A Month by Month Guide to Seasonal Fruit and Veg

January: Hardy Seasonal Vegetables and Fruits

Start the year with seasonal food that brings warmth to cold days. Enjoy hearty vegetables in season such as Brussels sprouts, parsnips, turnips, and leeks. Don't forget the robust broccoli and cauliflower. The fruit options include refreshing pears and apples.

• Brussels sprouts
• Parsnips
• Turnips
• Leeks
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Pears
• Apples

February: The Winter Harvest Continues

February continues the winter harvest with a mix of seasonal fruit and vegetables. Beetroot, swede, leeks and purple sprouting broccoli are readily available. Also, look forward to the first signs of spring with the arrival of rhubarb.

• Beetroot
• Swede
• Leeks
• Purple sprouting broccoli
• Rhubarb

March: The Start of Spring Greens

March brings the start of the season in spring with the arrival of watercress, new potatoes, and a variety of spring greens. Early peas and radish also make their appearance, adding to the list of seasonal vegetables.

• Watercress
• New potatoes
• Spring greens
• Early peas
• Radish

April: Seasonal Food at Its Best

April is a delightful month for vegetables in season. Enjoy the taste of fresh spring onions, cauliflower, asparagus, and the last of the winter squashes. Also, delight in fruit such as juicy pears and tangy rhubarb.

• Spring onions
• Cauliflower
• Asparagus
• Winter squashes
• Pears
• Rhubarb

May: The Season of Fresh Greens

In May, enjoy the seasonal fruit and veg at their freshest. Asparagus, peas, broad beans, and radish are ready to harvest. The fruits include gooseberries and cherries.

• Asparagus
• Peas
• Broad beans
• Radish
• Gooseberries
• Cherries

June: The Arrival of Summer Produce

June ushers in the season in summer with vegetables like courgettes, fennel, cucumber, and the first of the summer squashes. You'll also find mangetout and French beans adding to the seasonal food offerings.

• Courgettes
• Fennel
• Cucumber
• Summer squashes
• Mangetout
• French beans

July: The Bounty of High Summer

July offers a wealth of seasonal produce. Enjoy vegetables like tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, and beetroot. The fruit options are expanded with blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and cherries.

• Tomatoes
• Aubergines
• Peppers
• Beetroot
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Cherries

August: The Height of Summer's Harvest

August is the peak of summer's bounty with aubergines, peppers, courgettes, fennel, tomatoes, sweetcorn, French beans, and runner beans. Don't forget the fruit options including blackberries, blueberries, and the first of the early apples.

• Aubergines
• Peppers
• Courgettes
• Fennel
• Tomatoes
• Sweetcorn
• French beans
• Runner beans
• Blackberries
• Blueberries
• Early apples

September: The Transition to Autumn

September brings autumn's seasonal food with a variety of vegetables like butternut squash, pumpkin, beetroot, Jerusalem artichokes, and the return of kale. The fruits include late summer berries, plums, and apples.

• Butternut squash
• Pumpkin
• Beetroot
• Jerusalem artichokes
• Kale
• Late summer berries
• Plums
• Apples

October: The Richness of Autumn's Harvest

October brings a rich harvest of pumpkins, squash, sweetcorn, and root veg like parsnips and swede. The fruits include apples, pears, and damsons.

• Pumpkins
• Squash
• Sweetcorn
• Parsnips
• Swede
• Apples
• Pears
• Damsons

November: A Hearty Selection for Cold Days

November is the season in winter when we return to hearty root vegetables like celeriac, parsnips, turnips, and beetroot. You'll also find Brussels sprouts, kale, and cauliflower. The fruit includes late apples and pears.

• Celeriac
• Parsnips
• Turnips
• Beetroot
• Brussels sprouts
• Kale
• Cauliflower
• Late apples
• Pears

December: Winter's Offerings

December offers robust winter vegetables like swede, parsnips, and Brussels sprouts. Also, remember that some fruits are in season too, like apples and pears, which are fresher and tastier when grown locally and seasonally.

• Swede
• Parsnips
• Brussels sprouts
• Apples
• Pears

Remember, buying seasonal food not only tastes better but is also better for the environment. So, use this guide to seasonal fruit and veg to plan your meals, and enjoy the freshest, most flavourful produce available at different times of the year.

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FAQs

What does it mean when fruit and veg are seasonal?

When fruit and vegetables are described as 'seasonal', it means they are grown and harvested during a particular time of the year when the conditions are perfect for them. Seasonal food tends to be fresher, tastier, and more environmentally friendly as they require less energy for growth and transport.

Why should I eat seasonal food?

Eating seasonal food has many benefits. Not only are these fruit and vegetables at their freshest, but they also often contain more nutrients compared to non-seasonal produce. Moreover, seasonal food supports local farmers and reduces environmental impact due to decreased transport and storage requirements.

What vegetables are in season right now?

The vegetables in season vary depending on the month and the season in the UK. For instance, in summer, you might enjoy Swiss chard, celery, and chillies, while in winter, vegetables like kohlrabi and chicory are typically in season. Keep an eye on our 'What’s in Season this Month' guide to stay updated.

Are there any unusual seasonal vegetables I should try?

Absolutely! Depending on the season, you could find yourself enjoying kohlrabi, salsify, samphire, or sorrel. Our partner producers always love the chance to introduce people to new flavours.

What seasonal fruit can I find in the UK?

The UK offers a variety of seasonal fruits throughout the year. During spring, you can find refreshing greengages, while summer offers an abundance of blackcurrants and redcurrants. Autumn is also the season for foraging wild mushrooms and chestnuts.

What's the best way to use in-season celery?

Celery is a versatile veg that can be used in many dishes. It makes the perfect crunchy addition to salads and stir-fries, can be blended into soups for a subtle flavour, or enjoyed as a low-calorie snack with hummus or other dips.

Can I find seasonal chillies in the UK?

Yes, chillies are grown seasonally in the UK, particularly during late summer and early autumn. From mild to incredibly hot, there's a chilli variety for every taste.

Are wild mushrooms safe to eat?

Most wild mushrooms are safe to eat, but some can be poisonous. It's important to know what you're picking or to buy from a reputable source. Morel mushrooms, for instance, are a delicacy that appears in the wild during spring.

How do I know which vegetables are in season?

You can refer to our month-by-month guide to seasonal fruit and veg. Additionally, produce in grocery stores or farmer's markets are typically labelled with their country of origin, which can be a good indicator. Finally, the abundance and lower price of certain fruit and vegetables can also signal their seasonality.

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