Seasonal calendar for fruit: year-round overview

Which fruit is in season in which month? And what form of cultivation does it come from? We clarify 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 when it is naturally ripe for harvest or through storage are available – without energy-intensive heating of a greenhouse in winter or importing from afar 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 latitudes.

Seasonal calendar for fruit in January

No fruit ripens in January itself. The fruits that are available through storage are Apple (penalty x domestica) and pear (Pyrus communis). The storage of the different types usually takes place from September to November in refrigerated storage rooms with a high level of CO₂-content and low oxygen level, the so-called CA camp. The controlled conditions keep apples and pears fresh for many months - but the longer they are stored, the more energy they use.

At a glance: seasonal fruit in January

• Storage: 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

• Storage: apple, pear

Which fruits are in season in March?

The seasonal fruits in March continue to be dominated by apples and pears from refrigerated storage. From protected cultivation, however, the first stalks from March can already be seen rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) are harvested.

At a glance: seasonal fruit in March

• Protected cultivation: rhubarb
• Storage: 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 starting in earnest.

At a glance: seasonal fruit in April

• Protected cultivation: rhubarb
• Storage: apple

Seasonal calendar for fruit in May

May finally ends with the Ice Saints in the middle of the month with frosty temperatures and the warmer temperatures help the very first fruit bushes to ripen. In addition to the last apples from storage, seasonal fruit in May also includes fresh ones Mayberries (Lonicera caerulea var. kamchatica), also called Kamchatka berries, and strawberries (Fragaria) from protected cultivation. Rhubarb can now be obtained from outdoor cultivation as early as May and gives cakes and compotes a fruity taste.

At a glance: seasonal fruit in May

• Outdoor: Mayberry, rhubarb
• Protected cultivation: strawberry
• Storage: apple

tip: If you prefer a monthly, tabular overview of seasonal fruit and vegetables, you can download our Plantura seasonal calendar to buy. In each month there are selected, lovingly hand-designed types of fruit and vegetables, so that the seasonal calendar is also ideal as a gift.

June: Which fruit is in season now?

There is plenty for those with a sweet tooth in June: in addition to the early strawberries and Mayberries, the first sweet cherries (Prunus avium) and sour cherries (Prunus cerasus) 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 easy to process into jams and purées or to dry.

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 are now also 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 as well as first ones hang on the trees apricots (Prunus armeniaca), plums (Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca) and plums (Prunus domestica). They also thrive in warm locations mulberries (More). Rock pears bear the 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 fruits are in season in August?

In August, many fruit trees bear 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. italiana) be happy. The last sweet and sour cherries and wild strawberries ripen in August and should then be eaten or processed quickly. Berry bushes are now richly hung with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, elderberries (Sambucus), currants and jostaberries and the last few gooseberries. Bring in the greenhouse, field or in your own garden honeydew melon (Cucumis melo), watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) and Andean berry (Physalis peruviana) now produce their first aromatic fruits and enrich the hot month of August with their refreshingly juicy pulp.

Another fruit with season in August is the Coward (Ficus carica), whose sweet taste transports us mentally to more southern countries. Now many wild fruit trees also bear fruit, like rosehip rose (pink), cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera), cornel (Cornus mas), cranberry (Vaccinium vitis–idea) and sea ​​buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides). In addition, from the shrubs chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) now the first, vitamin-rich fruits have been harvested.

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

Load at the fruit varieties grapes (Vitis) and elderberries for snacking, but also for making delicious liqueurs or jams. Warmer locations already ensure the right autumn mood walnuts (Juglans regia), hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) and chestnuts (Castanea sativa): The delicious treats can now be found in abundance in the right places. Many apple varieties and pears, quinces (Cydonia oblonga), plums and the last few 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.

The sour ones gradually ripen in the bog bed cranberries (Vaccinium), including the cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and the cranberry, and provide large amounts of vitamin C. Among the wild fruit species, aronia and rosehip as well as cherry plums, cornel cherries and sea buckthorn can still be harvested - rowan trees are new for the fruit season in September (Sorbus aucuparia) and the one that has become rare service tree (Sorbus domestica). In protected 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 healthy 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 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 by the end of October, while now the first mini kiwis (Actinidia) mature. Wild fruit gives us plenty of vitamin-rich aronia, rose hips and sea buckthorn fruits in October. On acidic soil the fruits of the cowberry and cranberry ripen, while on stately trees rowan fruits, serviceberries (Sorbus torminalis) and service trees reach harvest maturity. 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 tree, lingonberry, sea buckthorn, service tree
• Protected cultivation: strawberry

November: Which fruit is in season now?

The seasonal fruits in November include late apple and pear varieties with their sweet fruits, as are the quinces which are now harvested and sold fresh or stored for the winter months will. Some mini kiwis are only really aromatic and soft in November. From November, after the first frosts, wild fruit that tastes like apple sauce can be eaten medlar (Mespilus germanica) and the sloe (Prunus spinosa) are harvested. In cool locations, the fruits of the service tree are now also ready to be harvested.

At a glance: seasonal fruit in November

• Outdoor: apple, pear, quince, mini kiwi
• Wild fruit: serviceberry, medlar, sloe
• Storage: apple, pear, quince

Seasonal fruit in December

In December, the wild fruit in particular is still ready to be eaten 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
• Storage: apple, pear, quince

In our article Seasonal calendar for vegetables you will find a monthly list of the types of vegetables that are available in our latitudes in the month in question.