The St Louis Metro East in the last few weeks has been experiencing what I would call “resort” weather, with temperatures during the day in the upper 70s to middle 80s and nighttime lows in the upper 50s to low 60s. 

Apple harvest is in the ‘Golden Delicious,’ ‘Red Delicious,’ and ‘Jonagold’ window, and the cool nights have really helped to develop red-colored apples. ‘Jonagold De Coster’which is shown as the lead photo exhibits a higher degree of color development than standard Jonagold.

Peach and blackberry harvests have been completed, as well as sweet corn. Plasticulture strawberries are also benefitting from the cooler temperatures in terms of establishment.

Field tomatoes and peppers are still in harvest but expected to be finished in the next few weeks. With Halloween coming, the expected uptick in pumpkins, winter squash, and gourd sales has started.

Field corn in the region has lost almost all traces of green, and soybeans are beginning to yellow. Some of the landscape trees are showing a hint of fall color, so an autumn vibe is starting to creep into the landscape. Most of the region, except for a south to north diagonal across Madison County, is running abnormally dry and could use some rain, but hopefully not in such a way as to not interfere with fall agritourism activities.