What's in Season in September?
Reliably in season across most of the country
Apples (national peak begins), pears, grapes, the first winter squash and pumpkins, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and the final sweet corn, tomatoes, and peppers.
September region by region
The U.S. runs on more than one harvest clock — the Gulf South peaks in winter, the desert Southwest is a November-to-April operation, and California barely pauses. Here is September in each region, from the same Cooperative Extension calendars behind our state guides.
| Region | Typically in season in September |
|---|---|
| Northeast | Apples, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, sweet corn, grapes, pears, winter squash, pumpkins, late melons |
| Midwest & Upper Midwest | Tomatoes, peppers, apples, grapes, sweet corn, winter squash, pumpkins, potatoes, parsnips, turnips |
| Southeast | Apples, green beans, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, late tomatoes, peppers and melons; muscadine grapes |
| Gulf & Deep South | Cucumbers, green onions, carrots, pumpkins, early oranges; fall greens beginning |
| Mountain West | Apples, pears, grapes, peaches, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melons, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, winter squash, pumpkins |
| Pacific Northwest | Apples, Asian pears, pears, plums, melons, kiwi, walnuts, artichokes, sweet corn, squash, tomatoes |
| California | Grapes, peaches, plums, apples, figs, melons, sweet corn, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, beans, carrots, peppers, onions, potatoes |
| Southwest Desert | Fall planting underway; okra, peppers, pomegranates, dates, early fall greens; pecans beginning |
Typical regional windows, not town-by-town guarantees — elevation, weather, and growing method shift any crop by weeks. Confirm locally at your market.
Regional highlights this month
- Northeast: The Northeast and New York apple peak runs September–October; pawpaws are a short-window regional novelty, and cranberry harvest begins in late September. Greens make their “second season” return after summer bolting.
- Gulf & Deep South: Florida's early citrus (oranges, grapefruit, tangerines) returns — but Florida vegetables don't resume until October.
- Southwest Desert: The desert is planting, not harvesting — its season flips in the fall, opposite the North's.
Find it fresh near you
The month tells you what to look for; your local market tells you what's actually on the tables this week. Find a farmers market by ZIP code, browse farm stands and u-pick farms to buy at the source, or pull up your state's calendar below for the local version of this month.
Frequently asked questions
What comes into season in September?
Apples begin their national peak alongside pears, grapes, the first pumpkins and winter squash, and potatoes and sweet potatoes — while the last of the sweet corn, tomatoes, and peppers wind down in the North.
Why do greens come back in September?
Cool weather. Lettuce, spinach, and other greens bolt in summer heat, then return for a genuine second season in the North once temperatures drop — often tasting better than the spring crop.
When does Florida's growing season restart?
Citrus returns first, in September; the vegetable harvest (tomatoes, sweet corn, cucumbers, squash) reopens around October and runs through June — Florida's calendar is roughly the northern one inverted.
Get each month's in-season guide
A short seasonal email: what's fresh at farmers markets this month, plus new markets and farms near you. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
← August · In season now · Your state's calendar · October →
Peaking in September — single-produce guides: Pawpaw · Ground Cherry
Sources
- USDA SNAP-Ed — Seasonal Produce Guide
- Penn State Extension — Harvest Calendar
- Cornell Cooperative Extension — Vegetable Program Crops
- University of Delaware Cooperative Extension — Planning a Vegetable Garden
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension — Texas Home Vegetable Gardening Guide
- Go Texan — Texas Produce Availability Chart
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension — Planting & Harvesting Calendar (Yuma / Maricopa County)
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension — Arizona's Seasonal Role in National Supply
- USDA AMS — Local & Regional Food Directories
These are typical regional harvest windows from Cooperative Extension and USDA sources, not a town-by-town guarantee. Where sources conflict, we side with the state-level Extension calendar. Storage crops are labeled as such — winter "in season" in the North usually means well-stored, not freshly picked.