Find a local pick your own farm here!

What's in season in October 2024, and other timely information:

dark green = available;      light green = sometimes / some farms;      White or gray = not usually available

The light green indicates light crops at the beginning or end of a season - dark green is when the bulk of the crop ripens and picking is best.

Fruit/Veg Jan Feb March April May June July August Sept Oct Nov December
apples                       X X X X X X X    
Apricots                     X X X X            
Asian pears                         X X X X X X    
asparagus             X X X X                    
beans                     X X X X X X        
blackberries                       X X X            
beets                     X X X X X X X      
blueberries                       X X X            
boysenberries                 X X X X                
broccoli                 X X X X X X X X X      
Brussels sprouts                             X X X X X  
cabbage                     X X X X X X X X X  
cantaloupes                     X X X X X X        
celery                     X X X X            
carrots                     X X X X X X X X X  
cherries                 X X X X                
Christmas trees                                       X
cucumbers                     X X X X X X        
eggplant                     X X X X X X        
gooseberries                     X X X X            
grapes                     X X X X            
greens                 X X X X X X X X X X    
  Jan Feb March April May June July August Sept Oct Nov December
herbs                 X X X X X X X X X X    
kale                     X X X X X X X X X  
nectarines                     X X X X            
peaches                                      
pears                         X X X X X      
peas                     X X X X            
peppers                     X X X X X X        
plums                             X          
potatoes                 X X X X X X X X X      
raspberries                     X X X X X X        
rhubarb                 X X X X X X            
pumpkins                             X X X X    
summer squash                     X X X X X X        
winter squash                         X X X X X X    
saskatoons                     X X X            
strawberries                     X X X X            
sweet corn                         X X X          
sweet potatoes                                        
tomatoes                     X X X X X X        
watermelons                                        
Fruit/Veg Jan Feb March April May June July August Sept Oct Nov December

Apples - Harvested from August to November

August

  • Early Gold
  • Lodi - yellow fruit is good for desserts and cooking.
  • Paula Red - tart
  • Wealthy - for sauces and desserts.

September

  • Gala
  • Golden Delicious
  • Honey Crisp - cross between a Macoun and Honeygold is crisp and juicy.
  • Jonagold - cross between Jonathan and Golden Delicious, striped red over yellow, juicy, and sweet. A very good apple for eating.
  • Jonathan - medium-sized apple has a thin, bright red-blushed skin and a crisp, juicy taste.
  • Ozark Gold - summer yellow variety is similar to the Golden Delicious.
  • Red Delicious

October

  • Blushing Golden - similar to a Golden Delicious but with a slightly tangy flavor,  Keeps well.
  • Braeburn - greenish apple overlaid with reddish highlights, very crisp, sweet, and has excellent flavor.
  • Empire - cross between Red Delicious and McIntosh is sweet and firm
  • Fuji - large and sweet, with a crisp, fine texture.
  • Idared - large, yellow to bright red fruit, firm and crisp, best suited to cooking.
  • Pink Lady - sweet and juicy
  • Rome Beauty - large, red-yellow apple great for cooking.
  • Suncrisp - cross between Golden Delicious and Cox's Orange, similar flavor to Golden Delicious.
  • Winesap - medium to large with glossy bright red and yellow highlights. Tough-skinned, crisp and juicy.

Winter Squash

  • Pumpkins - October
  • Butternut Squash - October & November
  • Spaghetti Squash - October & November
  • Amber Cup Squash - October & November
  • Butter Cup Squash - October & November
  • Acorn Squash - October & November
  • Crenshaw Squash - October & November
  • Hubbard Squash - October & November
  • Gourds - October

Ball home canning kit water bath canner
Granite Ware 21 QT, 9 Piece Enamelware Water bath Canning Pot with Canning kit, Colander and Rack

VKP Brands Water Bath AND Steam Canner, 20 Quart Stainless Steel, flat-bottomed Induction range compatible and safe for smooth top ranges. Pressure Canners for all stovetops

Home Canning Kits

This is the same type of standard canner that my grandmother used to make everything from applesauce to jams and jellies to tomato and spaghetti sauce. This complete kit includes everything you need and lasts for years: the canner, jar rack, Jar grabber tongs, lid lifting wand, a plastic funnel, labels, bubble freer, and the bible of canning, the Ball Blue Book. It's much cheaper than buying the items separately. You will never need anything else except jars & lids (and the jars are reusable)! There is also a simple kit with just the canner and rack, and a Pressure Canner, if you want to do vegetables (other than tomatoes). To see more canners, of different styles, makes and prices, click here!




 


Picking Tips

[General picking tips and a guide to each fruit and vegetable] [How much do I need to pick? (Yields - how much raw makes how much cooked or frozen)] [Selecting the right varieties to pick] [All about apple varieties - which to pick and why!]  [Picking tips for Vegetables] [ Strawberry picking tips] [ Blueberries picking tips]

Illustrated Canning, Freezing, Jam Instructions and Recipes

[ Easy Home Canning Directions] [FAQs - Answers to common questions and problems] [Recommended books about home canning, jam making, drying and preserving!] [Free canning publications to download and print]