SW Michigan Fruit Update
April 11, 2005
Weather
The last few weeks have been dry and warm with highs into the 60s and 70s and lows generally above freezing. Fruit buds are developing quickly. There is a slight chance of frost Wednesday morning. Temperatures below 28F would damage blooming fruit crops. Most other crops can withstand 26F or lower at this time. Freezing temperatures will a risk for another month or more. Sandy soils are drying quickly. Generally moisture in the subsoil is adequate. Soil temperatures are in the mid 50s. Our Growing Degree Day accumulations are average for this early in the season.
Southwest Michigan Growing Degree Day Totals March 1 through April 10, 2005 |
Grapes, April 1 |
|||
Location |
GDD 42 |
GDD 45 |
GDD 50 |
GDD 50 |
167 |
133 |
88 |
66 |
|
174 |
140 |
93 |
70 |
|
Lawton: |
155 |
124 |
82 |
62 |
159 |
126 |
82 |
62 |
|
184 |
149 |
100 |
75 |
|
140 |
112 |
74 |
54 |
|
Tree fruit
Growers should be scouting for insect feeding in bud clusters. No rain, and no disease infection periods. Growers should watch the weather and be prepared to apply protectant fungicides if rain seems likely.
Apricots are blooming. In bloom they should be able to withstand temperatures down to 28F.
Peaches are at pink bud and can withstand 26F with no damage. Winter fruit bud loss is becoming easier to assess. Oriental Fruit Moth pheromone traps should out to determine Biofix. Adult moths should emerge in a few days and first trap catch is biofix. San Jose Scale can be found in some peach orchards. The window for oil application is closing. Growers with scale infestations should consider applying insecticides to control the crawler stage.
Cherry
buds at tight cluster and past the 'water bud' stage. The buds of tart cherries should be
able to withstand freezing
temperatures to about 26F. The buds look good. Sweet cherries are a little further
along and would be damaged at 26 F. Some growers report winter injury in trees planted
last year.
Plum: Oriental plums have begun to bloom. European plum buds are at tight cluster.
Apples are at half-inch green to tight cluster.
Apple should be able to withstand 23F at ½ green. Some growers have applied copper. We
are moving rapidly past the oil window in apples.
Pears are at tight cluster. Pear Psylla adults are out.
Small fruit
Blueberry fruit buds have burst and can probably withstand 20F. Leaf buds show ¼ to
½ inch green. Growers should be scouting for
insect feeding in bud clusters. Growers should be prepared to apply mummyberry
controls. Scouting of field indicates that mummyberry trumpets are just starting to form.
The dry weather is probably holding back mushroom development. A Section 18 for the use of
Indar has been granted in Michigan. You can download the label from the Fruit AoE website.
Grape buds are swelling. Concord buds are at early
doeskin and can probably withstand 13F. Chardonnay buds have cracked the scale. Growers
should be scouting for cutworms and grape flea beetle (steely beetle).
In Strawberries new leaves are emerging. Straw mulches should be removed.
Raspberries show ¼ to ½ inch green. In early varieties, leaves are emerging.
Cranberry buds are starting to swell.
Miscellaneous
Growers are waiting to apply weed controls and hurrying to finish pruning and clearing brush from their plantings. Some growers are planting trees, mostly cherries and apples.
