A seasonal calendar for fruit and vegetables can be extremely practical for growing yourself or buying seasonal and regional products and thus protecting the environment. The following overview will help you.

In a nutshell

  • Choosing the right time can mean bigger harvest
  • appropriate protection is helpful
  • Date depends, among other things, on the region
  • Pulling forward can shorten the time to yield
  • Timing also depends on the type of bed and shelter

seasonal calendar

We have put together a detailed seasonal calendar for fruit and vegetables for you. You can download this free of charge using the following button.

cultivation & bed

Whether it's fruit, vegetables or berries, the type of cultivation and bed is crucial for the seasonal calendar. An earlier harvest is possible, for example, through:

  • Glasshouse
  • raised bed
  • mound bed
  • climate
  • variety
  • prebreeding

This shifts the times for sowing or planting. This is because temperatures are higher and more stable. In more southern regions, the weather is also better earlier. This promotes the germination and growth of fruit and vegetables. The seasonal calendar can therefore differ significantly from region to region.

Tip: Preparing the seeds of fruit and vegetables can also germinate faster and the fruit can ripen. In this way, plants that have already grown can be placed outdoors as soon as the temperatures are high enough for this.

Note on crop rotation

Some plants have a very high nutrient requirement and therefore extract large quantities of valuable minerals from the soil. These are so-called heavy feeders. These include, among others:

  • cucumber
  • potatoes
  • cabbage
  • pumpkin
  • leek
  • rhubarb
  • celery
  • tomato

If you have planted these, you should provide the soil with compost or other fertilizers after harvest and work them in lightly. Alternatively, you can plant annual weak feeders the following year and use them as green manure after harvesting. This not only ensures favorable growth, but also reduces the risk of diseases and infestation with pests on fruit and vegetables.

Seasonal calendar for fruit

Fruit from A - D

apple (penalty)

  • Harvest early varieties: from June to August
  • Harvest autumn apples: August to October
  • Planting time: autumn, in early October

Notice: Depending on the type or variety, this fruit will be ripe and ready for harvest next summer or autumn. In addition, the storage capacity must also be taken into account. Late apple varieties with a high storage capacity also last through the winter and continue to ripen. A general answer cannot be given here.

Apricot (Prunus armeniaca)

Source: apple2000, Apricot tree05, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Harvest: from the second year of growth from July to the end of August
  • Planting time: spring after the last frost between May and June

Notice: Some varieties ripen very early and can therefore be harvested from the end of June. Others deliver fruit well into September.

Aronia

  • Sow: March to May or September to December
  • Harvest: around August to September
  • Pre-breeding: possible in the house all year round

Pear (Pyrus)

  • Sowing: not recommended
  • Harvest: August to October
  • Planting time: autumn, before the first frost

Blackberry (Rubus)

  • Sowing: April to May
  • Harvest: July to October
  • Breeding: possible from February

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon)

  • Sowing: October to January
  • Harvest: September to November
  • Breeding: from January

Fruit from E - J

Strawberries (Fragaria)

  • Sow: January to March
  • Harvest: depending on the variety from May to September
  • Planting: from April
  • Breeding: January to March

Blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus)

  • Sowing: April to May
  • Harvest: July to September
  • Planting: March to April
  • Breeding: from February

Raspberries (Rubus idaeus)

  • Sow: no earlier than May or June after the last frost
  • Harvest: several times from around June
  • Pre-cultivation: it is advisable to plant pre-cultivated plants

Elder (Sambucus)

  • Sowing: September to October
  • Harvest: from August to September
  • Planting: May to June or August to September
  • Breeding: possible from August

Currants (Ribes)

  • Sowing: not a suitable way of propagation
  • Harvest: between June and July
  • Planting: either spring or autumn on frost-free days
  • Pre-breeding: Cuttings or daughter plants can be cultivated indoors over the winter

Fruit by K - P

Cherries (Prunus)

  • Sowing: this type of propagation is not recommended for cherries
  • Harvest: June to September, depending on the variety
  • Planting: spring or autumn

Kiwi (Actinidia deliciosa)

  • Sowing: May to August
  • Harvest: late October to early November
  • Planting: late May to June
  • Breeding: March to April

Kumquat (Fortunella)

  • Sowing: should not be done directly outdoors
  • Harvest: around October
  • Breeding: possible all year round

Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis)

  • Sowing: from May to July
  • Harvest: June to August
  • Planting: from May to July
  • Breeding: March to April

Melon (Cucumis melo)

  • Sowing: direct sowing is not recommended for melons
  • Harvest: about four months after sowing
  • Pre-breeding: recommended from March

Mirabelle plums (Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca)

  • Sowing: April to May
  • Harvest: August to October
  • Planting: September to October
  • Breeding: from February

Nashi pear (Pyrus pyrifolia)

Source: Sage Ross, Shinseiki Asian pears at Lyman Orchards 2, 2009-08-30, Edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
  • Sowing: April to June
  • Harvest: July to August
  • Planting: April to June
  • Breeding: from February

Papaya (Carica papaya)

  • Sowing: not possible outdoors
  • Harvest: around October
  • Plants: Pot culture in the conservatory or greenhouse
  • Breeding: February to May

Peach (Prunus persica)

  • Sowing: October to December
  • Harvest: July to August
  • Planting: April to June
  • Pre-breeding: possible all year round after stratification

Plum (Prunus domestica)

  • Sowing: around February
  • Harvest: July to October
  • Planting: from May or October
  • Pre-breeding: recommended from February

Physalis (Physalis peruviana)

  • Sowing: from the end of May
  • Harvest: May to first frost
  • Breeding: from February

Fruit from Q - Z

Quince (Cydonia oblonga)

  • Sowing: hardly possible
  • Harvest: in October (harvest before the first frost)
  • Planting: April to early June
  • Breeding: from February

Greengage (Prunus domestica subsp. italica)

Source: Krzysztof Golik creator QS:P170,Q51955005, Prunus domestica Reine Claude in Aveyron (2), edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Sowing: April to May
  • Harvest: August to September
  • Planting: April to June
  • Breeding: from January

Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum)

  • Sowing: March to April
  • Harvest: May to July
  • Pre-breeding: March to April or August to September

Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides)

  • Sowing: with stratification from April to May
  • Harvest: September to October
  • Planting: March to May and September to October
  • Breeding: possible from January

Gooseberries (Ribes uva-crispa)

  • Sowing: May to July
  • Harvest: May to August
  • Planting: May to June, September to October
  • Pre-breeding: from February to about May

Tayberry (Rubus fruticosus x idaeus)

  • Sowing: not recommended
  • Harvest: June to August
  • Planting: April to June
  • Pre-breeding: not necessary

Notice: This is a mix of raspberry and blackberry. The crossbreed comes from Scotland.

Wine (Vitis)

  • Sowing: not recommended directly outdoors
  • Harvest: from August
  • Plant: Spring after the last frost or Autumn before the first frost
  • Pre-breeding: from February to June

Lemon (Citrus × limon)

  • Sowing: Pre-breeding under controlled conditions indoors is recommended
  • Harvest: Autumn, around October to November
  • Plants: not suitable for outdoor cultivation

Seasonal calendar for vegetables

Vegetables from A - E

Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus)

  • Sowing: from May to June
  • Harvest: August to September
  • Breeding: from January

Eggplant (Solanum melongena)

  • Plant out: mid-May after the last frost
  • Sowing: mid-May
  • Harvest: July to August
  • Pre-breeding: January to February

Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea)

Source: DelwarHossain, Brassica oleracea var in pabna, edited by Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Sowing: February to June
  • Harvest: May to late September
  • Pre-breeding: January to June

Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)

  • Sowing: spring to midsummer at temperatures above 12 degrees Celsius
  • Harvest: two to three months after sowing
  • Breeding: possible from March

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)

Source: Kolforn (Wikimedia), -2018-12-10 Broccoli, Trimingham (1), edited from Plantopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Sowing: early varieties from March; Winter broccoli between from July to September
  • Plant out: April to June
  • Harvest: from June; for winter broccoli around the end of October
  • Breeding: possible from January

Chili (Capsicum)

  • Sowing: May to June
  • Harvest: July to August
  • Preferred: February to March

Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis)

  • Sow: May to June
  • Harvest: from August, but usually not until October
  • Pre-breeding: usually not necessary but possible from March

Iceberg lettuce (Lactuca satica L.)

iceberg lettuce
  • Sow: from March until late summer
  • Harvest: two to three months after sowing
  • Breeding: possible from February

Endive (Cichorium endivia)

  • Sow: June to July
  • Harvest: July to September
  • Breeding: from May

Peas (Pisum sativum)

  • Sow: from May to October
  • Harvest: from the beginning of May (three months after sowing)
  • Breeding: from February

Vegetables from F - L

Lamb's lettuce (Valerianella locusta)

  • Sow: May to September
  • Harvest: July to November
  • Pre-breeding: from April

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)

  • Sow: from April
  • Harvest: multiple harvests, since the yield is continuous
  • Pre-breeding: also useful for outdoor cucumbers

Tip: Choose hardy varieties that can do without a greenhouse.

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)

  • Sowing: Potatoes can be planted from April
  • Harvest: depending on the variety, around July
  • Pre-cultivation: pre-germinated potatoes are more resistant and can be grown from February

Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes)

  • Sow outdoors from April
  • Harvest: six to eight weeks after germination
  • Pre-breeding: indoors from February to March

Pumpkin (Cucurbita)

Hokkaido
  • Sowing: April to May
  • Harvest: August to October
  • Breeding: March to April

Leek (Allium porrum)

  • Sowing: April to August
  • Harvest: June to October
  • Breeding: February to March

Vegetables with M - R

Chard (Beta vulgaris)

  • Sowing: April to August
  • Harvest: June to October
  • Breeding: February to March

Carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus)

  • Sow: March to mid-June
  • Harvest: ten to twelve weeks after sowing
  • Pre-breeding: not necessary but possible from February

Pak Choi (Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis)

  • Sowing: July to August
  • Harvest: July to October
  • Pre-breeding: May to June

Paprika (Capsicum)

  • Sow: no earlier than the end of February, preferring and protecting are better
  • Harvest: multiple, July to October
  • Pre-breeding: this can start indoors in January

Radish (Raphanus sativus var. sativus)

  • Sowing: February to August
  • Harvest: April to October
  • Pre-breeding: not necessary

Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera)

  • Sowing: April to May
  • Harvest: from November to March
  • Breeding: February to March

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris)

  • Sowing: from May to June
  • Harvest: August to October
  • Planting: from May to July
  • Breeding: from March

Vegetables from S - Z

Celery (Apium graveolens)

  • Sowing: May to June
  • Harvest: August to November
  • Planting: May to June
  • Breeding: February to March

Summer Radish (Raphanus)

Armoracia rusticana, horseradish
  • Sowing: March to April
  • Harvest: May to June
  • Pre-breeding: January to February

Winter Radish (Raphanus)

  • Sowing: July to August
  • Harvest: October
  • Breeding: June

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

  • Sowing: May
  • Harvest: June to July
  • Breeding: March to April

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

  • Sowing: April to June
  • Harvest: when the leaves are about five centimeters long
  • Late sowing: until September and thus harvest until December

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum)

  • Sowing: from April directly outdoors, if appropriate protection is available
  • Harvest: outdoors possible from about July
  • Pre-breeding: from February but possible all year round in the house

Notice: There are numerous varieties of tomatoes. Some of these can also be cultivated wonderfully on the balcony or even directly in the kitchen.

Savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar. capitata var. sabauda)

  • Sowing: depending on the variety; early varieties from March
  • Harvest: 60 to 140 days after germination, depending on the variety and temperatures

Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo var. giromontiina)

  • Sowing: April to May
  • Harvest: five to eight weeks after sowing or planting - around July
  • Planting: May to June

Sweet peas (Pisum sativum subsp. sativum convar. axiphium)

  • Sowing: from the end of April to July
  • Harvest: July to October
  • Breeding: from March

Onion (Allium cepa)

fresh onions from our own garden
  • Sowing: March to April
  • Harvest: seed onions from August; Onion sets August to September
  • Plant onion sets: September to October

frequently asked Questions

What must be considered with fruit and vegetables in the seasonal calendar?

Above all, note that there are numerous varieties with different characteristics, harvest times and resistance levels. Choose vegetables that suit the local conditions and are as easy to care for as possible.

Why should you create a seasonal calendar yourself?

So that you get an individual overview. Color coding is also recommended. This allows you to mark when you sowed which plants and when the estimated harvest time is.

Why is pre-breeding in the house favorable?

Because fruit and vegetables ripen faster as a result. With some plants it is even possible to achieve two yields per year by doing this.

Category:

Garden plants