Which fruit is in season in which month? And what form of cultivation does it come from? We answer these questions in this article on the topic of seasonal fruit calendars.
The issue of seasonality in vegetables or fruit is playing an increasingly important role in the decision as to which fruit to use and when. Shopping in a sustainable and as environmentally friendly way as possible includes knowing whether the food in question is grown in the region and whether it is in season at our latitude. This means that fruit is purchased at the time when it is naturally ripe for harvesting or available through storage - without energy-intensive heating of a greenhouse in winter or importing from distant countries. A seasonal calendar for fruit shows which types of fruit are ready for harvest or available from storage in which month. We give an overview for each month of when which fruit is in season in our latitude.
Seasonal calendar for fruit in January
No fruit ripens in January itself. The fruits available through storage are apple (Malus x domestica) and pear (Pyrus communis ). The storage of the different varieties usually takes place from September to November in cooled storage rooms with a high CO2 content and low oxygen level, the so-called CA storage. The controlled conditions keep apples and pears fresh for many months - however, the longer they are stored, the more energy they use.
At a glance: seasonal fruit in January
- Warehousing: apple, pear
Seasonal fruit in February
Even in February, the outdoor plants are still dormant and no fruit is ripening on the bushes or trees. However, various varieties of apples and pears are still available from stock.
At a glance: seasonal fruit in February
- Warehousing: apple, pear
Which fruit is in season in March?
The seasonal fruits in March continue to be dominated by apples and pears from refrigerated storage. However, from protected cultivation, the first stalks of rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) can already be harvested in March.
At a glance: seasonal fruit in March
- Protected cultivation: rhubarb
- Warehousing: apple, pear
Seasonal fruit in April
While April is the start of the season for numerous types of vegetables, many fruit lovers have to be patient, as many fruit trees and shrubs are just waking up from hibernation or flowering. Apples are also available from storage, while the rhubarb season is now in full swing.
At a glance: seasonal fruit in April
- Protected cultivation: rhubarb
- Warehousing: Apple
Seasonal calendar for fruit in May
May finally ends with the ice saints in the middle of the month with frosty temperatures and warmer temperatures help the very first fruit bushes to ripen. In addition to the last apples from storage, seasonal fruit in May includes fresh May berries (Lonicera caerulea var. kamtschatica), also known as Kamchatka berries, and strawberries (Fragaria) from protected cultivation. Outdoor rhubarb can now be purchased as early as May and adds a fruity flavor to cakes and compotes.
At a glance: seasonal fruit in May
- Outdoor: Mayberry, rhubarb
- Protected cultivation: Strawberry
- Warehousing: Apple
Tip: If you prefer a monthly, tabular overview of seasonal fruit and vegetables, you can buy our Plantura seasonal calendar here. Each month contains selected types of fruit and vegetables, lovingly designed by hand, so that the seasonal calendar is also ideal as a gift.
June: Which fruit is in season now?
June is good for those with a sweet tooth: In addition to the early strawberries and mayberries, the first sweet cherries (Prunus avium) and sour cherries (Prunus cerasus) are now available. ) ripe. Raspberries (Rubus idaeus), blueberries (Vaccinium), gooseberries (Ribes uva-crispa) and currants (Ribes)are also part of the seasonal fruit in June. Some varieties now bear their fruity-sweet fruits for several months. Rhubarb can be harvested until the end of June, before the plants accumulate too much oxalic acid and go into the closed season. The service pear (Amelanchier) is a wild fruit that is in high demand, and not just for birds, and is in season in June. Fresh from the bush, the small, blue-purple fruits have a sweet, blueberry-like taste and are particularly good for making jams and purées or drying them.
At a glance: seasonal fruit in June
- Outdoor: May berries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, currants, rhubarb, sour cherries, sweet cherries
- Wild fruit: pear
Seasonal fruit in July
In July, the berry fruit bushes show their full variety and in addition to blueberries, raspberries, currants and gooseberries, blackberries (Rubus fruticosus) and jostaberries ( Ribes x nidigrolaria) ripe. Strawberry season is high in fields and gardens. Typical for the fruit season in July, sweet and sour cherries and the first apricots (Prunus armeniaca), mirabelle plums (Prunus domestica subsp.) hang on the trees. syriaca) and plums (Prunus domestica). Mulberries now also thrive in warm locations (Morus). Rock pears bear their last fruits in July and then end their rather short season.
At a glance: seasonal fruit in July
- Outdoor: apricots, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, currants, jostaberries, mulberries, mirabelle plums, plums, sweet cherries, gooseberries, sour cherries
- Wild fruit: pear
Which fruit is in season in August?
In August, many fruit trees have a rich harvest after a long ripening period. So we can talk about delicious apples, apricots, pears, plums, peaches (Prunus persica), plums (Prunus domestica) and greengage ( Prunus domestica var. italica). The last sweet and sour cherries and wild strawberries ripen in August and should then be eaten or processed quickly. Berry bushes are now hung with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, elderberries (Sambucus), currants and jostaberries and the last few gooseberries. In the greenhouse, field or in your own garden bring honeydew melon(Cucumis melo), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and Andean berry (Physalis peruviana) now their first, aromatic fruits and enrich the hot month of August with their refreshingly juicy pulp.
Another fruit that is in season in August is the fig (Ficus carica), whose sweet taste transports us to more southern lands. Now many wild fruit trees also bear fruit, such as rosehip rose (Rosa), cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera), cornus (Cornus mas ), cranberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) and sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides). In addition, the first vitamin-rich fruits are now being harvested from the chokeberry bushes (Aronia melanocarpa).
At a glance: seasonal fruit in August
- Outdoor: Apple, apricot, pear, blackberry, strawberry, fig, blueberry, raspberry, honeydew melon, elderberry, currant, jostaberry, mirabelle plum, peach, plum, physalis, greengage, sweet cherry, gooseberry, sour cherry, watermelon
- Wild fruit: Aronia, rosehip, cherry plum, cornel, cranberry, sea buckthorn
Seasonal fruit in September
In terms of fruit, grapes (Vitis) and elderberries invite you to snack, but also to make delicious liqueurs or jams. Walnuts (Juglans regia), hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) and chestnuts (Castanea sativa) provide the right autumn mood in warmer regions ): The delicious treats can now be found in abundance in the right places. Many apple varieties as well as pears, quince (Cydonia oblonga), plums and the last peaches are the typical seasonal fruit in September. The last of the blueberries and currants are ripening on the bushes, while autumn raspberries and late blackberries are just getting started. Honeymelons and watermelons can be harvested in the bed, and the Physalis will also please you in September with its fruity-sweet fruits.
In the bog bed, the tart cranberries (Vaccinium), including the cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and the lingonberry, are gradually ripening and provide large amounts of vitamin C. Among the wild fruit species, chokeberry and rosehip as well as cherry plums, cornelian cherries and sea buckthorn can still be harvested - rowan (Sorbus aucuparia is new for the fruit season in September. ) and the now rare service tree(Sorbus domestica). In sheltered cultivation, local strawberries thrive well into autumn.
At a glance: seasonal fruit in September
- Outdoor: apple, pear, blackberry, cranberry, fig, currant, hazelnut, blueberry, raspberry, elderberry, chestnut, peach, plum, physalis, quince, walnut, watermelon, grape
- Wild fruit: Aronia, mountain ash, rosehip, cherry plum, cornel, cranberry, cranberry, sea buckthorn, service tree
- Protected cultivation: Strawberry
Seasonal calendar for fruit in October
Apple, pear, plum and damson trees are now bearing lots of ripe fruit, as is the quince. Nut trees such as hazel, walnut and sweet chestnut also delight us with their he althy fruits in October. The last blackberries, elderberries and raspberries are ripening on the bushes, as are figs, which depending on the location are moved to the winter quarters after the last harvest. Physalis cultivated for one year produces the last ripe berries with ornamental lantern covers, which are disposed of after the harvest. Late grape varieties are harvested until the end of October, while the first mini kiwis (Actinidia) are now ripening. Wild fruit gives us plenty of vitamin-rich aronia, rose hips and sea buckthorn fruits in October. Cowberries and cranberries ripen on acidic soil, while rowan fruits, service berries (Sorbus torminalis) and service trees reach their harvest maturity on stately trees. Local strawberries from protected cultivation are still available in October.
At a glance: seasonal fruit in October
- Outdoor: apple, pear, blackberry, cranberry, fig, hazelnut, elderberry, raspberry, chestnut, mini kiwi, plum, physalis, quince, grape, walnut
- Wild fruit: Aronia, rosehip, mountain ash, service berry, cranberry, sea buckthorn, service tree
- Protected cultivation: Strawberry
November: Which fruit is in season now?
November's seasonal fruit includes late apples and pears with their sweet fruits, as well as quinces, which are now harvested and sold fresh or stored for the winter months. Some mini kiwis are only really aromatic and soft in November. From November, after the first frosts, the wild fruit that tastes like applesauce (Mespilus germanica) and theSloe (Prunus spinosa) can be harvested. In cool locations, the fruits of the service tree are now also ready to be harvested.
At a glance: seasonal fruit in November
- Open range: apple, pear, quince, mini kiwi
- Wild fruit: serviceberry, medlar, sloe
- Warehousing: apple, pear, quince
December Seasonal Fruit
In December, the wild fruit in particular is still ripe for eating outdoors. Sloe and medlar unfold their full aroma as the frost increases, break down tannins and become tasty and sweet. Fresh apples, pears and quinces are now obtained from cool storage.
At a glance: seasonal fruit in December
- Wild fruit: medlar, sloe
- Warehousing: apple, pear, quince
In our article Seasonal calendar for vegetables you will find a monthly listing of the types of vegetables that are available in our latitudes in the month in question.