Typically mid-January to mid-November, with peak
early April through late June.
In season now
now
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Hatched chalk = early and late shoulders; solid = peak.
Coastal relay: Oxnard runs winter into spring, Santa Maria nearly year-round, Watsonville-Salinas summer into fall.
At a glance
Early
From mid-January —
first pickings, lighter supply, best prices come later.
Peak
early April through late June — full stalls,
full flavor. This is the stretch to plan around.
Late
Through mid-November — quantity for
preserving, and the stalls start dealing.
Season length
about 43 weeks end to end, shoulders included.
U-pick strawberries in California
The classic first u-pick of the season; bring shallow flats so the bottom berries do not bruise. The picking window tracks the band above: early
trips get clean fields, peak (early April through late June) 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.
Strawberries
Look
Fully red from cap to tip with a glossy shine; white or green shoulders mean it was picked too soon and will never sweeten.
Feel
Plump and firm with just a little give; rock-hard berries are underripe and soft spots mean the flat is turning.
Smell
A ripe berry smells sweet and jammy from a foot away; no scent usually means no flavor.
Tip
Pinch the stem a half inch above the cap and pull with a twist so you never squeeze the fruit itself.
Keeps
Refrigerate unwashed in a single layer and eat within two to three days.
Chasing the season?
Strawberry peak moves across the map.
After this window, it lands next in:
In California, the strawberry season typically runs mid-January to mid-November, with peak availability early April through late June. Exact weeks shift a little with each year's weather.
When should I go u-pick strawberries in California?
Aim for peak: early April through late June. An early trip around mid-January gets first choice of clean fields; a late one is for jam-and-freezer quantity. Any single farm can run up to two weeks either side of the chart — call before you drive.
How long does strawberry season last in California?
about 43 weeks end to end — mid-January to mid-November. The early and late shoulders are real but lighter; the solid stretch of chalk on the band is the sure bet.