There’s a special kind of buzz around the farm this spring—not just from the bees, but from the whole team. After a stretch of perfect weather and months of thoughtful orchard care, we’re seeing one of the most promising seasons in recent memory. The trees are thriving, the soil is singing, and the fruit is nearly ready. It’s harvest prediction time here at Frog Hollow Farm, and let’s just say: things are looking sweet!

Perfect Weather, Perfect Timing

The growing season started off on the right foot. We had around 900 chill hours this winter, which is ideal for our fruit trees. Chill hours are the cold winter hours that stone fruit trees need in order to “rest” before waking up in the spring. Without enough, the trees emerge groggy, and the fruit set suffers. But with 900? That’s a deep, restorative sleep, and a strong way to start the season.

On top of that, rainfall was gentle and steady this year—about 9 inches spread from January through March, with no dramatic floods or droughts. Combined with our regenerative practices and the natural rhythm of the orchard, this kind of balanced weather sets the stage for a stellar harvest.

In the words of Farmer Al, “This year, Mother Nature really came into synchronicity.”

Blossoms and Bees

The bloom this year was a thing of beauty. It can be hard to tell during bloom exactly what the crop will look like, but when trees flower all at once—instead of in scattered patches—it’s a great sign. And that’s exactly what we saw across the orchard.

Even better, the bees were right there with us. From early February through March, every fruit variety had steady bee activity. That kind of pollinator presence is essential for a healthy fruit set, and we were thrilled to see the buzzing crowds at work.

Compost Tea and Orchard Care

Of course, ideal weather isn’t the only thing behind this promising outlook. Our farm team has been hard at work supporting tree health all winter and spring, especially through compost tea applications in our plum and apricot plots.

Compost tea—rich with trillions of beneficial microbes—is sprayed directly onto the trees and soil, helping the orchard become more resilient, responsive, and alive with microscopic activity. Year after year, we’ve watched the orchard become greener, cleaner, and more robust thanks to this practice. Paired with our soil composting and pruning methods, this microbial magic plays a vital role in producing nutrient-dense, flavorful fruit.

Harvest Predictions: What’s Coming When

Now let’s get to the exciting part—what’s actually coming off the trees and into your hands this season.

• Apricots: The Apache Apricot is leading the charge with a full, high-quality crop that we expect to be ready the first week of May. Not far behind are our Kettleman Apricots and Honey Rich Apriums, set for late May, followed by our flavorful Rojo Apricots, which should be ready in early June.

• Cherries: We’re thrilled to report that this year’s cherry crop looks like the best we’ve had. Our Tioga Cherries are ripening beautifully and should also be ready the first week of May.

• Mulberries: Farmer Al says this is one of the best mulberry crops he’s ever seen. We’ll start picking in early May, and expect a strong run of these dark, juicy gems.

• Peaches: Galaxy White Peaches are being thinned now, and the trees are heavy with fruit. Look for them in early May! The first yellow peach of the season, our Princess Time Peach, will follow in the last week of May.

• Plums and Pluots: Our Santa Rosa Plums—our earliest plum variety—are expected to ripen around July 4th, and they’re looking lovely. Later in the summer, the Flavor King Pluot will be ready mid to late July, followed by Dapple Dandy Pluots, which will carry us from late July into early August.

“It’s all coming together,” Farmer Al says. “The weather, the bees, the soil—it’s all working in harmony this year. And when that happens, you just know the fruit is going to be extraordinary.”

It’s rare that everything lines up the way it has this year, and we can’t wait to share the bounty with you. Whether you’ve been with us for decades or are just discovering Frog Hollow, this is the season to taste the difference that care, climate, and regenerative farming can make.

Stay tuned and stay hungry—harvest season is almost here.