Seasonal Produce Calendar in Poland: A Month-by-Month Reference

Fresh vegetables at an outdoor market. Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC.

Poland's continental climate produces a pronounced seasonal cycle for agricultural goods. The growing season extends roughly from April through October, with peak field availability concentrated in the summer and early autumn months. Understanding this calendar is relevant for anyone buying directly from producers at farmers markets or through RHD channels, as availability and price vary considerably across the year.

The calendar below reflects typical harvest windows based on the Polish lowland climate (the majority of agricultural land). The mountainous south (Małopolska, Podkarpacie) and the warmer western lowlands (Lubuskie, Dolnośląskie) may deviate by one to three weeks in either direction.

Spring: March to May

The earliest fresh field produce in Poland becomes available from the first warm weeks of March in milder years, though April is more typical for outdoor crops in most voivodeships.

What appears at market in spring

• Radishes: Among the earliest outdoor crops, typically available from April onwards.
• Spinach and lettuce: Cold-tolerant varieties reach market from late March in tunnel-grown form; outdoor from April–May.
• Spring onions (dymka): A Polish market staple from April through June.
• Parsley root and celeriac: At spring markets these are typically last-season stored produce, not new harvest.
• New potatoes (ziemniaki wczesne): First imports arrive in March; Polish domestic new potatoes begin appearing at markets from late May onwards, primarily from the southern regions.
• Asparagus (szparagi): White asparagus grown in Kujawy and parts of Wielkopolska is available for a short window from late April to mid-June.
• Strawberries (truskawki): The Polish strawberry season begins in late May in the south-west and progresses north-east through June.

Stored root vegetables from the previous season — carrots, parsnips, beetroot, and onions — remain widely available throughout spring until new-season crops displace them.

Summer: June to August

This is the period of maximum variety at Polish farmers markets. Fields across Mazowieckie, Łódź, and Kujawsko-Pomorskie produce the bulk of commercial vegetables consumed nationally.

Crop	Peak Availability	Notes
Strawberries (truskawki)	June	Concentrated harvest; short window at direct markets
Cherries (czereśnie, wiśnie)	June–July	Sweet cherries (czereśnie) earlier; sour cherries (wiśnie) follow
Cucumber (ogórek)	July–August	Both pickling and salad varieties abundant in summer
Tomatoes (pomidory)	August–September	Polish field tomatoes peak from mid-August; tunnel-grown earlier
Beans (fasola szparagowa)	July–August	Runner and snap beans widely available at direct markets
Courgette (cukinia)	July–September	Extended season with successive sowing
Raspberries (maliny)	July	Significant production in Mazowieckie and Lublin voivodeships
Blueberries (borówka)	July–August	Large commercial and farm-direct volumes in summer
New potatoes (ziemniaki)	July–August	Domestic maincrop; early varieties widely available
Garlic (czosnek)	July–August	Harvest and curing complete; peak fresh availability
Sweet corn (kukurydza cukrowa)	August	Fresh ears at markets for a brief window

Autumn: September to November

Autumn brings the heaviest volume of root vegetables, winter squash, apples, and pears. Many Polish families purchase root crops in bulk during September and October for home storage.

Key autumn crops

• Apples (jabłka): Poland is one of Europe's largest apple producers. Direct market availability peaks from late August through October, with storage varieties remaining through winter. Varieties such as Ligol, Champion, and Jonagold are common at markets.
• Pears (gruszki): Available from late August through October depending on variety.
• Winter squash and pumpkins (dynia): September through October at most direct markets.
• Beetroot (burak): Main crop harvested in autumn; sold fresh in September–October and then from storage through winter.
• Carrots (marchew): Main crop from September; stored and sold through the following spring.
• White cabbage (kapusta biała): Harvested in October; fermented (kiszona) form available throughout winter.
• Leek (por): Peak availability in October–November from field; cold-tolerant and often held in the ground until needed.
• Celeriac (seler): Autumn harvest; stores well and remains at market through spring.
• Wild mushrooms (grzyby): September and October; forested regions including Podlaskie and the Lublin area supply markets with chanterelles, boletus, and other species.

Winter: December to February

At Polish farmers markets in winter, available produce consists almost entirely of stored root vegetables, preserved goods, and year-round items such as eggs, dairy, and honey. Field-fresh produce is effectively absent.

Common winter market items from direct producers include:

• Storage carrots, beetroot, celeriac, parsnip, and onions
• Potatoes from autumn harvest, held in controlled-temperature cellars
• Sauerkraut (kapusta kiszona) and fermented cucumbers (ogórki kiszone)
• Dried mushrooms and dried fruit
• Apples from storage (particularly long-keeping varieties)
• Eggs and honey — available year-round from registered RHD producers
• Dairy products from producers with active veterinary approvals

Regional Produce Differences

Polish voivodeships have distinct agricultural profiles that affect what appears at direct markets in each region: