At Frog Hollow Farm, every season tells a different story. And while we’re still early in the year, all signs are pointing toward a vibrant and abundant summer harvest. According to Farmer Al, “The crops are looking good across the board this year!” 

From an early bloom to thoughtful work in the orchard, this is a season shaped by both opportunity and adaptability.

An Early Start to the Season

This year’s growing season got off to an unusually early start. Warm temperatures arrived as early as the beginning of February, encouraging our trees to bloom ahead of schedule. In past years we’ve learned that an early bloom can signal a strong crop, and that’s what we’re seeing across the orchard.

Of course, farming is never without its challenges. Early blooms can also mean greater exposure to unpredictable spring weather. With plenty of rain throughout the season, we’ve had to keep a close eye on conditions like Fire Blight—a common concern in wetter years.

But this is the rhythm of farming! Each season brings its own variables, and our job is to respond thoughtfully. This year, our team has been proactively managing these challenges in the field, adapting as needed to support the health of the trees and the fruit they produce.

Investing in the Soil

One of the most impactful changes we made this year happened beneath the surface. We doubled our compost application from 10 to 20 tonnes per acre, continuing our long-term commitment to building healthy, living soil. 

Over the years, we’ve seen firsthand how compost strengthens our orchard: improving soil structure, increasing microbial life, and helping trees become more resilient to stress, pests, and disease. But for us, the most exciting result is what this means for the fruit. Healthier soil leads to fruit that is not only more resilient, but also more flavorful and nutrient-dense. It’s how we continue to grow our legendary fruit!

What to Expect This Season

A stint of cool and wet weather has come in, so all harvest projections are approximate. As we look ahead, here’s what’s shaping up across some of our favorite varieties:

Cherries

Our cherries are a symbol of the season’s beginning; they are sweet, vibrant, and fleeting. This year’s crop is looking moderately abundant, with:

• Royal Tioga Cherries arriving in late April

• Brooks Cherries following in mid-May

Apricots & Apriums

Apricots are especially strong this year, with a lineup that spans the heart of spring:

• Apache Apricots, our earliest apricot off the tree, kick things off in late April, offering a delicate sweetness and beautiful aroma. The Apache variety is looking to have the lightest fruit set of our apricot varieties this season. 

• Kettleman Apricots arrive mid-May with a rich, slightly tart flavor apricot lovers crave

• Leah Cot Apriums ripen around Memorial Day weekend—sweet even when firm, and increasingly juicy as they soften

• Rojo Apricots follow shortly after, extending the season into early June

• Goldensweet and Goshen Gold Apricots close out the season in late June/early July. 

Mulberries

Arriving in late April, mulberries are one of the season’s hidden gems. They are soft, sweet, and slightly tangy, with the added bonus of fiber, iron, and Vitamin C.

Peaches

Peach season builds steadily, starting in May and stretching into the height of summer:

• Galaxy White Peaches (our beloved donut peaches) arrive mid-May as the first taste of summer

• Princess Time Yellow Peaches follow closely, offering a classic, juicy yellow peach experience

• Gold Dust Peaches come in mid-June, an heirloom variety known for its low acidity and concentrated sweetness

• And by August, Cal Red Peaches—Farmer Al’s favorite—deliver that unforgettable, “oh my god” sweet, juicy bite

Plums & Pluots

As summer peaks, so does the intensity of flavor:

• Santa Rosa Plums arrive mid-June, balancing sweetness with a touch of tartness

• Flavor King Pluots follow in late July, known for their deep, rich flavor and complexity

• Dapple Dandy Pluots round out the summer season in early August with their crisp, refreshing bite

Don't Miss What’s Coming

Every harvest is the result of countless small decisions, including when to prune, how to respond to the weather, and how best to care for the soil. This year is no different.

What makes this season especially exciting is not just the abundance we’re seeing, but the quality we expect to taste in every piece of fruit. From the first cherries of April to the last pluots of summer, each harvest window is brief, and each variety tells its own story.

We can’t wait to share it with you! Stay tuned as the first picks are just around the corner, and don’t forget to pre-order your favorite summer fruits today.