1.8 | 274 | 303 | 29.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 22.3 | 23.4 | 1.1 | 306 | 330 | 24.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 20.7 | 20.7 | 0.0 | 324 | 325 | 1.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 20.1 | 21.1 | 1.0 | 284 | 305 | 21.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 20.7 | 20.8 | 0.2 | 253 | 262 | 9.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 21.6 | 24.2 | 2.6 | 288 | 321 | 33.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 21.7 | 22.1 | 0.4 | 290 | 302 | 12.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 20.6 | 21.6 | 0.9 | 312 | 336 | 24.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 21.7 | 22.0 | 0.3 | 294 | 304 | 10.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 19.4 | 19.4 | 0.0 | 291 | 291 | 0.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 22.1 | 22.6 | 0.4 | 275 | 289 | 14.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 22.3 | 22.7 | 0.4 | 288 | 303 | 15.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 19.8 | 20.1 | 0.4 | 283 | 293 | 10.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 21.5 | 22.2 | 0.7 | 288.7 | 304.9 | 16.1 |
In the short term we are expecting cool and cloudy conditions mid-week with temperatures staying in the mid-70s and increasing into the 80s on the weekend. We are expecting above normal temperatures and normal precipitation as we move into September and we expect a fall that is warmer and drier than normal.
Our regional average growing degree day accumulation for the season are about 7 days ahead of the long term normals and about 3 days ahead of the 5 year average. In the last week we accumulated on average 165 GDD at 42 F, 157 GDD at 45 F, and 111 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. 22, 2026 Forecast from Sep. 23-Sep. 29, 2026; issued Sep. 22, 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) | 4041 | 3866 | 4153 | 3533 | 3368 | 3624 | 2735 | 2593 | 2793 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 4369 | 4166 | 4480 | 3838 | 3653 | 3928 | 2998 | 2853 | 3056 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 4111 | 4065 | 4214 | 3596 | 3561 | 3678 | 2785 | 2774 | 2838 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 3740 | 3612 | 3849 | 3248 | 3121 | 3337 | 2480 | 2363 | 2538 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 4229 | 4237 | 4342 | 3719 | 3728 | 3811 | 2915 | 2927 | 2975 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 3897 | 3850 | 4002 | 3401 | 3356 | 3486 | 2621 | 2589 | 2678 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 4188 | 4005 | 4299 | 3671 | 3506 | 3762 | 2860 | 2733 | 2920 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 4130 | 4132 | 4238 | 3625 | 3625 | 3712 | 2827 | 2830 | 2887 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 3981 | 3815 | 4087 | 3483 | 3321 | 3568 | 2701 | 2557 | 2758 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 3568 | 3591 | 3671 | 3082 | 3110 | 3165 | 2332 | 2366 | 2386 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 3702 | 3678 | 3803 | 3217 | 3194 | 3298 | 3454 | 2444 | 2505 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 3995 | 3913 | 4103 | 3495 | 3414 | 3583 | 2709 | 2632 | 2769 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 4089 | 3914 | 4203 | 3583 | 3413 | 3676 | 2786 | 2632 | 2846 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 3845 | 3732 | 3950 | 3354 | 3244 | 3438 | 2583 | 2489 | 2638 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 3992 | 3898 | 4100 | 3489 | 3401 | 3576 | 2770 | 2627 | 2756 |
| Difference in Degree Day Accumulation from Mar. 1, 2026 observed September 15 and September 22, 2026; issued September 22, 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 |
| 15-Sep | 22-Sep | Difference | 15-Sep | 22-Sep | Difference | 15-Sep | 22-Sep | Difference | |
| Commerce (Oakland) | 3906 | 4041 | 135.0 | 3419 | 3533 | 114.0 | 2655 | 2735 | 80.0 |
| Deerfield (Monroe) | 4210 | 4369 | 159.0 | 3700 | 3838 | 138.0 | 2895 | 2998 | 103.0 |
| East Lansing MSU Hort (Ingham) | 3974 | 4111 | 137.0 | 3480 | 3596 | 116.0 | 2704 | 2785 | 81.0 |
| Emmett (St. Clair) | 3619 | 3740 | 121.0 | 3147 | 3248 | 101.0 | 2413 | 2480 | 67.0 |
| Flint (Genesee) | 4091 | 4229 | 138.0 | 3602 | 3719 | 117.0 | 2833 | 2915 | 82.0 |
| Freeland (Saginaw) | 3759 | 3897 | 138.0 | 3285 | 3401 | 116.0 | 2539 | 2621 | 82.0 |
| Hudson (Lenawee) | 4034 | 4188 | 154.0 | 3539 | 3671 | 132.0 | 2762 | 2860 | 98.0 |
| Ithaca (Gratiot) | 3996 | 4130 | 134.0 | 3511 | 3625 | 114.0 | 2748 | 2827 | 79.0 |
| Lapeer (Lapeer) | 3854 | 3981 | 127.0 | 3377 | 3483 | 106.0 | 2629 | 2701 | 72.0 |
| Linwood (Bay) | 3449 | 3568 | 119.0 | 2985 | 3082 | 97.0 | 2267 | 2332 | 65.0 |
| Pigeon (Huron) | 3574 | 3702 | 128.0 | 3111 | 3217 | 106.0 | 2383 | 2454 | 71.0 |
| Richville/Frankenmuth (Tuscola) | 3861 | 3995 | 134.0 | 3382 | 3495 | 113.0 | 2629 | 2709 | 80.0 |
| Romeo (Macomb) | 3955 | 4089 | 134.0 | 3469 | 3583 | 114.0 | 2706 | 2786 | 80.0 |
| Sandusky (Sanilac) | 3713 | 3845 | 132.0 | 3243 | 3354 | 111.0 | 2507 | 2583 | 76.0 |
| Average of stations in this region: | 3857 | 3992 | 135 | 3375 | 3489 | 114 | 2619 | 2699 | 80 |
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.
