Spring in the heart of the fruit belt is a truly glorious time when buds begin to erupt into full floral displays in orchards across the countryside. But, agriculture is also the second largest industry in the state of Michigan and spring can be an extremely tenuous time for fruit growers, vintners, and farmers as they keep a wary eye to the thermometer, wind speeds, the rain gauge and more. Recent freezes have caused a few headaches both before and after the cold.
Michigan State University Extension experts Mark Longstroth, Bill Shane and Brad Baughman work around the clock this time of year keeping data flowing to the growing community, especially following a couple of early April freeze days. While we've finally enjoyed considerably warmer temperatures in recent days, ag experts always caution that there is always the threat of a damaging freeze until early to mid-May in our region.
The trio of fruit educators delivered their most recent report to the ag scene yesterday and here's a summary of some of their thoughts:
- Weather — Last week started out cold with highs in the 50s and lows below freezing. Several freezes with lows in the 20s caused no additional damage. Freeze injury from the April 5 freeze and the April 9 freeze is getting easier to assess. Tree fruits are now susceptible to injury at temperatures in the mid- to upper 20s. Bloom has begun on stone fruit. No freezes are in the forecast.
- Apricots — Now in bloom. Damage from freezes two weeks ago was widespread, but most growers report they still have viable flowers and fruit set. As the first tree to bloom, apricots are most likely to be hurt by spring freezes, but not all the flowers are needed for a full crop. If only 25-percent of the flowers become fruit, most growers would consider it a full crop.
- Peaches — Beginning to bloom with some sites and varieties already in full bloom. There seems to be light damage from the April 5 and 9th freezes, although some growers in less favorable sites report significant fruit bud damage. Peaches generally have many more flowers than are needed and they are thinned several times to ensure a crop of large fruit and prevent limb breakage.
- Sweet Cherries — Bloom has begun. Sweet cherries probably show the most damage of all the tree fruit from the early April freeze events. Damage appears worse in areas away from Lake Michigan, which were more advanced due to warmer temperatures.
- Tart Cherries — Flower buds are at green tip to bud burst. There was little if any damage to tart cherries. Crop potential for most sites is good to excellent.
- Japanese Plums — Blooming. Damage varies greatly by variety and location. Some suffered considerable loss, others very little. Like peaches, Japanese plums often require extensive hand-thinning. Abundant flowers and fruit seen in some varieties may still provide a good crop.
- European Plums — Now at tight cluster to very early white tip, and suffered little damage from the April freezes.
- Apples — Now at tight cluster. Early varieties such as Zestar are at open cluster to first pink. Apples appear to have suffered little damage.
- Pears — Now at tight cluster.
- Juice Grapes — Buds are at early swell and green can be seen on some buds. Vinifera wine grapes have not started to swell. There does not appear to be any damage to grapes from the winter or spring freezes.
- Blueberries — Flower buds are at bud burst. There does not appear to be any damage from the winter or spring freezes in blueberries.
- Strawberries — Leaves are emerging from the crown. The flower tusses are visible in the crown. At this stage, very cold temperatures down to about 10-degrees would be required to injure the flower buds. Once the flower buds emerge, they can be killed by temperatures in the 20s.
- Bramble — Growth is well underway. Leaves are unfolding in raspberries and the flower clusters can be seen.
The next Monday fruit meeting is slated for next Monday, April 25th at 5pm at Fruit Acres Farm located at 3452 Friday Road in Coloma.
