What's in season in December 2024, and other timely information:
What's in Season - Typical Crop Availability in California-
Harvest Calendar for California
Click here for typical crop availability / harvest dates in Northern California and here for Southern California
We also have a page with links to our own simple instructions on canning, freezing and drying many fruits and vegetables, such as how to make jam, apple butter, applesauce, spaghetti sauce, salsa, pickles, ketchup or freezing corn.
- Southern California harvest calendar
- Northern California harvest calendar
- Back to the California PYO farm page
- To find pumpkin patches, corn mazes and other Halloween activities, click here.
- To find choose and cut-your-own Christmas tree farms, click here.
Ripening Dates for Fruits and Vegetables in California
Please note that actual dates may vary by as much as two or three weeks due to weather conditions, geographical location of the farm, and other factors. And since new varieties are always being developed, and farms may plant different varieties, it is always advisable to call a farm earlier than the expected beginning of a season to verify on the status of the product you are interested in. This is a general guide only!
Southern and Central California is immediately below,
Northern California is farther down the page.
Typical Crop / Harvest Availability Dates for
South and Central California
(all but the southern 1/4, the northern 1/4 and
the coastal area)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | August | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Apricots | X | X | ||||||||||
| Arugula |
|
|
|
X | X | |||||||
| Avocado | X | |||||||||||
| Beans - string | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Beans - Fava | X | X | X | |||||||||
| Beans - Lima | X | X | ||||||||||
| Beans - Yellow Wax | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Beets | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Blackberries | X | X | ||||||||||
| Boysenberries | X | X | X | |||||||||
| Ollallieberries |
X | X | X | |||||||||
| Bok Choy | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Broccoli | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Cabbage | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Carrots |
X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Caulifllower | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Celery | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Chard |
|
X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Cilantro | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Cucumbers | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
| Cucumbers - Pickling | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Eggplant | X | X | X | |||||||||
| Fennel | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Grapefruit | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Kale | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Kohlrabi | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Leeks | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Lemons | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||
| Lettuce | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Mandarins | X | X | X | X | X |
|
||||||
| Nectarines | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Okra | X | X | X | |||||||||
| Onions - Sweet | X | X | X | |||||||||
| Orange - Navel | X | X | X | X |
|
X | ||||||
| Orange - Valencia | X | X | ||||||||||
| Parsley | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
| Peaches | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Peas - Blackeye | X | X | X | |||||||||
| Peas - English | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Peas - Snap | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Peppers | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Plums | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Potatoes | X | X | ||||||||||
| Potatoes - Sweet | X | X | ||||||||||
| Pumpkins | X | |||||||||||
| Radishes | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
| Raspberries |
X | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Spinach | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||
| Squash - Summer | X | X | X | X | ||||||||
| Strawberries | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||
| Tomatoes | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||
| Turnips | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X |
Southern and Central California Harvest Dates, In Chronological Order
| CROP | MONTH |
| Asparagus | March -April |
| Strawberries | Apr.10 - June 30 |
| Blackberries | June 1 - July 30 |
| Blueberries | May 15 - June 30 |
| Boysenberries | May 10 - July 5 |
| Cherries (more detail) | May 5 - June 30 |
| Apricots | May 10 to August 15 |
| Peaches | May 20 - September 5 |
| Nectarines | May 20 - September 15 |
| Olallieberries | June 1 to July 31 |
| Plums | June 1 - September 5 |
| Pears | August 10 - September 10 |
| Green Beans | June 15 - September 15 |
| Peas | June 15 - September 15 |
| Corn | June 25 - September 30 |
| Raspberries | July 1 - September 15 |
| Grapes | July 10 - October 15 |
| Apples | July 15 (early apples) - September 25 |
| Tomatoes | July 15 - September 15 |
| Okra | July 15 - September 15 |
| Almonds | August 20 - December . 13 |
| Figs | September 05 - October 31 |
| Persimmons | September 20 - October 31 |
| Walnuts | September 25 - Jan. 10 |
| Oranges | Most of the year, depends on the variety. Overall, November through June. Cara Cara: late December through March; Manadrin: November through April |
Typical
Crop / Harvest Availability Dates for
Northern California
| CROP | MONTH |
| Asparagus | March - June |
| Strawberries | Apr.10 - July 30 |
| Peas | May 1 - September 30 |
| Cherries (more detail) | May 5 - June 25 |
| Blueberries | May 15 - July 30 |
| Blackberries | May 15 - July 30 |
| Boysenberries | May 15 - July 31 |
| Apricots | May 25 - July 10 |
| Grapes | May 25 - December . 15 |
| Olallieberries | June 1 to July 31 |
| Tomatoes | June 1 - September 30 |
| Pears | August 20 - September 30 |
| Peaches | June 20 - September 10 |
| Plums | June 15 - July 30 |
| Green Beans | June 15 - September 15 |
| Nectarines | June 15 - September 15 |
| Corn | June 25 - September 30 |
| Raspberries | July 1 - September 15 |
| Apples | July 25 - November 30 |
| Okra | July 15 - September 15 |
| Almonds | August 20 - December . 13 |
| Figs | September 05 - October 31 |
| Walnuts | September 25 - Jan. 10 |
| Persimmons | September 20 - October 31 |
| Asian Pears | September 10 - November 20 |
| Oranges | December to June, depends on the variety.
Naval oranges: November thru June Mandarins: November thru April Minneola: mid-February thru March Cara Cara: mid-December thru March |
| other Citrus | November to July |
| Avocados | Year round |
GROWING CALIFORNIA STRAWBERRIES
- From the end of September through the end of October, strawberries are planted and harvesting occurs from mid- December through mid-July in Ventura County, CA, which produces more than 27 percent of the state's strawberries. The peak harvesting season in California runs from April through June, when up to 10 million pint baskets of strawberries are shipped daily.
- The largest producing state, California harvests 83% of the strawberries grown in the U.S. on approximately 24,500 acres. And with about 5,000 commercial acres, Florida is the second largest producing state. Ideal temperature for strawberry plants should not exceed higher than 78 degrees or lower than 55 degrees.
- Every strawberry plant is hand-picked approximately every three days. This is the time in which it takes for strawberries to complete their cycle of turning from green to white to red. There is no storage of fresh strawberries. After picking, they are rushed to coolers where huge fans extract the field heat. Then they are delivered to supermarkets across the country via refrigerated trucks.
Strawberry Fun Facts and Trivia courtesy of The California Strawberry Commission
Other related links:
- Festivals for any fruit or vegetable!
- Apple Hill Growers Association - An association of apple growers, not a PYO. (pick your own) Various activities - 55 ranches involved, some apple ranches, 4 wineries, 1 micro-brewing operation. Fruit, baked goods, wine, Christmas trees. P.O. Box 494, Camino, CA. Phone: 530-644-7692
- California Food and Agricultural Festivals and Tours
- Ukiah festivals
| October |
Ukiah PumpkinFest and Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off - From 10 am to 1 pm,
Ukiah Safeway on South State Street. Come see the giant pumpkins! Food,
Music & Fun!!! Call the City Parks and Recreation Department for more
information or to find out how to enter your pumpkin at 468-3063 |
| October |
Ukiah Country PumpkinFest - The Annual Harvest Street Festival boasts a parade along State Street at 11 am on Saturday and a Fiddle Contest Sunday. Enjoy the continuous live entertainment, children's carnival, Scarecrow City, arts & crafts and food booths all weekend in downtown on School Street and in Alex R. Thomas Plaza. 10 am to 5 pm Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm Sunday. Admission is free. |
| October |
Hopland Fall Passport - Join the Hopland wineries this weekend and be sure to get your passport stamped at Brutocao Cellars! Fun, food, and wine for a minimal charge. Sign up to stomp grapes and win a t-shirt! Info & RSVP; Phone: 800-433-3689 $25.00. |
| May through October | Orchard Plaza Farmer's Market: May-October - every Saturday from 8:30am - 12noon at the Orchard Plaza in downtown Ukiah. Shop for locally grown fruits, vegetables and other products from the land such as honey, eggs, jams, wool, lavender and much more. Meet a friend, listen to music, watch a cooking demonstration and get some fresh air. Local artists display their work at this social event. Call Lee Rossavick at 707-743-1342 or visit quietmountain.org/clients/ufm/main.html |
Looking for canning equipment and supplies?
Water bath canner with a jar rack
Pressure canners for gas, electric and induction stoves: Presto 23Qt or T-fal 22Qt
Canning scoop (this one is PERFECT)
Ball Blue book (most recent version)
Jars: 8oz canning jars for jams
Find Other types of farms:
Farm markets and roadside stands
Road trips and camping resources
Local Honey, apiaries, beekeepers
Consumer fraud and scams information
Home canning supplies at the best prices on the internet!
Maple Syrup Farms, sugarworks, maple syrup festivals
Environmental information and resources
Farms For Your Event for birthday parties, weddings, receptions, business meetings, retreats, etc.
Festivals - local fruit and vegetable festivals
Get the
most recent version of
the Ball Blue Book
