SW Michigan Fruit Update
Southwest Michigan Fruit, March 27, 2007
Weather
Most of the winter was relatively mild. A period of very cold weather occurred in February. Temperatures were close to zero several times in the first three weeks of February. This caused some damage to fruit buds, but generally conditions look good in the region. Soils have good moisture at this time. Growing Degree Day (GDD) accumulations are well above average for this time of year, but we still trail 2000 for GDD. Most of the accumulation has occurred recently, with highs were over 60 and even 70 and lows well above freezing. Warmer weather is causing rapid fruit bud development. Green tissue is showing in many areas. We are about a week ahead of normal but cooler weather should slow down development
Southwest
Michigan Growing Degree Day Totals
|
Grapes, from April 1 |
|||
Location |
GDD 42 |
GDD 45 |
GDD 50 |
GDD 50 |
116 |
89 |
56 |
0 |
|
118 |
82 |
51 |
0 |
|
107 |
83 |
51 |
0 |
|
99 |
76 |
46 |
0 |
|
Lawton |
116 |
90 |
57 |
0 |
108 |
85 |
53 |
0 |
|
South Haven |
99 |
76 |
47 |
0 |
74 |
62 |
37 |
0 |
|
Tree fruit
Most tree fruits are at the swollen bud stage.
Apricots
are at red bud. Southern sites may be at first white. In some varieties only a few
buds have swollen, this may indicate that the February cold snap did cause some damage.
Peaches buds are swollen fruit buds are still green (calyx green). Fruit bud loss has been reported in some varieties and on lower, colder sites, but generally the main production region did not suffer much damage. Peach growers in the South Central portion of the region report significant losses. The time is quickly passing for peach leaf curl sprays. These sprays should be on before the leaf buds open.
Both sweet and tart cherriesare at green side, the warmer sites are at green tip. Now is the time to apply copper sprays to sweet cherries.
In Plums, Oriental plum buds are at white side but European plums buds are just beginning to swell. There was significant tree damage due to cold to Stanley plums in one site. The bark showed severe browning above 6 inches, and many of the young shoots were already shriveling.
Apples are at silver tip. Early varieties are close to green tip. Growers need be ready for apple scab. Because of the mild winter, we expect scab spores from the leaf litter will be ready as soon as green tissue is available for infection. Growers should be ready to apply scab sprays.
Pears buds are just beginning to swell. Pear Psylla adults are out.
Small fruit
Blueberry fruit buds are swollen but leaf buds have not moved.Growers should be scouting for mummyberry mushroom development.
Concord Grape buds are just starting to swell. Vinifera grapes are dormant.
Strawberries are beginning to put out new leaves. Growers are applying herbicides and putting down straw mulch.
Raspberries are at bud break. Early varieties such as Prelude are at ¼ inch green. Now is the window for Lime Sulfur applications to suppress anthracnose.
Cranberries are dormant.
Miscellaneous
Growers are pruning and clearing brush.
The first Monday Fruit Update meeting will be, Monday April 9, at the Fruit Acres Farm in Berrien County.
Southwest Michigan, 2007 Fruit IPM Meetings
The Monday Fruit IPM update meetings will be at Annette and Randy Bjorge’s Fruit Acres in Berrien County again this year. The weekly meetings will begin on April 9 and run until July 10. There will be no Monday meetings on Memorial Day, May 28. The meeting will run from 5 to 6:30 PM. Each meeting will be a review of the current fruit pest situation in Berrien County with displays of insects and fruit collected that day from area fruit plantings. Bill Shane, Greg Vlaming and Mark Longstroth will share the results of their scouting and discuss current and upcoming pest events and emergences. (Each week will change with changing pest complex). The meeting dates are April 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, June 4, 11, 18, 25, and July 2 and July 10. One RUP credit is available for private pesticide applicators and commercial fruit (1C).
Southwest Michigan, 2007 Grape IPM Meetings
There will be Grape IPM meetings in Van Buren and Berrien Counties again this year. The meetings will be on Thursdays. The meeting dates are April 17 and May 22. The morning meeting will be from 10 AM to noon at the Cronenwett Farm Shop at 70123 28th Street east of Lawton. The afternoon meeting will be at the Berrien County MSU Extension Office at the Southwest Michigan Research & Extension Center. These meeting are co-sponsored by National Grape Cooperative and MSU Extension and are open to all grape growers. The format for the meetings will be a review of insect and disease control in grapes specific to either early season or late season, focusing on the pests of each season during that meeting. The April 17, 2007 meeting will review prebloom insect and disease control. The May 20 meeting will discuss bloom sprays and late season insects and diseases. Mark Longstroth of MSU Extension and Terry Holloway of National Grape who will share the results of their scouting will host the meetings. Drs. Rufus Isaacs and Annemiek Schilder will be the featured speakers and discuss current and upcoming pest control windows. RUP credits have been applied for private pesticide applicators and commercial fruit (1C).
