Florida · Field & vine
Typically early October to late December, with peak mid-October through late November.
Hatched chalk = early and late shoulders; solid = peak.
Mostly calabaza and Seminole types suited to the heat; classic butternut is a small fall crop.
From early October — first pickings, lighter supply, best prices come later.
mid-October through late November — full stalls, full flavor. This is the stretch to plan around.
Through late December — quantity for preserving, and the stalls start dealing.
about 13 weeks end to end, shoulders included.
Often sold from the wagon at fall pumpkin patches; leave an inch of stem and handle gently, nicks shorten storage. The picking window tracks the band above: early trips get clean fields, peak (mid-October through late November) 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.
Winter Squash peak moves across the map. After this window, it lands next in:
In Florida, the winter squash season typically runs early October to late December, with peak availability mid-October through late November. Exact weeks shift a little with each year's weather.
Aim for peak: mid-October through late November. An early trip around early October 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 13 weeks end to end — early October to late December. The early and late shoulders are real but lighter; the solid stretch of chalk on the band is the sure bet.