Eating seasonally is a great way to save money on food. I bought some pears last week that cost me twice as much as they would in season! What was I thinking?! Not only did they cost more, but they didn’t last very long and I ended up having to freeze the last of them before they went bad. On the other hand, tangerines are very affordable right now and Eric and I are going through 4 a day! I decided I wanted to do some research on what is in season when so that I can know the best time to buy, especially this time of year when my garden is sparse. Below is a list of what I found on eating seasonally by fruit, vegetable or herb name and by month.

Several items are local for me, but I’ve included some that aren’t. Although local produce is usually more affordable, there are several items sold in grocery stores that are cheaper in their season. If you’re looking specifically for what’s in season and local to the greater Puget Sound area Seasonal Cornucopia has a great search tool.

This is not exhaustive, and it may vary depending on the weather. For several of the items I’ve linked to my most popular recipe using that ingredient.

What’s in Season: Alphabetical list of fresh fruits and vegetables

Apples: August through November (are sold from cold storage year round)
Apricots: June through August
Artichokes: September and October
Arugula: May through December
Asian pears: September through November
Asparagus: April through June
Bananas:  June through October is the peak but harvested year round
Basil: June through November (can be grown indoors year round)
Beets: June through January
Blackberrries: June through September
Blueberries: June through September
Boysenberries: June through August
Broccoli: June through September
Brussels sprouts: September through January
Cabbage: June through February
Cantaloupes: August through October
Carrots: June through January
Cauliflower: April through August
Celery/Celeriac/Celery Root: August through November
Chard: May through February
Cherries: June and July
Chiles: August through October
Collard greens: May through February
Corn: August through October
Cucumber: July through October
Currants: June through August
Edible Flowers: April through September
Eggplant: July through October
Elderberries: August through September
Fava beans: April through June
Fennel: year-round
Fiddleheads: April and May
Figs: July and August
Garlic: August through November (stored year-round)
Garlic scapes/green garlic: spring
Grapes: August through October
Green beans: July through September
Green onions/scallions/gurdyroots: spring through fall
Greens (Kale, Spinach, Collard, Arugala, etc): May through February
Herbs: various year-round
Huckleberries: August and September
Jerusalem artichokes/sunchokes: July through October
Kale: May through February
Kiwi: September through November
Kohlrabi: August through October
Leeks: September through March
Lemongrass: April through October
Lettuce: May through November
Mangoes: March through September
Marionberries: July
Melons: August through October
Mint: May through December
Morels: May
Mushrooms (cultivated): year-round
Mushrooms (wild): spring through fall
Nectarines: June through September
Nettles: March through May (Harvest with care!!!)
Onions: June through October (can be stored through winter)
Oranges: October through March
Oregano: May through December
Parsley: May through December
Parsnips: September through February
Pears: August through December
Peas and pea pods: June and July
Peppers (sweet): August through October
Persimmons: October through December
Plums and pluots: August and September
Pomegranates: October through February
Potatoes/Bubotubers: year-round
Pumpkins: October through November
Quinces: October
Radicchio: May through November
Radishes (French Breakfast and other small varieties): March through November
Radishes (daikon, watermelon, other large varieties): June through November
Raspberries: June through August
Rhubarb: April through June
Rosemary: May through December
Rutabaga: September through February
Sage: May through December
Salmonberry:  June through August
Scallions/green onions/gurdyroots: May through November
Shallots: September through December (can be stored through winter)
Shelling beans: September and October
Snap peas/snow peas/sugar peas/pea pods: June and July
Sorrel: May through November
Spinach: May through December
Sprouts: May through October (can be grown indoors year round)
Squash (summer): June through October
Squash (winter – butternut, acorn, etc.): September through February
Strawberries: June and July (though often cheap in February for Valentine specials)
Tangerines:  October through April
Thyme: May through December
Tomatoes: July through October
Turnips: June through January
Watercress: May through December
Watermelon: August and September
Zucchini: June through October
Zucchini Blossoms: June through October

What’s in Season: Listed by Month

January: Apples, Beets, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Fennel, Greens, Leeks, Mushrooms, Onions, Oranges, Parsnips, Pomegranates, Potatoes, Rhubarb, Tangerines, Winter Squash

February: Apples, Cabbage, Fennel, Leeks, Greens, Mushrooms, Onions, Oranges, Parsnips, Pomegranates, Potatoes, Rhubarb, Tangerines, Winter Squash

March: Apples, Fennel, Leeks, Mangoes, Mushrooms, Onions, Oranges, Potatoes, Radishes, Rhubarb, Stinging Nettles, Tangerines

April: Apples, Asparagus, Cauliflower, Edible Flowers, Fava beans, Fennel, Fiddleheads, Lemongrass, Mangoes, Mushrooms, Peas, Radishes, Rhubarb, Stinging Nettles, Tangerines

May: Apples, Asparagus, Cauliflower, Edible Flowers, Fava beans, Fennel, Fiddleheads, Greens, Kale, Lemongrass, Lettuce, Mangoes, Mint, Morels, Mushrooms, Parsley, Peas, Radicchio, Radishes, Rhubarb, Rosemary, Sage, Scallions, Sorrel, Spinach, Sprouts, Stinging Nettles, Thyme, Watercress

June: Apples, Apricots, Asparagus, Bananas, Basil, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cherries, Corn, Currants, Edible Flowers, Fava beans, Fennel, Fennel, Greens, Kale, Lemongrass, Lettuce, Mangoes, Mint, Mushrooms, Nectarines, Onions, Parsley, Peaches, Peas, Potatoes, Radicchio, Radishes, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Rosemary, Rutabaga, Sage, Salmonberry, Scallions, Snow peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Sprouts, Summer Squash, Strawberries, Thyme, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Zucchini, Zucchini Blossoms

July: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Basil, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cherries, Cucumbers, Currants, Edible Flowers, Eggplant, Fennel, Figs, Green beans, Greens, Jerusalem artichokes/sunchokes, Kale, Lemongrass, Lettuce, Mangoes, Marionberries, Mint, Nectarines, Onions, Oregano, Parsley, Peaches, Peas, Potatoes, Radicchio, Radishes, Raspberries, Rosemary, Rutabaga, Sage, Salmonberry, Scallions, Snow peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Sprouts, Summer Squash, Strawberries, Thyme, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Zucchini, Zucchini Blossoms

August: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Basil, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery/Celeriac, Chiles, Corn, Cucumbers, Currants, Edible Flowers, Eggplant, Elderberries, Fennel, Figs, Garlic, Grapes, Green beans, Greens, Huckleberries, Jerusalem artichokes/sunchokes, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lemongrass, Lettuce, Mangoes, Melons, Mint, Nectarines, Onions, Oregano, Parsley, Peaches, Pears, Peas, Peppers (sweet), Plums, Potatoes, Radicchio, Radishes, Raspberries, Rosemary, Rutabaga, Sage, Salmonberry, Scallions, Sorrel, Spinach, Sprouts, Summer Squash, Strawberries, Thyme, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Watermelon, Zucchini, Zucchini Blossoms

September: Apples, Artichokes, Asian Pears, Bananas, Basil, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery/Celeriac, Chiles, Corn, Cucumbers, Edible Flowers, Eggplant, Elderberries, Fennel, Garlic, Grapes, Green beans, Greens, Huckleberries, Jerusalem artichokes/sunchokes, Kale, Kiwi, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lemongrass, Lettuce, Mangoes, Melons, Mint, Mushrooms, Nectarines, Onions, Oregano, Parsley, Parsnips, Pears, Peppers (sweet), Plums, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radicchio, Radishes, Rosemary, Rutabaga, Sage, Scallions, Shallots, Shelling beans, Sorrel, Spinach, Sprouts, Squash (summer and winter), Thyme, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Watermelon, Zucchini, Zucchini Blossoms

October: Apples, Artichokes, Asian Pears, Bananas, Basil, Beets, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery/Celeriac, Chiles, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Fennel, Garlic, Grapes, Greens, Jerusalem artichokes/sunchokes, Kale, Kiwi, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Lemongrass, Lettuce, Melons, Mint, Mushrooms, Onions, Oranges, Oregano, Parsley, Parsnips, Pears, Peppers (sweet), Persimmons, Pomegranates, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Quinces, Radicchio, Radishes, Rosemary, Rutabaga, Sage, Scallions, Shallots, Shelling beans, Sorrel, Spinach, Sprouts, Squash (summer and winter), Tangerines, Thyme, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Zucchini, Zucchini Blossoms

November: Apples, Asian Pears, Basil, Beets, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery/Celeriac, Fennel, Garlic, Greens, Kale, Kiwi, Leeks, Lettuce, Mint, Mushrooms, Onions, Oranges, Oregano, Parsley, Parsnips, Pears, Persimmons, Pomegranates, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radicchio, Radishes, Rosemary, Rutabaga, Sage, Scallions, Shallots, Sorrel, Spinach, Tangerines, Thyme, Turnips, Watercress, Winter Squash

December: Apples, Beets, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Fennel, Greens, Kale, Leeks, Mint, Mushrooms, Onions, Oranges, Oregano, Parsley, Parsnips, Pears, Persimmons, Pomegranates, Potatoes, Rosemary, Sage, Shallots, Spinach, Tangerines, Thyme, Watercress, Winter Squash

These lists were compiled from various websites, gardening books, produce books, and seed catalogs. The lists are the property of Diana Johnson and are protected by copyright. Do not reproduce without permission.