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Harvest calendar

When to harvest vegetables: a month-by-month calendar

Here is when 30 common vegetables, berries and herbs are usually ready to pick, on one season timeline, followed by a month-by-month list. Each crop links to a guide with the ripeness signs, yields and storage tips.

Months are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate, based on RHS (UK) guidance. Shift them earlier or later to match your own frost dates, or by about six months in the Southern Hemisphere.

Harvest season timeline

Harvest calendar: sow or plant, then harvest

Upper bar: sowing or planting months. Lower bar: harvest months. Sorted by first harvest.
  • Sow or plant
  • Harvest

What to harvest each month

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Ripeness signs at a glance

CropHarvestReady when…
BasilJun–OctPick leaves while they are young and tender.
BeetJun–OctStart pulling alternate plants once the roots are about golf-ball size, leaving the rest to grow on. Don't let them get much bigger than a cricket ball.
Bell pepperJul–OctPick when the fruits are full-sized, firm and glossy. You can take them green or wait for them to colour.
BlackberryJul–SepPick berries that are plump, glossy and juicy. They won't ripen any further after picking.
BlueberryJul–SepBerries ripen from green to a dusky blue from midsummer onwards.
BroccoliJul–OctCut the main head when it is about 10–15 cm (4–6 in) across, well formed and still tightly in bud.
Cabbageall yearA cabbage is ready when it has formed a firm, compact head of the size you want.
CarrotMay–NovCarrots are generally ready 12–16 weeks after sowing. Pull them once they are big enough to use, since flavour drops off in very large roots.
Cauliflowerall yearCut as soon as the head (curd) is big enough, while it's still firm and tight. Once it starts to separate it turns bitter.
Cherry tomatoJul–OctSmall-fruited tomatoes ripen faster than big beefsteak types, so the first cherries are often the first tomatoes of the year.
Chili pepperJul–OctTo get the most chilies, pick them green, either to use straight away or to finish ripening in the kitchen.
CucumberJul–OctPick at the size the variety is meant to be: about 8 cm (3 in) for mini types, 15 cm (6 in) for small ones and 20–25 cm (8–10 in) for full-size slicers.
EggplantAug–OctPick when the fruit is full-sized and well coloured, with a glossy skin.
GarlicMay–AugBulbs are ready once the leaves turn yellow. Autumn-planted garlic is usually ready from late spring to early summer, and spring-planted garlic from midsummer to early autumn.
Green beansJul–OctPick pods at about 15–20 cm (6–8 in) long, when they snap cleanly and before you can see the beans bulging inside.
KaleOct–AprHarvest single leaves once they are big enough to use. Young leaves are tender enough to eat raw.
LettuceMay–NovLoose-leaf lettuce is worth picking once leaves are about 10 cm (4 in) long. In warm weather that can be just four to six weeks after sowing.
OnionJun–SepYellowing leaves that topple over show the bulbs are maturing. Lift them before the foliage has died right back.
PeasJun–OctPick sugar snap and mangetout pods at about 7.5 cm (3 in) long, just as the peas inside begin to swell.
PotatoJun–OctEarly potatoes are usually ready when the plants flower or the flower buds drop. The tubers should be about the size of a hen's egg.
PumpkinSep–OctLeave pumpkins on the plant until they have fully coloured and the skin is hard.
RadishApr–FebSalad radishes can be ready about four weeks after they come up, when roots are roughly 2.5 cm (1 in) across. Early-spring sowings take a bit longer, around six to eight weeks.
RaspberryJun–OctRipe raspberries are deeply coloured, plump and come away easily when pulled.
SpinachMar–NovBaby leaves can be picked about a month after sowing and full-size leaves after roughly two months.
StrawberryJun–OctPick only berries that are bright red all over. Strawberries don't ripen any further once picked.
Sweet cornAug–OctCheck once the silks at the tip of the ear turn brown. Peel back a little husk and press a kernel with your thumbnail.
Swiss chardMar–NovPick outer leaves with their whole stalk, cutting at the base, and leave the central leaves to grow on.
TomatoJul–OctPick when the fruit has its full colour all over. For red varieties that means evenly pink to red, with no green shoulders.
Winter squashJul–OctLeave the fruit on the plant as long as possible to ripen fully and develop flavour. Riper squash also stores better.
ZucchiniJul–OctHarvest while small and tender, at roughly 10–15 cm (4–6 in) long.

General harvesting tips

  • Pick often. Beans, peas, zucchini and cucumbers keep producing when you harvest regularly, and slow down when pods or fruit are left to mature.
  • Handle gently. Bruised or nicked produce doesn't keep, so cut rather than pull where the guides suggest it.
  • Know which crops won't ripen later. Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries don't ripen after picking. Tomatoes do.
  • Watch the frost forecast. Pumpkins and winter squash need to be in before the first frost if you want to store them.

Want to plan quantities too? See how much to plant per person, or log your own dates to build a calendar for your garden.

Track it

Build your own harvest calendar

Log first and last pickings in Harvest Journal and next year you'll know exactly when each crop comes in, in your own garden.

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Prefer paper? Make a free harvest report PDF in your browser, with no account needed.

Harvest calendar FAQ

What vegetables can I harvest in winter?

In a temperate garden, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, radish can all be picked in January, as long as you sow suitable varieties at the right time.

What is the busiest month for harvesting?

August. In this calendar, 28 of the 30 crops can be harvested in August.

How do I know a vegetable is ready to pick?

Each crop has its own signs: colour for tomatoes and peppers, size for zucchini and cucumbers, milky kernels for sweet corn, yellowing leaves for onions and garlic. The crop guides linked above list the signs for each one.

Do these months work everywhere?

No. They are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate, based on RHS guidance from the UK. In a warmer or colder area, shift them to match your frost dates. In the Southern Hemisphere, shift them by about six months.

Sources

Sowing, planting and harvest months come from these RHS guides.

  1. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Basil: grow your own
  2. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Beetroot: grow your own
  3. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Sweet peppers: grow your own
  4. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Blackberries: grow your own
  5. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Blueberries: grow your own
  6. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Calabrese: grow your own
  7. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Cabbages: grow your own
  8. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Carrots: grow your own
  9. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Cauliflowers: grow your own
  10. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Tomatoes: grow your own
  11. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Chilli peppers: grow your own
  12. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Cucumbers: grow your own
  13. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Aubergines: grow your own
  14. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Garlic: grow your own
  15. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — French beans: grow your own
  16. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Kale: grow your own
  17. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Lettuce: grow your own
  18. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Onions: grow your own
  19. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Peas: grow your own
  20. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Potatoes: grow your own
  21. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Pumpkins: grow your own
  22. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Radishes: grow your own
  23. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Raspberries: grow your own
  24. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Spinach: grow your own
  25. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Strawberries: grow your own
  26. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Sweetcorn: grow your own
  27. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Chard: grow your own
  28. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Squashes: grow your own
  29. Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) — Courgettes: grow your own