What does eating seasonally mean? It's sometimes hard to know which foods are in season in the UK, particularly when there's so much available on supermarket shelves throughout the year.

Eating seasonally is when you are eating foods that are ready to harvest at the same time of year that you are eating them. We've put together this simple month by month guide, delicious seasonal recipe ideas and quick tips on foraging and growing your own salads to help.

Locally produced seasonal food is tasty and healthy as nutrients and flavours have fully developed, we've also often found it more affordable. Eating local foods in season offers an environmental bonus as the produce will have travelled fewer miles and it is less likely to be found in plastic packaging. It will also have needed fewer pesticides and inorganic fertilisers to grow. Buying directly from a farm shop or a veg box scheme can be a handy way to help you munch month by month.

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, 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.

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 

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

Hard core want more?

Have a look at our tips to try something new in the kitchen. A useful trick for when you have a glut of seasonal produce is to preserve it, try our traditional Korean kimchi recipe.