U-Pick Melons in California
3 farms where you can pick your own melon.
Melon season in California runs June through September, peaking in July and August. The San Joaquin Valley — particularly the Fresno, Merced, and Kings county areas — produces most of the state's cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon crop, with the earliest watermelons arriving at farm stands in June. The Firebaugh area is especially known for cantaloupes. A ripe cantaloupe has a sweet fragrance at the blossom end and a slightly yielding feel; honeydew should feel heavy and have a waxy, creamy rind. These 3 pick-your-own melon farmslet you harvest straight from the source — check the map for one near you, and a farm's own site for current hours before you go.
Double Dutch Farms
U-pick · May–Oct
Ripon · Monday–Friday 8 AM–7 PM
MixedA family-friendly Central Valley farm where you hand-pick fresh fruits, veggies, herbs, and nuts.
Prancer's Farm
U-pick · Mar–Oct
Santa Paula · Daily 9 AM – sundown (weekends open at 9 AM; closing time not specified)
A family-friendly Santa Paula farm with year-round U-pick of strawberries, tomatoes, sunflowers, tulips, and a famous fall pumpkin patch.
Tanaka Farms
U-pick · Mar–Jun
Irvine · Reservation required · Daily 9 AM–5 PM (Produce Market Stand); U-pick tours and events are seasonal with advance registration required
A beloved Irvine family farm offering reservation-based strawberry picking tours each spring.
Frequently asked
- When is melon season in California?
- Melon season in California runs June through September, peaking in July and August. The San Joaquin Valley — particularly the Fresno, Merced, and Kings county areas — produces most of the state's cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon crop, with the earliest watermelons arriving at farm stands in June. The Firebaugh area is especially known for cantaloupes. A ripe cantaloupe has a sweet fragrance at the blossom end and a slightly yielding feel; honeydew should feel heavy and have a waxy, creamy rind. U-pick windows follow the same season — check each farm's listing for exact 2026 dates.
- Where can you pick your own melon near you in California?
- Gather Grove lists pick-your-own melon farms across California with their crops, season, and location. Use the map and filters to find one near you.
- Do U-pick melon farms require a reservation?
- Some do and some don't — each farm's page notes whether a reservation is required. Seasons and hours shift with the weather, so it's always worth checking the farm's own site before you go.