Quick view
Strawberries are often harvested from late spring through summer, with later crops possible depending on system. Blueberries commonly peak in mid to late summer. Your exact weeks depend on variety, location, and protected cropping.
Season pulse
Spring planningIndicator is illustrative only and is not a yield forecast or a guarantee of harvest dates.
Month by month calendar
The rows below summarize typical Irish timing for key phases. Each month includes practical operations notes so you can plan labor, packaging, and cold chain needs. If you are evaluating project economics, treat these as assumptions to validate with local data, variety selection, and production system design.
January
Planning season
Review tunnel plastics, irrigation lines, and hygiene practices. Confirm planting materials and packaging plans early.
Outline pruning schedules and plant health tasks. Confirm substrate and pH management approach if using containers.
February
Setup window
Protected systems may begin early tasks. Confirm staff training for quality handling and packhouse flow.
Inspect irrigation and frost planning. Align monitoring routines for pests and disease as day length increases.
March
Transition
Begin regular crop walks. In protected systems, growth can accelerate quickly with warmer spells.
Prepare for bloom monitoring. Confirm pollination and field access plans if weather stays wet.
April
Bloom
Pollination conditions matter. Start mapping expected labor needs and define packhouse quality standards.
Track bloom progression. Plan for weed control and access, especially if spring rainfall is persistent.
May
Early picks
Early picks can begin in protected systems. Calibrate picking standards to reduce damage and improve packout.
Start defining harvest routes and cooling strategy. Confirm clamshells, labels, and transport capacity for summer.
June
Peak build
Picking frequency often increases. Keep an eye on temperature and handling time to reduce softness and bruising.
Some varieties may start. Plan cooling and sorting so fruit reaches market with firmness and bloom intact.
July
Peak
Maintain consistent grading to match buyer specs. Rain events can increase spoilage pressure in exposed crops.
Expect repeated picks as clusters ripen unevenly. Handle gently to protect bloom and reduce stem end damage.
August
Late season
Later crops may continue. Start reviewing what worked in staffing, packing, and cold chain during peak weeks.
Keep a close eye on firmness and overripe fruit. Tighten packhouse timing if temperatures rise.
September
Wrap-up
End season clean-down and waste management can improve next year outcomes. Review buyer feedback and grading data.
Some late varieties may continue. Transition into post-harvest plant care and plan pruning and nutrition adjustments.
October
Post season
Review tunnel repairs and ordering timelines. Capture lessons learned about labor, packaging, and logistics.
Start pruning where appropriate and document plant performance. Test substrate or soil to refine pH and nutrition plans.
November
Maintenance
Service equipment and confirm procurement timelines. Review cold chain performance and packaging waste metrics.
Continue pruning and structural work. Plan next season monitoring routines and staff training modules.
December
Planning
Finalize operational plans and budgets. Confirm compliance documentation and buyer spec updates for next year.
Summarize lessons learned and validate assumptions for the next cycle. Confirm plant orders and availability early.
How to use this calendar for ROI evaluation
Seasonality impacts revenue timing and operating costs. A realistic ROI framework often starts with a harvest plan: how many weeks of picking, how many picks per week, expected grades, and how quickly fruit can be cooled and dispatched. Demand for Irish berries can be strong during summer retail patterns, but outcomes vary by quality, contracts, and weather. Use this page to form questions and assumptions, then validate them with grower data, local trials, and professional advice.