Since the last newsletter, several cold fronts have come through the region; not enough to take the fruit crop, but enough to slow development and do some damage to blackberry canes in the northern part of the region. Several reported hail damage to buildings and fruit trees after severe weather, including tornadoes, moved through the southern half of the region in early April. Though hail strikes to fruiting wood are readily visible, it was early enough not to impact fruit quality.
But even with all the crazy spring weather, the St Louis Metro East region is looking good overall in terms of a fruit crop. The recent warm temperatures have really warmed soils and moved development along. Peaches are at shuck split. Apples are at petal-fall. Grapes are at pre-bloom. Brambles are pre-bloom to bloom. Blueberries are well on their way to full bloom. Plasticulture strawberry harvest should ramp up in a week, with the first berries just now ripened for harvest. Matted row June-bearing strawberries are in full bloom. Everbearing strawberries are at green fruit stage. Asparagus is in full harvest, and sweet corn plantings are going in around rain events.