What's in Season in Louisiana
Louisiana doesn't run on a Northern calendar
In the Gulf & Deep South, the seasons read differently than most "what's in season" lists assume. Cool-season crops and citrus peak in the cooler months, and the deep summer heat is often the quiet stretch for fresh vegetables — the reverse of the North. If a national calendar looks wrong for Louisiana, this is why.
What's in season in Louisiana, month by month
Typical seasonal windows for the Gulf & Deep South region. These are sourced from Cooperative Extension harvest calendars — they're a regional guide, not a guarantee that a given crop is ready in your town on a given date. "From storage" marks crops kept from an earlier harvest rather than picked fresh that month.
| Month | Typically in season |
|---|---|
| January | Winter citrus (grapefruit, navel and Valencia oranges); beets, broccoli, celery, cabbage, carrots, continuous winter greens |
| February | Citrus; broccoli, cabbage, carrots, celery, greens, spring onions; strawberries beginning |
| March | Citrus finishing; strawberries, cabbage, carrots, greens, spring onions, early spring vegetables |
| April | Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cucumbers, honeydew, peaches, watermelon beginning |
| May | Blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cucumbers, honeydew, peaches, watermelon, onions, tomatoes |
| June | Peaches, blueberries, blackberries, cantaloupe, watermelon, honeydew, cucumbers, onions, pears, tomatoes |
| July | Peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, cucumbers, okra, southern peas, pears (warm-season peak; deep-summer heat limits leafy veg) |
| August | Peaches, watermelon, cucumbers, okra, southern peas, green onions, pears; early fall planting underway |
| September | Cucumbers, green onions, carrots, pumpkins, early oranges; fall greens beginning |
| October | Pumpkins, cauliflower, beets, celery, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, greens; early grapefruit and oranges return |
| November | Winter greens, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, celery, beets; grapefruit and oranges; big winter onion and citrus seasons begin |
| December | Winter citrus (grapefruit, oranges), greens, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, celery, beets — the winter hub hits its stride |
Regional-typical windows from Gulf & Deep South Cooperative Extension calendars (sources below). For your exact local timing, check with your market.
How to use this calendar at the market
The single most reliable seasonality guide in Louisiana is the farmer who grew the thing, standing behind their table. Walk the whole market once before buying — what's piled high and priced well is almost always what's in season right now. Ask vendors what's just come in and what's nearly done, and when something hits its peak and the price drops, that's the moment to buy extra for freezing or canning. For the bigger picture, see our national what's-in-season produce calendar.
Frequently asked questions
What produce is in season in Louisiana right now?
It depends on the month, but Louisiana follows the Gulf & Deep South region's typical pattern. Use the month-by-month table above for your month, then confirm at your local farmers market — the farmers know what's actually peaking that week.
When is peak season at Louisiana farmers markets?
Louisiana runs more than one season. Cool-season crops and (where grown) citrus peak in the cooler months, and warm-season crops fill the warmer ones — the deep summer is often the quieter stretch for fresh vegetables.
Why might these dates be off for my town in Louisiana?
These are typical regional windows, not a town-by-town guarantee. Your elevation, that year's weather, and whether a farmer uses greenhouses or high tunnels can shift any crop by a few weeks. Treat the calendar as a starting point.
Where can I buy what's in season in Louisiana?
At a local farmers market or farm stand. Louisiana has 64 farmers markets listed here from the USDA Local Food Portal — browse them by city to find one near you and see what's on the tables.
→ Farmers markets in Louisiana · CSA farms in Louisiana · National produce calendar
Sources
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Texas Home Vegetable Gardening Guide
- Go Texan — Texas Produce Availability Chart
- USDA SNAP-Ed — Seasonal Produce Guide
- USDA AMS — Local & Regional Food Directories
These are typical regional harvest windows from Cooperative Extension and USDA sources, not a town-by-town guarantee. Timing varies by microclimate, elevation, weather, and growing method — confirm local timing with the farmers at your market.