Whether it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter, there are a variety of fruits that come into season during every time of year. The key is knowing when seasonal fruits are available month by month, so you’ll always be prepared to get them at their peak flavor and best price.
This is also something to consider if you are planning a backyard orchard. In order to harvest fruit across the seasons, choose trees and varieties that ripen at different times throughout the year. You’ll have fruit year round if you plan properly for seasonal food.
What Fruits are in Season in Spring?
March, April, May. Spring is when we can start to indulge in early fruit crops after a winter of limited options. You’ll see some citrus, berries, and apricots hitting their peak during this time of year.
- In season from March to August, limes are the perfect accent for a variety of sweet and savory dishes. Combine with avocados for incredible fresh guac!
- Meyer lemons. These lemons peak during winter but are also available through early spring until April. Their delicious flavor is perfect for making desserts and flavoring chicken or fish. Or try fermenting some in honey.
- Navel oranges and tangerines are still ripe and delicious between March and May. They’re a great way to get your vitamin C in the early spring months. Try this recipe for tangerine jam or make up a batch of orange sugar.
- Ripe apricots will be soft and orange and should be enjoyed within a day or two for peak flavor. These debut in early May. Try this raspberry apricot jam.
- Sweet cherries. Bing and Ranier cherries start becoming available in May. These sweet cherries are especially good served fresh, but you can turn them into cherry jam to preserve some of that early season goodness.
- Although strawberries peak in June, in warmer regions you might see them at their best in spring months. Enjoy fresh with a little cream, in a salad, or in your favorite dessert recipe. (Maybe this strawberry cobbler?)
- Starting in April, rhubarb comes into season and makes the perfect jam, rhubarb pie, or an old-fashioned rhubarb crisp. [Learn about growing rhubarb here.]
Seasonal Fruits for Summer
June, July, August. Summertime is when most berries come into their own, as well as stone fruits and melons. It’s the best time of year to enjoy fresh fruit at an excellent price.
- Sour cherries. These varieties of cherries peak during June or July. Sour cherries are best for baking, so it’s a good time to learn to can your own cherry filling to use all year.
- Watermelons, cantaloupes, and honeydew melons are all at their peak during summer. Watermelons can come into season as early as May, while honeydews may be available as late as October. [Learn about growing watermelon here.]
- Peaches, nectarines, and plums. These will be readily available all summer long. Eat them fresh, use them for baking or canning, or even try them on the grill. [Learn about growing nectarines here.]
- Blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries all hit their peak in the summer months. Enjoy these antioxidant-rich treats while they last! [Learn about growing blueberries here.] Berries in general – and raspberry shelf life in particular – can be limited. Making jam with these fruits is one great way to enjoy the flavor year round.
- Grapes start to come into season in August and make a great back-to-school snack.
- My favorite Gravenstein apple is ready for harvest in mid-to late August, making it one of the earliest apple varieties, to be followed with plenty of different varieties in the fall months.
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What’s in Season in the Fall?
September, October, November. As the frost sets in, some fruits go out of season as others come into their peak.
- Apples are a classic fall fruit, both versatile and delicious. Gala, Honeycrisp, and Golden Delicious will be ready in September. Look for Granny Smith, Rome, and Pink Lady starting in October. Be sure to bake up an apple pie or apple cobbler while they’re in season!
- Pears can become available as early as August, but most hit their peak in September and October. The popular Bartlett variety will be soft and juicy, perfect for eating fresh and for baking desserts like this delicious pear crisp.
- Figs actually have one short season in summer and another longer one throughout the fall. Their flavor is rich and perfect for making thick fig jams and preserves. These come into peak in October through the winter. Let them ripen gradually and eat them when they’ve become very soft (most people eat them too soon!). [Learn about growing figs here.]
- Grape harvesting starts in late summer and last throughout the fall. They’re nutritious and long-lasting, so they make a perfect fresh fruit to eat during the frosty months of fall. You can also turn them into beautiful jars of grape jelly.
Seasonal Fruits for Winter
December, January, February. It’s generally assumed winter is the worst season for fresh fruit, but that’s not necessarily true. Several favorite fruits are actually at their best in the winter months.
- A few apples peak closer to winter, including Braeburn, Rome, and Cortland. Keep them stored in the cold and they can last for months.
- Clementines, tangerines, oranges, lemons, and grapefruit are all in season during the winter months. Fresh citrus juice is a great way to beat the winter blues, but you could try making some DIY orange liqueur, too.
- Kiwi fruits ripen in late fall and early winter, and can be kept fresh in cold storage for months.
- Persimmons start ripening in October and November, but their season extends into January. They have a sweet flavor with a slight warm spiciness, like cinnamon. Allow fruit to fully ripen before eating to enjoy the full depth of flavor. [Learn about growing persimmons here.]
