Seasonal produce calendar
Produce tastes best, and usually costs least, at the height of its local season. This calendar is for temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere: Northern and Central Europe, the British Isles and the northern United States and Canada. Southern Europe and warmer regions start several weeks earlier and finish later; the far north runs later. Many items keep well in storage (roots, apples, cabbage, onions) and are good long after harvest; they are listed in the months when they're at their best.
| Month | Vegetables | Fruit | Herbs, fish and wild food |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, leeks, celeriac, parsnips, swede, Jerusalem artichokes, beets, carrots (stored), forced chicory, onions | Apples and pears (stored), citrus (imported, at its best), blood oranges | Mussels, cod, oysters |
| February | Cabbage, kale, leeks, celeriac, parsnips, swede, beets, cauliflower, chicory | Forced rhubarb, citrus, blood oranges, apples (stored) | Mussels, cod |
| March | Spring greens, leeks, cauliflower, purple sprouting broccoli, wild garlic, radishes | Forced rhubarb, citrus | Wild garlic, chives |
| April | Asparagus begins, spinach, scallions, radishes, wild garlic, watercress, new lettuce | Rhubarb | Chives, parsley, mint |
| May | Asparagus, peas, broad beans, new potatoes, lettuce, spinach, radishes, scallions | Rhubarb, first strawberries (south) | Dill, chervil, elderflower |
| June | New potatoes, peas, broad beans, zucchini, lettuce, fennel, cucumber, early carrots, asparagus (ends) | Strawberries, cherries, gooseberries, redcurrants | Basil, dill, tarragon, elderflower; mackerel |
| July | Zucchini, green beans, tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, fennel, eggplant, new potatoes, beets, lettuce | Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, cherries, currants, apricots | Basil, mint, all soft herbs; crayfish, mackerel |
| August | Tomatoes, corn, zucchini, peppers, eggplant, green beans, cucumber, chard | Raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, plums, peaches, apricots, early apples, cloudberries (north) | Basil, oregano; crayfish |
| September | Tomatoes, corn, squash, mushrooms, kale, cauliflower, leeks, beets, potatoes, chard | Apples, pears, plums, blackberries, lingonberries, figs, grapes | Rosemary, sage; wild mushrooms, mussels return |
| October | Squash and pumpkin, mushrooms, cabbage, kale, celeriac, carrots, parsnips, leeks, Brussels sprouts begin | Apples, pears, quinces, cranberries, lingonberries | Sage, thyme; chestnuts, walnuts, game |
| November | Squash, cabbage, red cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, celeriac, parsnips, Jerusalem artichokes, leeks, chicory | Apples, pears, quinces, cranberries, citrus begins | Chestnuts; game, cod, oysters |
| December | Brussels sprouts, red cabbage, kale, parsnips, celeriac, swede, carrots, leeks, chicory | Apples and pears (stored), clementines, citrus, cranberries | Chestnuts; cod (skrei begins in the far north in January) |
Available most of the year, without much seasonal difference: onions, garlic, carrots, cabbage, mushrooms (cultivated), potatoes (stored), lemons and limes, bananas, avocados, ginger.
Buying out of season. Frozen peas, spinach, corn and berries are picked and frozen at their peak and are often better than tired "fresh" ones in winter. Canned tomatoes beat pale winter tomatoes. Greenhouse cucumbers, peppers and herbs are reliable year-round.