What fruit is in season in August in Australia?

Oranges are at their peak in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia. Mandarins are at their peak in four states but finish in Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia this month. Strawberries are at their peak in Queensland and Western Australia, and blueberries start in both.

When is orange season in Australia?

Winter into spring. New South Wales, Western Australia and South Australia start in June and Victoria in July. August is the peak month in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia, and Victoria and New South Wales stay at their peak in September.

Is mandarin season over in August?

Nearly, in the south. Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia all finish in August. New South Wales and Queensland keep picking into September.

What vegetables are in season in August?

Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, leeks, parsnips and potatoes are at their peak in Victoria. Asian greens and lettuce start there. Queensland has green beans, peas, zucchini, cabbage and cauliflower at their peak.

What's in Season in August in Australia

August is late winter with spring leaking in at the edges. Oranges are at their peak, mandarins are finishing, and in Victoria the first Asian greens and lettuce are being picked again.

If July was the stillest month, August is where things start to move.

Harvest months, when growers are picking.

Clay illustration of a farm-fresh produce stall with crates of fruit and vegetables

Oranges take over from mandarins

Oranges reach their peak in Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia. Mandarins are still at their peak in four states, but it is the last month for them in Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia.

So the swap happens inside the month. Early August is the last good mandarin from a southern grower, and by the end of it oranges are the citrus to buy. Grapefruit is at its peak in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.

Still winter on the vegetable tables

Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, leeks, parsnips and potatoes are all at their peak in Victoria. Brussels sprouts and pumpkin finish there. The globe artichoke has a month left in Victoria and ends in New South Wales.

The first spring crops

Asian greens and lettuce start in Victoria, and Asian greens in New South Wales and Western Australia. It is a small change, but it is the first leafy crop to come back in the south since autumn.

Next month is the one people wait for. Asparagus starts in Victoria and New South Wales in September.

Berries and avocados in the west

Blueberries start in Queensland and Western Australia, joining New South Wales, which has been at its peak since June. Strawberries are at their peak in Queensland and Western Australia.

Avocados begin in Western Australia and South Australia. Queensland picks through autumn and winter and Western Australia takes over in spring, and August is where the two overlap.

Queensland

Queensland has 29 crops, with green beans, peas, zucchini, cabbage and cauliflower at their peak and tomatoes still being picked. Passionfruit, lemons, custard apples and pumpkin all finish. Honeydew melon starts.

Making it last the week

Oranges keep for up to a month in the fridge in a bag, so there is no reason not to buy a boxful at their peak. Mandarins keep just as long, which is useful in their last weeks.

The new spring leaves are the fragile part of the basket. Lettuce and loose salad leaves keep for about a week in an airtight container lined with paper towel, and are best rinsed just before use, not before storing.

Broccoli has five days in a perforated bag in the crisper and cauliflower about a week. Blueberries are good for around ten days in a vented container, far longer than any other berry. Avocados ripen on the bench and then have two to five days in the fridge.

Storage times here are from the City of Darebin's food storage chart, a Victorian council guide.

September

Asparagus, celery and peas start in Victoria. Mangoes start in Western Australia. Queensland begins sweet corn and rockmelon.

Find your state: Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia or Tasmania. The season lookup covers any month, and July is the guide before this one.