Bushworker

Australian harvest calendar by crop and month

Pick a state, see what's picked when. Or scan a crop to find out when to be where.

15 cropsFree, no signupReviewed 2026-05-11

Pick a state, see what's in season

Each row is a crop. Filled cells mark the months it's typically picked. Pick a state and the windows shift to that state's season. The same crop ripens months apart from the top end to the south.

12 crops shown

Apples

VICTASWANSW
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Avocados

QLDWANSW
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Bananas

QLDNSW
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Blueberries

NSWTASVICWA
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Capsicum

QLDWAVIC
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Cherries

TASVICNSWSA
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Citrus (oranges, mandarins)

NSWVICSAQLD
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Grapes

VICSAWANSW
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Mangoes

NTQLDWA
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Stone fruit (peaches, nectarines, plums)

VICNSWSA
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Strawberries

QLDVICWA
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Tomatoes

QLDVICNSW
  1. J
  2. F
  3. M
  4. A
  5. M
  6. J
  7. J
  8. A
  9. S
  10. O
  11. N
  12. D

Backpackers who plan their 88 days around the harvest calendar earn more, waste less time travelling, and dodge the worst of the off-season scramble. The wrong fruit at the wrong time means slow pay, slow pace, and farms full of disappointed pickers.

The grid below shows, for each major Australian crop, the months it’s typically picked. Filter by state and the months shift to that state’s season, not just the crops on show. Pair this with the income calculator to estimate what a season actually pays.

A note on accuracy: harvest windows shift north to south. Mangoes start near Darwin in September, then ripen later down through Queensland, finishing around March. These windows are estimates drawn from industry calendars and picker reports, not guarantees. Confirm the timing with the working hostels and farms in your target region before you book travel.

Once you know where you’re heading, check the postcode counts for your second-year visa: eligible postcodes lookup. A perfect-looking job in the wrong postcode doesn’t add to your 88 days.

For the full picture on visa rules and paperwork, the 88 days guide covers what counts as specified work, how to keep records, and the legitimate red flags to spot before you sign on.

Last updated . Written and reviewed by

GussieEditor at Bushworker.com

Frequently asked questions

Do the harvest windows change by state?

Yes. Filter to a state and each crop's months shift to that state's season. Mangoes start near Darwin in the Northern Territory in September, then ripen later down through Queensland, finishing around March. The same crop can be months apart depending on where you stand. These windows are estimates drawn from Fair Work guides, public industry calendars, and picker reports. They mark the broad state season, not the first or last week any single farm picks, and not the differences between districts inside a big state like Queensland. Confirm the timing with the working hostels and farms in your target region before you book travel.

What's the difference between peak and shoulder months?

Peak months are when a crop is at maximum yield: trees are dropping fruit, contracts are full, and good pickers can earn well above the hourly minimum. Shoulder months (the first and last weeks of a season) are slower, work is patchier, and farms often run on hourly rates only. The cells in this calendar treat all in-season months equally. Treat the middle months of a window as your strongest earning weeks.

Why do some crops show all 12 months?

Bananas, capsicum, and a few tropical crops are harvested year-round in their main growing regions (Queensland's far north for bananas, the Bowen-Bundaberg-Innisfail belt for capsicum). The plant doesn't stop fruiting; pickers don't stop being needed. These crops are useful gap-fillers when your preferred fruit isn't in season.

Where does this data come from?

It's a Bushworker compilation drawn from Fair Work Ombudsman guides, the Horticulture Award, public industry calendars, and reports from working hostels and pickers. We use conservative season windows that match the broad national pattern, not the absolute first or last week any farm picks.

How often is this calendar refreshed?

Quarterly, aligned with the seasons. The Bushworker team reviews each crop's season window against fresh picker reports and Fair Work updates. When a season is materially earlier or later than expected (driven by drought, flood, or temperature trends), we update the window and bump the date at the bottom of the page.