As of early April, most apple cultivars in northern Illinois had progressed past silver tip and were in early green tip, with some variability depending on the orchard and cultivar. By mid-April (week of April 15), certain varieties such as ‘Ida Red’ had advanced to the half-inch green stage. During a recent visit to Valley Orchard, I observed some rows at half-inch green while others remained at green tip. With warm weather in the forecast, we expect to see rapid development as we head into May. 'Ida Red', pictured right, is one of the cultivars that are ahead in the orchards and this season is already at half-inch green on April 16, 2025.
Stone fruits, including tart cherries, appear to have come through the winter without major issues. While peaches aren’t a major crop in the area, some growers do have peach trees—and many of these have viable buds, which is a pleasant surprise given the cold conditions this past winter. While not common, some growers do have Asian pear trees. These are in the "blossom buds exposed" stage though others are in the "tight cluster" stage as of April 16, 2025.
Rhubarb and asparagus are just beginning to emerge. While it’s still early in the season and there’s not much to harvest yet, we’re on track for a full crop by the end of May. These crops are always among the first signs that the growing season is underway.