Seasonal Fruit Picking Calendar: When to Pick What

When I first started planning farm visits with my daughters, I had no idea that strawberry season could be over before summer really got going, or that apple varieties ripen weeks apart. After a few years of trial and error (and some very disappointed toddlers), I put together the calendar I wish I'd had. It walks through the U-pick year month by month, from spring strawberries to choose-and-cut Christmas trees, so you can plan farm visits before the best picking passes.

Quick Reference: The dates below are approximate for the continental U.S. Seasons often shift by several weeks depending on your region, elevation, and that year's weather. Check the farm's website or social media, or call ahead, to confirm what's ready before you go.

Month-by-Month at a Glance

March - April: Strawberries in Florida, California, and the Deep South
May: Strawberries in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic; early blueberries in the South
June: Strawberries in the North; cherries; early blueberries
July: Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and peaches
August: Late blueberries, blackberries, peaches, and the first early apples
September: Apple season gets going; pears; the first pumpkin patches and corn mazes open
October: Peak apple picking, pumpkin patches, and corn mazes
November: Late apples in some areas; Christmas tree farms open around Thanksgiving
December: Choose-and-cut Christmas trees, usually until mid-December or until trees run out

Spring Fruit Picking (March - June)

Strawberries: The Perfect First Farm Experience

Peak Season: Roughly March - July, depending on region

Good for Kids: Toddlers and up, with an adult nearby

Why We Love It:

Plants grow low to the ground, at a small child's height
Sweet fruit that most kids enjoy
Picking goes quickly, which suits short attention spans
No thorns or ladders

Typical Regional Timing:

Florida/California: March - April (longer in parts of California)
Southeast: April - May
Mid-Atlantic: May - June
Northeast/Midwest: June - early July
Pacific Northwest: June - July

Dad Tip: Strawberry season is short, so don't wait. At many farms the main crop lasts only a few weeks, and popular fields can be picked out early on busy weekends. I learned this the hard way: one year we missed strawberry season entirely because I thought "June sounded good." Now I watch for opening announcements and go early in the season. Browse strawberry picking farms to find one near you.

Summer Fruit Picking (June - August)

Blueberries: The Toddler-Friendly Champion

Peak Season: About May - August (earlier in the South, later in the North)

Good for Kids: All ages (a favorite of my daughter's when she was two)

Why It's Perfect for Families:

Small berries, easy to pick and less messy than most
Many bushes are at a comfortable height for children and adults
A longer season than strawberries at many farms
Early, mid, and late varieties extend the harvest

Common Highbush Varieties by Timing:

Early Season: Duke, Spartan
Mid Season: Bluecrop, Patriot
Late Season: Jersey, Elliott

Find a farm on our blueberry picking page.

Raspberries & Blackberries: For Adventurous Families

Peak Season: Mostly June - August; fall-bearing raspberries can run into September or October

Good for Kids: Older children with supervision, since many canes have thorns

What to Expect:

Delicate berries that crush easily, so bring shallow containers
Long sleeves and pants help on thorny canes (some farms grow thornless varieties)
Picking windows are often shorter than blueberries

Browse raspberry picking and blackberry picking farms.

Cherries & Peaches

Cherries usually ripen in June and July and have one of the shortest seasons of any U-pick crop. Peaches run from about May in the South through August and into September in northern states, with different varieties ripening every week or two.

See cherry picking and peach picking farms.

Fall Fruit Picking (September - November)

Apples: The Classic Fall Outing

Peak Season: Mostly September - October, with early varieties in August and late ones into November

Good for Kids: Most ages; dwarf trees keep fruit within reach

Approximate Variety Order (varies by region):

August: Early varieties such as Gala and other summer apples
Early - Mid September: Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Cortland, Empire
Late September - October: Jonathan, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious
October - November: Fuji, Granny Smith, and other late varieties

Varieties Kids Often Like:

Honeycrisp: Sweet and very crisp
Gala: Mild, sweet, and often smaller
Fuji: Very sweet and stores well
Empire: A balance of sweet and tart

Orchards often post which varieties are ready each week. For timing details, read the best time to visit apple orchards, or browse apple picking farms.

Pears: An Underrated Fall Fruit

Peak Season: About August - October

Good to Know: Many pears are picked firm and ripen on the counter over several days

Common Varieties:

Bartlett: Classic pear flavor, usually late summer
Bosc: Firm texture, good for baking, early to mid fall
Anjou: Sweet and juicy, early to mid fall

Pumpkins and Corn Mazes

Peak Season: Late September through October, with most patches closing around Halloween

Good for Kids: All ages; the outing is as much about the activities as the picking

What to Expect:

Pick-your-own fields or pre-picked pumpkins, depending on the farm
Often paired with corn mazes, hayrides, and other fall activities
Varieties for carving, cooking, and decorating
Weekends in October are usually the busiest; weekdays and early fall are calmer

Start with our guide to the best pumpkin patches, or browse pumpkin patches and corn mazes by state.

Winter: Christmas Tree Farms (November - December)

Peak Season: The weekend before or after Thanksgiving through mid-December

Good for Kids: All ages; dress for cold and possibly muddy fields

What to Expect:

Choose-and-cut fields where you pick a tree and cut it or have it cut for you
Some farms let you tag a tree earlier in the fall and return to cut it later
The best selection is usually in the first weeks after opening
Some farms close for the season once their trees sell out

See Christmas tree farm opening dates for this season, or browse Christmas tree farms near you.

Regional Variations: Planning by Location

Southern States

Seasons generally start several weeks earlier than in the North

Strawberries: March - April
Blueberries: May - July
Peaches: May - August
Apples: Late summer and fall, mostly in cooler, higher areas

Northern States

Later starts, with summer berries and fall crops close together

Strawberries: June - early July
Blueberries: July - September
Apples: Late August - October
Pumpkins: Late September - October

West Coast

Mild climates allow long seasons in some areas

Strawberries: Spring through fall in parts of California
Cherries: May - July
Apples: August - October
Citrus: Winter months in California

Planning Your Farm Visit Calendar

Here's how I plan our family's farm visits throughout the year:

My Annual Farm Visit Strategy:

Spring: One strawberry farm visit, timed to our area's opening (timing is critical!)
Summer: Two or three blueberry visits, since the season is long and the kids love them
Fall: Two apple orchard visits, one for early varieties and one for late
Late Fall: One pumpkin patch visit for Halloween fun

Depending on what grows near you, peaches, cherries, or a corn maze can fill in the gaps, and a choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm rounds out the year in late November or December.

Ways to Track Seasons

Farm websites and social media: Many farms post picking updates during the season
Local extension office: Provides regional growing information
Weather: A warm spring or late frost can shift seasons by weeks
Farm newsletters: Sign up for updates from farms you plan to visit

Ready to plan your farm visits? Use our fruit picking farm directory to find U-pick farms near you by state and crop, and confirm hours and availability with the farm before you go.