“Needed: 2 Males interested in something steady/serious-ish as the weather fades from hot, humid, and carefree to crisp, Patagonia vest season.”

This ad, posted on Craigslist last week, went on to explain why, exactly, the two single female posters wanted boyfriends for the season, including availability for apple-picking dates and the ability to use the #boyfriendweather hashtag on Instagram.

The duo later confessed they’d posted the ad as a parody. But earnest New Yorkers insist the so-called “fall boyfriend” is a real trend — and September is the ideal time for savvy singles to snatch one up.

“You want a guy before the holiday season,” explains Elizabeth, 31, a Hoboken-based lawyer who asked not to use her full name for professional reasons. “If you lock someone down by the beginning of October, you’ve got two months until holiday parties, which means you’re firmly established as a couple and [have] an appropriate plus-one.”

Plus, fall clothes are cute, compared to bulky winter outerwear.

“No one looks good wearing a huge coat,” adds Elizabeth. “I met my last boyfriend in the fall, and I think the season definitely added to the ambience. We went pumpkin picking on our third date.”

A similar term, “winter boyfriend,” has garnered significant attention over the past few years, with definitions in urbandictionary.com and personal anecdotes relayed across a variety of blogs and media sites. The dating equivalent of a Snuggie, the winter boyfriend may be cuddly and comfortable — though not necessarily someone you want to parade out in public.

The fall boyfriend, on the other hand, is meant for display. In the fall, “there are restaurant openings and events, and it’s really nice to go to [them] as a pair,” explains Jenna, 34, an Upper West Side editor who asked not to use her last name.

There’s also the back-to-school element — and its inherent desire for a fresh start — at play.

“There’s this feeling of, ‘OK, let’s make this count and find someone good,’ ” says Jenna. “And you’re also racing against the clock. If you don’t find someone in September or October, you may as well wait until January. November and December are just too hectic.”

But experts aren’t so sure it’s a good idea to let the climate dictate your choice of mate. “I know singles are clamoring to couple up before the holiday season, which is a time when people feel bad not being in a relationship,” says Lindsay Chrisler, a New York City-based dating coach. “But I really think anyone who’s scrambling should take a deep breath and focus on themselves.”

That said, there are certain places where it’s almost inevitable that you’ll encounter plenty of members of the opposite sex during the fall. Jenna says she’s found luck meeting sporty, do-gooder types volunteering at New York Road Runners races through Central Park. “The weather is usually nice, and there’s something very wholesome about handing out water or apples to runners,” says Jenna. “Plus, you meet guys who are in shape.”

And although Elizabeth is eyeing a bar near her apartment that is particularly testosterone-heavy right now thanks football, people in the know say to proceed with caution.

Melissa, a bartender on the Upper West Side who asked not to use her last name for work reasons, has seen more than a few flirtatious attempts fall apart at the sports bar where she works.

“On game days, I see so many girls come in a huge group. It’s clear they’re here for the guys, they giggle about how they have no idea what’s going on and loudly talk over the game,” says Melissa.

How, then, to make it happen?

“Wear the shirt of a team that’s playing and know the rules,” she says. “Start a conversation if you like someone.”

Sounds like smart advice — regardless of the season.