What does eating seasonally mean?

Eating seasonally or seasonably means to eat foods that are naturally ready to harvest at the same time of year that you are eating them. We’ve gotten used to having whatever food we want at any time of the year.

Mangoes in winter? No problem. Blackberries in spring? Easy. The problem is that getting out-of-season produce to the UK means flying it in from overseas, or employing agriculturally-intensive farming methods such as using pesticides and fertilisers to force them to grow year-round or growing them in energy intensive heated greenhouses. Food that travels far is also often wrapped in a lot of plastic packaging to avoid it being damaged in transit. 

What are the benefits of eating seasonally?

So, eating locally produced seasonal food is not only more tasty and healthy (the nutrients and flavours have fully developed so they're sweet, crunchy and the best they can be) but better for our environment too. 

We've also often found it more affordable, as it hasn't had to be imported, and is more readily available during that month. Buying directly from a farm shop or a veg box scheme can be a handy way to help you munch month by month.

We've put together this simple guide and delicious seasonal recipe ideas to help you choose the best of British fruit and vegetables for each month of the year. We've also got some tips on foraging and growing your own salads!

Choose a month from the list below to jump straight to it!

January February  March  April  May June  July  August  September  October November  December

June

artichoke, asparagus, aubergine, basil, beetroot, bilberries, blueberries, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, chard, cherries, chervil, chillies, chives, coriander, courgettes, dill, elderflowers, fennel, french beans, garlic, gooseberries, greengages, jersey royal new potatoes, kohlrabi, lettuce & salad leaves, mangetout, mint, nasturtium, new potatoes, onions, oregano, pak choi, parsley, peas, radishes, rocket, rosemary, runner beans, sage, samphire, sorrel, spinach, spring onions, strawberries, tarragon, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, wild nettles

Vignarola - Italian spring stew recipe

Easy to grow your own: Herbs and lettuce leaves can be grown indoors or out with ease in the smallest of spots. Check out our guide to getting started with growing.

July

artichoke, aubergine, basil, beetroot, bilberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, chard, chervil, chillies, cherries, chives, coriander, courgettes, dill, elderflower, fennel, french beans, garlic, gooseberries, greengages, jersey royal new potatoes, kohlrabi, lettuce & salad leaves, mangetout, mint, nasturtium, new potatoes, onions, oregano, pak choi, parsley, peas, radishes, rocket, rosemary, runner beans, sage, samphire, shallots, sorrel, spinach, spring onions, strawberries, tarragon, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, wild nettles 

Summer Minestrone Recipe

Did you know? Around one in ten people have either visited a farm shop, green grocer or got a veg box delivered for the first time since lockdown restrictions began (some people might have done all three). Click here to find out more about how lockdown has affected food habits. Have you tried any of these ways to buy your fruit and veg?

August

artichoke, aubergine, basil, beetroot, bilberries, blueberries, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, chard, cherries, chillies, chives, coriander, courgettes, cucumber, damsons, fennel, greengages, french beans, garlic, kohlrabi, lettuce, loganberries, mangetout, marrow, mint, onions, oregano, pak choi, parsley, peas, peppers, plums, potatoes (maincrop), radishes, raspberries, redcurrants, rocket, rosemary, runner beans, sage, shallots, sorrel, spring onions, strawberries, sweetcorn, tarragon, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, wild mushrooms

Caponata recipe

September

apples, artichoke, aubergine, beetroot, bilberries, blackberries, broccoli, butternut squash, carrots, celeriac, celery, chard, chestnuts, chillies, chives, cob nuts, coriander, courgettes, cucumber, damsons, elderberries, fennel, french beans, garlic, horseradish, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce & salad leaves, mangetout, marrow, mint, onions, oregano, pak choi, parsley, pears, peppers, plums, potatoes, pumpkin, radishes, raspberries, redcurrants, rocket, rosemary, runner beans, sage, shallots, sorrel, spring onions, sweetcorn, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, wild mushrooms

Chestnut and mushroom bourginon recipe 

October

apples, artichoke, beetroot, bilberries, blackberries, broccoli, butternut squash, celeriac, celery, chestnuts, chicory, chives, chillies, cob nuts, elderberries, fennel, garlic, horseradish, Jerusalem artichoke, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, marrow, medlar, parsley, parsnips, pears, potatoes, pumpkin, quince, radishes, rocket, rosemary, runner beans, sage, salsify, shallots, sorrel, squashes, swede, sweetcorn, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, wild mushrooms

Roast squash, sage and hazelnut pasta sauce recipe 

ALL OUR PUMPKIN RECIPES

November

apples, artichoke, beetroot, butternut squash, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chestnuts, chicory, cob nuts, horseradish, Jerusalem artichoke, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, parsnips, pears, potatoes, pumpkin, quince, rosemary, sage, salsify, shallots, swede, turnips, watercress, wild mushrooms

Autumnal Panzanella Recipe 

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December

apples, beetroot, brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chestnuts, chicory, horseradish, Jerusalem artichoke, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, parsnips, pears, potatoes, salsify, shallots, swede, turnips, wild mushrooms

Shredded brussel sprout salad Recipe 

January

apple, beetroot, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chicory, horseradish, Jerusalem artichoke, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, parsnips, pear, potatoes, rhubarb, salsify, shallots, swede, turnips

Beetroot gnocchi recipe

February

brussel sprouts, cauliflower, beetroot, celeriac, chicory, Jerusalem artichoke, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, parsnips, potatoes, purple sprouting broccoli, rhubarb, salsify, shallots, swede, turnips

Cauliflower and chickpea curry recipe

March

cauliflower, kale, leeks, purple sprouting broccoli, rhubarb, salsify, spinach, spring onions, swede, wild nettles, wild garlic

Rhubarb and oat crumble recipe

April

asparagus, basil, broccoli, chives, dill, jersey royal new potatoes, lettuce & salad leaves, new potatoes, purple sprouting broccoli, radishes, rhubarb, rocket, samphire, sorrel, spinach, spring onions, watercress, wild nettles, wild garlic

Warm new potato, purple sprouting broccoli and miso salad with pickled shallots recipe

May

asparagus, basil, broccoli, carrots, chervil, chives, coriander, dill, jersey royal and new potatoes, lettuce and salad leaves, mint, nasturtium, new potatoes, parsley, oregano, peas, radishes, rhubarb, rocket, rosemary, sage, samphire, sorrel, spinach, spring onions, tarragon, watercress, wild nettles, wild garlic

Risotto with asparagus, peas and spinach recipe 

Cheap eats: wild nettles can be foraged for free from almost anywhere, use gloves and wash them first. They’re unbelievably delicious and good for you. Wild garlic marks the start of the spring for many and can be found in wooded areas across the country.

Food savvy tip

Want to make your seasonal fruit and veg go further? Help keep your five-a-day in peak condition with these savvy storage tips.

10 tips for storing fruit and veg like a pro

Hungry for more?

Want to try something new in the kitchen? Check out our hub of recipes below, from internation cuisine, to plant based dishes and lots of fermenting!

CHECK OUT ALL RECIPES

TIPS TO TRY SOMETHING NEW