Is it just my vivid imagination, or fashionable foodie brainwashing, or is the passion of television chefs such as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall or Rick Stein rubbing off on me, but it seems to me that locally grown and seasonal food just tastes better.
Below is a food calendar that I have cobbled together from a variety of sources (see below), so that you can find out what is in season right now. Although farming methods and possible climate change have extended the British growing season, availability is clearly dependent on the weather! I have tried not to include fruit and vegetables grown with artificial light and heat.
Some fruit and vegetables seem to appear out of their growing season, such as carrots, potatoes, apples and pears. This is because they have an extended lifespan, since they can be successfully stored for long periods.
By the way, it is also worth noting that appearances are not everything, despite what the supermarkets might encourage us to believe: the odd blemish and kink really doesn't hurt. Perfect fruit and vegetables may look nice but this perfect conformity doesn't affect the flavour.
January
British root vegetables are in season and there are stores of fruit such as apples and pears.
- artichokes (jerusalem), beetroot, broccoli (purple sprouting), brussels sprouts, brussels tops, cabbages (various green varieties, red and white), carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chard, chicory, endive, greens (spring and winter), kale, leeks, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, potatoes, shallots, swede, turnip
- apples, pears, rhubarb (forced)
- goose (farmed and wild), hare, mallard, partridge, pheasant, venison
- cockles, cod, crab (brown, cock and hen), lobster, oysters (native and rock), scallops
February
Winter root crops are still in season, sprouts are coming to the end of their season and there are stores of potatoes, apples and pears.
- artichokes (jerusalem), beetroot, broccoli (purple sprouting), brussels sprouts, brussels tops, cabbages (various green varieties and white), carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, chard, chicory, endive, greens (spring and winter), kale, kohlrabi, leeks, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, potatoes, spinach, swede, turnip
- apples, pears, rhubarb (forced)
- guinea fowl, hare, venison
- cockles, cod, crab (brown, cock and hen), halibut, lobster, mussels, oysters (rock)
March
The first of the crop of vegetables (planted in the previous year) are coming into season, such as spring greens and purple sprouting broccoli, that offsets the austerity of the month. It’s a great month to try nettles if you haven’t before. Not only are they free, they taste delicious too. There are also stores of potatoes, apples and pears.
- artichokes (jerusalem), beetroot, broccoli (purple sprouting), brussels sprouts, brussels tops, cabbages (various green varieties), carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, chard, chicory, chives, endive, fat hen, greens (spring and winter), leeks, mint, mooli, nettles, parsley, potatoes, radishes, sea kale, sorrel, watercress, wild chervil (aka cow parsley)
- apples, pears, rhubarb (forced and early)
- hare
- cockles, crab (brown, cock and hen),lobster, pollack, oysters (rock), salmon (wild), sardines, sea trout
April
April is something of a lean month, since stores of British fruit and vegetables are coming to an end and the new crop of vegetables are not up to maximum strength yet. Fortunately all the greens are beginning to appear, such as lettuce and watercress as well as spinach and broccoli, so it’s not all doom and gloom.
- asparagus, broccoli (purple sprouting), cabbages (various green varieties), carrots, cauliflower, chard, chicory, dandelions, endive, fat hen, greens (spring and winter), hogweed shoots, hop shoots, kale, lettuce, meadowsweet, morel mushrooms, nettles, radishes, rosemary, sea kale, sea spinach, sorrel, spinach, watercress, wild chervil (aka cow parsley), wild garlic (ramps), wild rocket
- rhubarb
- spring lamb, wood pigeon
- cockles, crab (brown and cock), pollack, salmon (wild), sea trout
May
Winter crops are ending and most stores of fruit and vegetables are finished. But it is a time to celebrate glorious British asparagus and the first new potatoes. The first of the outdoor-reared spring lamb appear at the end of the month. It’s a good month for the first of the year’s herbs, such as chervil and parsley.
- artichokes (globe), asparagus, broad beans, broccoli (purple sprouting), broom buds, cabbages (various varieties), carrots, cauliflower, chard, chives, fat hen, hogweed shoots, hop shoots, lettuce, meadowsweet, mint, morel mushrooms, parsley, morels, radishes, samphire, sea kale, sea spinach, sorrel, watercress, wild fennel, wild garlic (ramps), wild rocket
- gooseberries, rhubarb
- duck, wood pigeon
- crab (spider), freshwater crayfish, cuttlefish, lemon sole, pollack, salmon (wild), sardines, sea bass, sea trout
June
June is a fabulous month, with new potatoes, asparagus and peas. The first of the Summer’s soft fruits are coming into season, including blackcurrants, cherries, gooseberries and strawberries. Tomatoes make their first appearance too and the lettuce are raring to go, as are broad beans and fennel.
- artichokes (globe), asparagus, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli (calabrese), broom buds, cabbages (various varieties), carrots, cauliflower, chard, horseradish, lettuce, peas, peppers, sea spinach, tomatoes, wild fennel
- cherries (European), elderflowers, gooseberries, redcurrants, rhubarb, strawberries, tayberries
- welsh lamb, wood pigeon
- black bream, crab (spider), freshwater crayfish, cuttlefish, grey mullet, mackerel, pollack, river trout (brown and rainbow), salmon (wild), sea bass, sea trout
July
July is another bumper month for soft fruit and salad vegetables, from loganberries and peaches to courgettes and cucumber.
- artichokes (globe), aubergines, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli (calabrese), cabbages (various varieties), carrots, cauliflower, celery, chanterelles, chard, courgettes, cucumber, fennel, french beans, garlic, horseradish, kohlrabi, lambs lettuce, lettuce, mangetout, new potatoes, onions, oyster mushrooms, pak choi, peas, potatoes, purslane, radishes, rocket, sage, samphire, sorrel, spinach, sugarsnap peas, tomatoes, watercress, wild fennel
- apricots (imported), blackcurrants, blueberries, cherries (UK and European), elderflowers, gooseberries, loganberries, nectarines, peaches, raspberries, redcurrants, strawberries, tayberries, white currants, wild strawberries
- rabbit, wood pigeon
- black bream, crab (brown, hen and spider), clams, freshwater crayfish, cuttlefish, lobster, mackerel, pilchards, pollack, river trout (brown and rainbow), scallops, sea bass, sea trout
August
August is a good month for soft fruits and vegetables, with tree fruits such as Victoria plums, appearing at the end of the month. Onions are beginning to be harvested now, to be stored throughout the winter months.
- artichokes (globe), aubergines, basil, beetroot, borlotti beans (for podding), broad beans, broccoli (calabrese), cabbages (various varieties), carrots, cauliflower, ceps, chanterelles, chard, courgettes, cucumber, fennel, french beans, garlic, hazelnuts, horseradish, kohlrabi, lambs lettuce, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, oyster mushrooms, pak choi, peas, peppers, potatoes, purslane, pumpkins (& squashes), radishes, rocket, runner beans, salsify, samphire, sorrel, spinach, sweetcorn, sugarsnap peas, tomatoes, watercress, wild fennel
- apples, apricots, bilberries, blackberries, blueberries, damsons, gooseberries, greengages, loganberries, melons (imported charentais), nectarines (imported), peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, redcurrants, rhubarb, strawberries, white currants, wild strawberries
- hare, rabbit, venison, wood pigeon
- black bream, crab (brown, hen and spider), freshwater crayfish, john dory, lobster, mackerel, pollack, prawns, river trout (brown and rainbow), scallops, sea bass, skate, squid
September
An excellent month for fruit and summer vegetables, such as early apples, blackberries, damsons and early pears. The salad vegetables such as peppers and tomatoes are still around and winter vegetables such as swede and brussels sprouts are beginning to appear. Main crop potatoes are lifted from now until October, to be stored until the beginning of the following summer.
- artichokes (globe), aubergines, beetroot, borlotti beans (for podding), broad beans, broccoli (calabrese), cabbages (various varieties), carrots, cardoons, cauliflower, ceps, chard, chestnuts, chillies, courgettes, cucumber, endive, fennel, french beans, garlic, hazelnuts, kale, kohlrabi, lambs lettuce, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, oyster mushrooms, pak choi, peppers, parsnips, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins (& squashes), rocket, runner beans, salsify, sorrel, spinach, swede, sweetcorn, tomatoes, watercress
- apples, bilberries, blackberries, blueberries, damsons, elderberries, figs, grapes, greengages, juniper berries, loganberries, melons (imported charentais), nectarines (imported), peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, rhubarb
- duck, goose (farmed), grouse, mallard, partridge, rabbit, venison, wood pigeon
- black bream, crab (brown, hen and spider), freshwater crayfish, lobster, mussels, oysters (native), mackerel, prawns, river trout (brown and rainbow), salmon (wild), scallops, sea bass, sprats, squid
October
This is the main season for apples and pears. The first Bramley apples are now in season, as are figs. The jerusalem artichoke season is just beginning and cauliflowers are at their peak, together with main crop potatoes and carrots, sprouts, and broccoli. Lettuce is running out by the middle of the month, and courgettes finish towards the end. It’s a fabulous month to go foraging for mushrooms!
- artichokes (globe), artichokes (jerusalem), aubergines, beetroot, borlotti beans (for podding), broccoli (calabrese), brussels sprouts, cabbages (various green varieties, red and white), carrots, cardoons, cauliflower, celeriac, chard, chanterelles, chestnuts, chicory, chillies, courgettes, cucumber, endive, fennel, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, leeks, marrow, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins (& squashes), rocket, salsify, spinach, tomatoes, turnips, walnuts, watercress, wood blewits
- nettles, watercress
- apples, crab apples, damsons, grapes (English hothouse, juniper berries, medlars, pears, quince, raspberries, rosehips, rowan berries, sloes
- goose (wild), grouse, guinea fowl, hare, mallard, partridge, rabbit, wood pigeon
- cod, crab (brown, hen and spider), eels, lobster, mackerel, mussels, oysters (native and rock), prawns, river trout (brown and rainbow), salmon (wild), scallops, sea bass, sprats, squid
November
Sadly, the tender vegetable crops are disappearing as the first frosts appear, although it is still a good month for cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, leeks, parsnips, potatoes and sprouts as well as apples, pears, quinces, and sprouts. However, this is the month that game really comes into its own.
- artichokes (globe), artichokes (jerusalem), beetroot, borlotti beans (for podding), broccoli (calabrese), brussels sprouts, brussels tops, cabbages (various green varieties, red and white), cardoons, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chard, chestnuts, chicory, endive, greens (spring and winter), leeks, lettuce, onions, oyster mushrooms, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkins (& squashes), salsify, swede, turnips, walnuts, wood blewits
- nettles, watercress
- apples, chestnuts, cranberries, medlars, pears, quinces, raspberries, rosehips, sloes
- goose (wild), grouse, hare, mallard, partridge, pheasant, rabbit, wood pigeon
- cod, crab (brown and hen), lobster, mackerel, mussels, oysters (native and rock), prawns, scallops, sea bass, sprats, squid, whiting
December
This can feel like a rather dismal month although the winter root vegetables are in full swing, including parsnips, swedes and turnips and stores of carrots, potatoes, red cabbage, apples and pears.
- artichokes (jerusalem), beetroot, broccoli (purple sprouting), brussels sprouts, brussels tops, cabbages (various green varieties, red and white), cardoons, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chard, chestnuts, chicory, endive, greens (spring and winter), kale, leeks, onions, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkins (& squashes), swede, turnips
- apples, pears, rhubarb (forced)
- duck (wild), goose (farmed and wild), grouse, hare, mallard, partridge, pheasant, turkey, venison, wood pigeon
- cod, crab (brown and hen), mussels, oysters (native and rock), sea bass, whiting
