Food Seasons


Produce is fresher, cheaper, and better if you buy it in season. The following calendar will tell you when various local fruits and vegetables appear on the market. Whether you head to a farm to pick them yourself, or just buy them from the local supermarket, you can save money by either planning your menu around what’s in season, or loading up in bulk to freeze for later use.

Month

Fruit & vegetables

Fish & meat

January

Cabbage, cauliflower, celeriac, forced rhubarb, leeks, parsnips, turnip, shallots, squash

goose, lobster, scallops

February

Cabbage, cauliflower, celeriac, chard, chicory, forced rhubarb, kohlrabi, leeks, parsnips, spinach, swede, turnip

mussels, halibut, guinea fowl, lobster

March

Beetroot, cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, mint, mooli, parsley, broccoli, radishes, rhubarb, sorrel

sardines (fresh ones!), lobster

April

Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, morel mushrooms, wild garlic, radishes, rhubarb, carrots, kale, watercress, spinach, rosemary flowers

spring lamb, cockles

May

Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, gooseberries, parsley, mint, broad beans, rhubarb, new carrots, samphire, asparagus

sea bass, lemon sole, sardines, duck, sea trout

June

carrots, cherries, elderflowers, lettuce, strawberries, peppers, asparagus, redcurrants, peas, rhubarb, gooseberries, tayberries, tomatoes, courgettes, broad beans

welsh lamb, crab, salmon, grey mullet

July

carrots, gooseberries, strawberries, spinach, tomatoes, watercress, loganberries, sage, cauliflower, aubergine, fennel, asparagus, cabbage, celery, cherries, lettuce, mangetout, nectarines, new potatoes, oyster mushrooms, peas, peaches, radish, raspberries, rhubarb, tomatoes, French beans

Trout, pilchards, clams, pike, pigeon

August

carrots, gooseberries, lettuce, loganberries, raspberries, strawberries, cauliflower, aubergines, nectarines, peaches, peppers, courgettes, rhubarb, sweetcorn, greengages, basil, peas, pears, apples, French beans, tomatoes

crayfish, hare, skate, john dory (that’s a fish)

September

apples, aubergines, blackberries, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumber, damsons, elderberries, figs, French beans, grapes, kale, lettuce, melons mushrooms, nectarines, onions, peppers, parsnips, peas, peaches, pears, potatoes, pumpkin, raspberries, rhubarb, spinach, sweetcorn, tomatoes

duck, venison, oysters, sea bass, grouse, mussels, partridge, wood pigeon, brown trout

October

apples, aubergines, beetroot, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, courgettes, grapes, lettuce, marrow, mushrooms, parsnips, potatoes, squash, tomatoes,  watercress

guinea fowl, partridge, mussels, grouse, oysters

November

cabbage, pumpkin, swede, cauliflower, potatoes, parsnips, pears, leeks, quinces, chestnuts, cranberries, beetroot

grouse, goose

December

Celery, cabbage, red cabbage, cauliflower, celeriac, pumpkin, beetroot, turnips, parsnips, sprouts, pears, swede

wild duck, goose, sea bass, turkey

This is intended to be a general guide. Different regions will have different growing seasons, and different varieties of local produce. Have fun trying them all!