Seasonal Produce Guide for Poland
Poland's growing calendar runs from the first radishes and leafy greens of April through to root vegetables stored and sold through winter. The country's diverse landscape — from the Baltic coast to the Tatra foothills — means harvest timing varies by region, sometimes by several weeks. This guide covers the main crops and when they typically appear at farmers markets.
How to read this guide
The calendar below reflects general patterns for temperate lowland Poland (Mazovia, Łódź, Greater Poland voivodeships). In warmer southwestern areas (Silesia, Lower Silesia), some crops arrive one to two weeks earlier. In the cooler northeast (Podlaskie, Warmia-Masuria), the season often starts later and ends sooner. Greenhouse crops are available outside these windows in larger cities year-round.
Seasonal availability calendar
The table indicates approximate availability at open-air markets. Filled circle (●) = generally available; orange circle = peak season / highest quality and quantity.
Spring (April – May)
Spring is the leanest period at outdoor markets. Root vegetables carried over from autumn storage — carrots, beetroot, celeriac, and potatoes — are still available but declining in quality. The first local radishes, spring onions, and leafy greens (lettuce, spinach, kale) appear from April onward, initially from heated tunnels and then open field as temperatures rise.
Greenhouse tomatoes and cucumbers become available in May, though field-grown versions do not appear until June. Asparagus (szparagi) is a notable spring crop concentrated in central Poland, particularly the Silesian and Greater Poland regions, with a window roughly from late April to late June.
Summer (June – August)
Summer is the peak period across all categories. Strawberries (truskawki) typically peak in mid-June and are one of the most visible seasonal markers at Polish markets. Currants (black, red, white), gooseberries, and raspberries follow through July. Blueberries (borówka) from cultivation and wild forest varieties both appear in summer.
Tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, and sweet peppers are at their most abundant and affordable from July through September. Green beans (fasolka szparagowa) and peas are a summer staple. Summer is also when farmers markets in smaller towns see their highest attendance.
Autumn (September – November)
Autumn brings the main potato harvest and the beginning of root vegetable storage season. Apples (jabłka) — Poland's most significant domestic fruit — peak in September and October, with dozens of varieties available from Mazovian and Łódź orchards. Pears and plums wind down in September.
Pumpkins and squash appear in September and stay available at markets well into November. Cabbage, onions, and leeks are at maximum availability. Mushroom season — both cultivated and wild-gathered — is concentrated in September and October, though the latter varies considerably with conditions each year.
Winter (December – March)
Open-air market activity drops sharply in winter. What remains at outdoor stalls is primarily storage crops: potatoes, carrots, beetroot, celeriac, parsnip, onions, and cabbage — the traditional basis of Polish winter cooking. Apples from storage remain available in good condition into February.
Indoor market halls (hale targowe) are the main venue for year-round purchasing. In major cities, these operate six or seven days a week and carry a mix of domestic storage produce, greenhouse crops, and imports.
Regional notes
Mazovia and Greater Poland
The central lowland regions are Poland's primary apple and field vegetable producing areas. Market availability in Warsaw and Poznań is broadly representative of national patterns, with good supply throughout the growing season and strong apple availability through autumn.
Małopolska (Southern Poland)
The Kraków area benefits from a slightly warmer climate in the valleys below the Tatra foothills. Some crops arrive a week or so earlier than in central Poland. Kraków's Stary Kleparz market is one of Poland's most established, operating daily except Sundays, with a concentration of regional farm produce visible from early spring.
Podlaskie (Northeast)
The northeastern voivodeship has the coolest growing conditions in Poland. The season starts later, and the variety of crops at markets tends to be narrower than in central or southern areas. The region is known for dairy and meat products rather than vegetable cultivation.