Texas · Field & vine
Typically mid-September to late October, with peak early October through mid-October.
Hatched chalk = early and late shoulders; solid = peak.
Most of the crop comes off the High Plains around Floydada; patches statewide run through October.
From mid-September — first pickings, lighter supply, best prices come later.
early October through mid-October — full stalls, full flavor. This is the stretch to plan around.
Through late October — quantity for preserving, and the stalls start dealing.
about 6 weeks end to end, shoulders included.
Bring a wagon and pruners; cut the stem clean rather than twisting, and never carry by the handle. The picking window tracks the band above: early trips get clean fields, peak (early October through mid-October) is the sure bet, late season is for quantity.
Farm-to-farm variation is real — up to two weeks either side of the typical window. Plan the trip, then call the farm before you drive.
Pumpkin peak moves across the map. After this window, it lands next in:
In Texas, the pumpkin season typically runs mid-September to late October, with peak availability early October through mid-October. Exact weeks shift a little with each year's weather.
Aim for peak: early October through mid-October. An early trip around mid-September gets first choice of clean fields; a late one is for porch-and-pantry quantity. Any single farm can run up to two weeks either side of the chart — call before you drive.
about 6 weeks end to end — mid-September to late October. The early and late shoulders are real but lighter; the solid stretch of chalk on the band is the sure bet.