This page has a table below that tells when each fruit or vegetable is normally ready to be harvested in Illinois! We also have a page with links to our own simple instructions on canning, freezing and drying many fruits and vegetables, such as how to make jam, apple butter, applesauce, spaghetti sauce, salsa, pickles, ketchup or freezing corn.
Fruit/Veg | Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | August | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec | ||||||||
apples | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
Asian pears | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
asparagus | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
beans | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
blackberries | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
blueberries | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
broccoli | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||
cabbage | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||
cantaloupes | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
cherries | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
Christmas trees | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
cucumbers | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
eggplant | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
greens | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
herbs | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||
nectarines | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
peaches | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
peas | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
peppers | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
potatoes | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
raspberries | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||
rhubarb | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
pumpkins | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
squash | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||
strawberries | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||
sweet corn | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
sweet potatoes | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||
tomatoes | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | ||||||||||||
watermelons | X | X | X | X | X | X |
The light green indicates light crops at the beginning or end of a season - dark green is when the bulk of the crop ripens and picking is best.
Above is the
2020 version of
the Ball Blue Book