This page has a table below that tells when each fruit or vegetable is normally ready to be harvested in Wisconsin! 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.
Fruit/Veg | Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | August | Sept | Oct | Nov | December | ||||||||
apples | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||
Asian pears | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||
asparagus | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||
beans | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||
beets | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||
blackberries | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
blueberries | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||
broccoli | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||
cabbage | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||
cantaloupes | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
cherries | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||
Christmas trees | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
cucumbers | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
eggplant | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
greens | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||
Fruit/Veg | Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | August | Sept | Oct | Nov | December | ||||||||
herbs | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
nectarines | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
peaches | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
peas | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||
peppers | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
plums | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
potatoes | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
pumpkins | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
raspberries | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
rhubarb | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
squash | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
strawberries | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
sweet corn | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
sweet potatoes | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
tomatoes | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||
watermelons | X | X | X | X | X | X |
The light green indicates light crops at the beginning, end, or in between seasons - dark green is when the bulk of the crop ripens and picking is best.
Apple Varieties | Approximate Start of Ripening Dates | Color and Flavor | Best Uses |
Ashmeads Kernel | Late October | heirloom, russet-type | all-purpose, |
Blue Pearmain | Mid October | Large,blue skin heirloom | all-purpose |
Blushing Golden | Mid to Late October | yellow, waxy skin, firm, Jonathan-golden flavor | winter storage |
Braeburn | Late October to Early November | Firm, red blush, crisp, sweet-tart flavor, | all-purpose, winter storage |
Buckeye Gala | Early to Mid September | bright red, sweet, crunchy, | Eating fresh |
Cortland | mid-late Sept | White flesh, red skin, crispy, a best seller! | Excellent for eating, drying, pies, sauce, baking, jelly, salads. |
Crimson Crisp | Late September | very crisp, tart flavor, | Eating fresh and cooking |
Discovery | Mid August | pink, sweet, | Eating fresh |
Double Red Stamen Winesap | late Oct | "Wine-like" flavor, creamy interior, not a large apple in the north | pies, baking, eating. |
Duchess | Mid August | pink stripe, tart, | pie & sauce |
Earliblaze | Late August | red blush, hard and tart, | Eating fresh and cooking |
Early Gold | early-mid Sept | Tart and crisp, a cross between transparent & a golden - | eating, baking, pies, sauce. |
Empire | early-mid Oct | Cross between a Mac and Red Delicious, juicy taste-test favorite! | eating, salads, sauce, drying, can bake. |
Fireside | Late October | mostly green, large, sweet, | all-purpose, winter storage |
Fuji | October | Great all-around apple - sweet, firm, | stores great |
Gala | Early September | Very sweet, soft, does not store well at all, must be refrigerated | eating, sauce, good for lunch boxes, salads. |
Ginger Gold | Early September | yellow, firm, crisp, sweet, | Eating fresh |
Golden Delicious | Mid- September- mid October | Very sweet, soft, partly russeted, does not store well at all, | eating, salads, baking, pies, sauce. |
Golden Russet | Late October to Early November | golden, tart, | cider apple |
Goldrush | Mid-October | Sweet golden apple, firm a yellow apple, keeps many months months | all-purpose,winter storage |
Greening | Late September - early October | Yellow-green, coarse flesh, | pies, apple sauce |
Honeycrisp | Late September - early October | Large, firm, juicy dessert apple | eating apple (not recommended for baking). |
Hudsons Golden Gem | Late October to Early November | large,russeted, pear flavor, heirloom | all-purpose, |
Idared | Mid to Late October | bright red, crunchy, tangy, | winter storage, pies, baking, eating (tart), drying, frying, super keeper |
Jersey (summer) Mac | mid Aug - early Sept | Smaller and slightly sweeter than winter mac - | eating, sauce, jelly. |
Jonagold | Mid- September- mid October | Sweet, medium firm, red blush on yellow, crisp | eating, baking, sauce, jelly, pies. |
Jonagold | Mid October | red blush on yellow, crisp, sweet, | Eating fresh, pies, baking, sauce, jelly, salads. |
Jonamac | Early September | firm, crisp large, Jonathan and Macintosh cross | Eating fresh, apple sauce, baking, jelly, pies. |
Jonathan | Mid- September- mid October | Sweet, medium firm, ruby red, crisp, juicy, tangy, | eating, baking, sauce, jelly, pies. |
Karmijn | Early October | Cox orange-Jonathan cross | applesauce |
Keepsake | Late October | red, hard and sweet, small size | winter storage |
Liberty | Late September | red striped, crisp, sweet | Eating fresh |
LindaMac | Early to Mid September | bright red, early MacIntosh-type, | all-purpose |
Lodi | Late July | yellow, thin-skinned, | pies, apple sauce |
Macintosh | mid-late Sept | The perennial favorite! | eating, baking, pies(cooks down), sauce, jelly. |
Macoun | Late September | purple-striped, firm, tart-sweet, | Eating fresh |
Melrose | Mid October | red, Jonathan flavor, | winter storage |
Northern Spy | mid-late Oct | red, firm, red, firm, tart flavor, | pies, baking, drying, eating, winter storage, |
Paula Red | mid Aug - early Sept | Crunchy and juicy - | good for pies, baking, sauce, drying, jelly. |
Pristine | Early August | yellow, crisp, | Eating fresh |
Red Delicious | Mid- September- mid October | Very sweet, soft, does not store well | eating, salads, baking, pies, sauce. |
Red Haralson | mid Oct | Tart and juicy. | Excellent flavor for pies (cooks down), drying, baking, eating. |
Red Jonaprince | Mid October | deep red Jonagold, sweet | Eating fresh |
Red Wealthy | Early September | red striped, tart, juicy, | pie and apple sauce |
Red Gravenstein | Late August | dark red blush, | cooking and apple sauce |
Redfree | Mid to Late August | bright red, juicy, Jonathan-like sweet flavor, | Eating fresh |
Regent | Mid October | red,crisp, sweet, | Eating fresh |
Ribston Pippin | Mid September | red blush, juicy, tart-sweet | Eating fresh |
Rome | Mid to Late October | Very firm, bright red, mild flavored,almost hard apple. | Good for making baked apples |
Royal Court | Mid September | deep red, large, Cortland type, | all-purpose |
Royal Empire | Late September - early October | deep burgundy, firm, sweet, | all-purpose |
Royal Gala | Early to Mid September | red striped, sweet, crunchy, | Eating fresh |
Sansa | Early September | pink-red, Gala cross, sweet | Eating fresh |
September Wonder Fuji | Late September - early October | bright red, crunchy, sweet, | Eating fresh |
Snow Apples | early Oct | Tiny, sweet, red-streaked white flesh, aromatic eating apple (an antique apple) - not a keeper! | Eating fresh, apple sauce |
Snowsweet | Early to Mid October | bronze-red, white flesh, | all-purpose |
Sonata (aka, Pinata) | Early October | Red blush on yellow, sweet tangy flavor, | Eating fresh |
Spartan | Late September | dark red, Crunchy, tart, juicy, firmer McIntosh type | Eating fresh, Apple sauce, salads, pies, baking, keeper |
State Fair | early Sept | Sweet/tart, not a real hard apple | eating sauce, jelly, baking, salads. |
Suncrisp | Mid to Late October | orange-yellow, crisp, juicy, sweet, | Eating fresh |
Sweet 16 | Late September - early October | Crunchy, juicy, red, crisp, nutty flavor, sweet - similar to Honeycrisp (but not quite as hard or large) | eating, salads, can bake. |
Swiss Gourmet (aka, Arlet) | Late September - early October | Red blush, russeted, crisp, sweet-tart, | Eating fresh |
Wealthy | early-mid Sept | Tart and tangy, an antique apple | pies, sauce and baking, tart for eating. |
Whitney Crab | early Sept | Large | spicing and jelly. |
Williams Pride | Mid August | dark red blush, crisp | Eating fresh |
Wolf River | early-mid Oct | Giant, sour old-time . | pie apple |
Yellow Newton Pippen | late Oct | Antique (Geo. Washington's favorite!) tart, crisp nutty flavor | good keeper and eater. Firm in pies and baking. |
Zestar | Mid to Late August | pink blush , crisp, excellent flavor | Eating fresh |
Apple Varieties | Approx Ripening Dates | Color and Flavor | Best Uses |
Lodi | Late July | yellow, thin-skinned, | pies, apple sauce |
Pristine | Early August | yellow, crisp, | Eating fresh |
Discovery | Mid August | pink, sweet, | Eating fresh |
Duchess | Mid August | pink stripe, tart, | pie and sauce |
Jersey (summer) Mac | mid Aug - early Sept | Smaller and slightly sweeter than winter mac - | eating, sauce, jelly. |
Paula Red | mid Aug - early Sept | Crunchy and juicy - | good for pies, baking, sauce, drying, jelly. |
Williams Pride | Mid August | dark red blush, crisp | Eating fresh |
Redfree | Mid to Late August | bright red, juicy, Jonathan-like sweet flavor, | Eating fresh |
Zestar | Mid to Late August | pink blush , crisp, excellent flavor | Eating fresh |
Earliblaze | Late August | red blush, hard and tart, | Eating fresh and cooking |
Red Gravenstein | Late August | dark red blush, | cooking and apple sauce |
Gala | Early September | Very sweet, soft, does not store well at all, must be refrigerated | eating, sauce, good for lunch boxes, salads. |
Ginger Gold | Early September | yellow, firm, crisp, sweet, | Eating fresh |
Jonamac | Early September | firm, crisp large, Jonathan and Macintosh cross | Eating fresh, apple sauce, baking, jelly, pies. |
Red Wealthy | Early September | red striped, tart, juicy, | pie and apple sauce |
Sansa | Early September | pink-red, Gala cross, sweet | Eating fresh |
State Fair | early Sept | Sweet/tart, not a real hard apple | eating sauce, jelly, baking, salads. |
Whitney Crab | early Sept | Large | spicing and jelly. |
Buckeye Gala | Early to Mid September | bright red, sweet, crunchy, | Eating fresh |
Early Gold | early-mid Sept | Tart and crisp, a cross between transparent and a golden - | eating, baking, pies, sauce. |
LindaMac | Early to Mid September | bright red, early MacIntosh-type, | all-purpose |
Royal Gala | Early to Mid September | red striped, sweet, crunchy, | Eating fresh |
Wealthy | early-mid Sept | Tart and tangy, an antique apple | pies, sauce and baking, tart for eating. |
Macintosh | mid-late Sept | The perennial favorite! | eating, baking, pies(cooks down), sauce, jelly. |
Ribston Pippin | Mid September | red blush, juicy, tart-sweet | Eating fresh |
Royal Court | Mid September | deep red, large, Cortland type, | all-purpose |
Cortland | mid-late Sept | White flesh, red skin, crispy, a best seller! | Excellent for eating, drying, pies, sauce, baking, jelly, salads. |
Crimson Crisp | Late September | very crisp, tart flavor, | Eating fresh and cooking |
Golden Delicious | Mid- September- mid October | Very sweet, soft, partly russeted, does not store well at all, | eating, salads, baking, pies, sauce. |
Greening | Late September - early October | Yellow-green, coarse flesh, | pies, apple sauce |
Honeycrisp | Late September - early October | Large, firm, juicy dessert apple | eating apple (not recommended for baking). |
Jonagold | Mid- September- mid October | Sweet, medium firm, red blush on yellow, crisp | eating, baking, sauce, jelly, pies. |
Jonathan | Mid- September- mid October | Sweet, medium firm, ruby red, crisp, juicy, tangy, | eating, baking, sauce, jelly, pies. |
Liberty | Late September | red striped, crisp, sweet | Eating fresh |
Macoun | Late September | purple-striped, firm, tart-sweet, | Eating fresh |
Red Delicious | Mid- September- mid October | Very sweet, soft, does not store well | eating, salads, baking, pies, sauce. |
Royal Empire | Late September - early October | deep burgundy, firm, sweet, | all-purpose |
September Wonder Fuji | Late September - early October | bright red, crunchy, sweet, | Eating fresh |
Spartan | Late September | dark red, Crunchy, tart, juicy, firmer McIntosh type | Eating fresh, Apple sauce, salads, pies, baking, keeper |
Sweet 16 | Late September - early October | Crunchy, juicy, red, crisp, nutty flavor, sweet - similar to Honeycrisp (but not quite as hard or large) | eating, salads, can bake. |
Swiss Gourmet (aka, Arlet) | Late September - early October | Red blush, russeted, crisp, sweet-tart, | Eating fresh |
Karmijn | Early October | Cox orange-Jonathan cross | applesauce |
Snow Apples | early Oct | Tiny, sweet, red-streaked white flesh, aromatic eating apple (an antique apple) - not a keeper! | Eating fresh, apple sauce |
Sonata (aka, Pinata) | Early October | Red blush on yellow, sweet tangy flavor, | Eating fresh |
Empire | early-mid Oct | Cross between a Mac and Red Delicious, juicy taste-test favorite! | eating, salads, sauce, drying, can bake. |
Snowsweet | Early to Mid October | bronze-red, white flesh, | all-purpose |
Wolf River | early-mid Oct | Giant, sour old-time . | pie apple |
Blue Pearmain | Mid October | Large,blue skin heirloom | all-purpose |
Fuji | October | Great all-around apple - sweet, firm, | stores great |
Goldrush | Mid-October | Sweet golden apple, firm a yellow apple, keeps many months months | all-purpose,winter storage |
Jonagold | Mid October | red blush on yellow, crisp, sweet, | Eating fresh, pies, baking, sauce, jelly, salads. |
Melrose | Mid October | red, Jonathan flavor, | winter storage |
Red Haralson | mid Oct | Tart and juicy. | Excellent flavor for pies (cooks down), drying, baking, eating. |
Red Jonaprince | Mid October | deep red Jonagold, sweet | Eating fresh |
Regent | Mid October | red,crisp, sweet, | Eating fresh |
Rome | Mid to Late October | Very firm, bright red, mild flavored,almost hard apple. | Good for making baked apples |
Blushing Golden | Mid to Late October | yellow, waxy skin, firm, Jonathan-golden flavor | winter storage |
Idared | Mid to Late October | bright red, crunchy, tangy, | winter storage, pies, baking, eating (tart), drying, frying, super keeper |
Northern Spy | mid-late Oct | red, firm, red, firm, tart flavor, | pies, baking, drying, eating, winter storage, |
Suncrisp | Mid to Late October | orange-yellow, crisp, juicy, sweet, | Eating fresh |
Ashmeads Kernel | Late October | heirloom, russet-type | all-purpose, |
Double Red Stamen Winesap | late Oct | "Wine-like" flavor, creamy interior, not a large apple in the north | pies, baking, eating. |
Fireside | Late October | mostly green, large, sweet, | all-purpose, winter storage |
Keepsake | Late October | red, hard and sweet, small size | winter storage |
Yellow Newton Pippen | late Oct | Antique (Geo. Washington's favorite!) tart, crisp nutty flavor | good keeper and eater. Firm in pies and baking. |
Braeburn | Late October to Early November | Firm, red blush, crisp, sweet-tart flavor, | all-purpose, winter storage |
Golden Russet | Late October to Early November | golden, tart, | cider apple |
Hudsons Golden Gem | Late October to Early November | large,russeted, pear flavor, heirloom | all-purpose, |
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
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
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most recent version of
the Ball Blue Book
With this Presto 23 quart pressure canner and pressure cooker, you can "can" everything, fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies, salsa, applesauce, pickles, even meats, soups, stews. Model 01781
You can make jams, jellies, can fruit, applesauce, salsa and pickles with water bath canners, like this Granite Ware 12-Piece Canner Kit, Jar Rack, Blancher, Colander and 5 piece Canning Tool Set