U-Pick Melons in California
2 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; the Firebaugh Cantaloupe Roundup celebrates the harvest each fall. 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 2 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.
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; the Firebaugh Cantaloupe Roundup celebrates the harvest each fall. 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. Harvest events and U-pick windows follow the same window — check each 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.
Looking for melon festivals in California?
Melon festivals in California →