Our printable seasonal produce guide for fruits and vegetables helps you track what’s growing month by month. So you can plan your meals, pantry storage, and garden efforts around what nature is already doing.
When you’re living closer to the land—whether through gardening, preserving, or supporting your local farm stand—knowing what’s in season can be one of the most powerful tools in your homesteading kitchen.
From citrus fruits in the winter to sweet corn and green beans in the height of summer, seasonal produce connects us to the rhythm of the land and reduces our reliance on out-of-season grocery store options. This guide is especially helpful for those looking to eat more intentionally. Support their local farmer’s markets, and cut back on unnecessary food waste. And transportation emissions that increase your carbon footprint.
Why Seasonal Awareness Matters on the Homestead
Whether you’re managing a backyard garden, visiting a nearby farm stand, or preserving your harvest for the cold months ahead, knowing what’s in season is essential. This seasonal produce guide makes it easy to see what fruits and vegetables are likely to be harvested in your region each month, across most of North America. It’s a great resource for meal planning and crop rotation ideas. Or just knowing what to look for when trading with neighbors or heading to the farmers market.
Unlike produce that’s available year-round in the grocery store—often shipped long distances or grown in hot houses. Fresh, in-season produce like Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts, and sweet potatoes tends to be more flavorful and nutrient-dense. It’s also a smart way to stretch your grocery budget. While focusing on the most fresh produce each time of year.
Balancing Convenience and Self-Sufficiency
There’s no shame in supplementing your pantry with hot house-grown or store-bought produce when needed. We all do it, especially in the off-season. Focusing your family’s meal plans around what’s naturally in season is smart. You reduce your reliance on imports, preserve more of your homegrown food. And lean into the principles of a sustainable homesteading lifestyle.
Think of this handy guide as a year-round tool for planning your meals, planting your garden, or prepping your shelves for canning season. Keep it close as you build out your food storage goals or work to create a truly seasonal kitchen that supports your values.
Download the Free Printable Seasonal Produce Guide
At the bottom of this post is a free seasonal produce guide for you to download and print.
Food Preservation Tips by Season
If you’re growing your own food or buying in bulk from a local farmer, preserving the harvest is key to building a resilient pantry. Here’s a seasonal breakdown of simple ways to make your seasonal produce last well beyond its peak:
Spring
- Best for: asparagus, strawberries, spinach, radishes
- Preservation methods:
- Freeze berries for smoothies and baking
- Blanch and freeze leafy greens like spinach
- Pickle radishes and spring onions for tangy condiments
Summer
- Best for: tomatoes, zucchini, peaches, cucumbers, green beans
- Preservation methods:
- Can tomato sauce, salsa, or whole tomatoes
- Shred and freeze zucchini for baking
- Water bath can or ferment cucumber pickles
- Freeze green beans after blanching for year-round use
Fall
- Best for: apples, pears, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, Brussels sprouts
- Preservation methods:
- Make and can applesauce or apple butter
- Dehydrate apple or pear slices for snacks
- Store winter squash and sweet potatoes in a cool, dark place
- Blanch and freeze Brussels sprouts or roast and vacuum seal
Winter
- Best for: citrus fruits, root vegetables, hearty greens
- Preservation methods:
- Freeze lemon juice or zest in ice cube trays
- Make marmalade with oranges and grapefruit
- Store carrots, turnips, and beets in damp sand or cold storage
- Dehydrate kale or Swiss chard for powdered greens
Preserving food by the season not only cuts down on food waste—it also lets you enjoy in-season produce long after it disappears from the garden or local farmer’s markets. Combined with our printable seasonal produce guide, you’ll have a roadmap for smarter shopping, planting, and pantry prep all year long.
Download the Free Printable Seasonal Produce Guide
This one-page guide is easy to print and keep in your pantry, kitchen binder, or garden shed. It’s organized by month and includes common fruits and vegetables grown in the United States. Making it ideal for home cooks, gardeners, and homesteaders alike. Whether you’re working with seasonal fruit like strawberries or prepping to harvest your own green beans, this tool helps you make the most of every season.
