Seasonal calendar: when are the different fruits & vegetables in season?

Our seasonal calendar gives you a good overview of when specific fruits and vegetables are in season. Plus, learn about the growing seasons for the garden bed and greenhouse.

Fresh fruit and vegetables are both very tasty and healthy. Buying seasonal vegetables or even growing your own, contributes to protecting the environment by eliminating extensive transportation and, as a result, reduces the food’s carbon footprint. In order to get the freshest fruit and veg, more and more people are buying locally and paying attention to what is in season. There is often a lot of confusion around when is the right time to harvest, especially with winter vegetables. Our seasonal calendar will help by showing at a glance which fruits and vegetables are in season every month, both outdoors and in greenhouses.

We want you to know that you can have fresh in-season fruit and vegetables all year round. Find out when which fruits and vegetables are in season in the UK by using our seasonal calendar.

What is in season in January?

Even if the snow and freezing weather of January does not necessarily speak in favour of fresh seasonal produce from the garden, numerous vegetable varieties are in season this month. Brassica vegetables such as Savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. sabauda), kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica), Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) not only defy the icy temperatures in the field, but also make delicious hearty meals in bad weather. Similarly, parsnips (Pastinaca sativa), leeks (Allium ampeloprasum) and turnips (Brassica napobrassica) can still be harvested in January, as can swede (Brassica napus Napobrassica Group). Even salads are still in season in January: chicory (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum) and lamb’s lettuce (Valerianella locusta) still grow in winter and provide variety on the table.

If you don’t want to leave your greenhouse unplanted in winter, sow spinach (Spinacia oleracea) again in mid-October or celery (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum) – you can then harvest these without any problems in January. To add fresh fruit to the mix, blood oranges (Citrus × sinensis) and clementines (Citrus × clementina) provide a much needed sweetness in January. It is also important not to forget the importance of the Seville oranges (Citrus × aurantium) in January, this being the prime month to make your marmalade.

Summary: January

• Vegetables: mushrooms, savoy cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, leeks, turnips, beetroot, cauliflower, swede
• Lettuce: chicory, lamb’s lettuce
• In the greenhouse: spinach, celeriac
• Fruits: blood oranges, satsumas, clementines, Seville oranges

What is in season in February?

Although February is not exactly known for its abundant harvests, there are a variety of vegetables that can be harvested straight from the garden at this time. Similar to January, brassica vegetables reign supreme, but parsnips and leeks also remain available. Chicory and lamb’s lettuce also continue to provide fresh greens on the table.

Summary: February

• Vegetables: Savoy cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, leek, mushrooms, cauliflower
• Lettuce: chicory, lamb’s lettuce
• In the greenhouse: celeriac, spinach

What is in season in March?

In March, the delicious purple-sprouting broccoli is in its prime. Mushrooms, parsnips, leeks and chicory are also still in season. Nettles are young and sweet, perfect for a verdant soup to refresh your palate before a lamb roast. It is still too cold for radishes (Raphanus sativus var. sativus) in the garden, but this delicious root vegetable can now be grown and harvested in a greenhouse. Plus, spinach can be sown directly in the bed from mid-March.

Summary: March

• Vegetables: parsnips, leek, mushrooms, spinach
• Lettuce: chicory, nettles
• In the greenhouse: celeriac, radishes

What is in season in April?

It’s a joy to finally have fresh herbs in your kitchen, so make the most of the chives and watercress. Rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum) is finally ripe and delights us with its sweet and sour taste. Delicious vegetables such as kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes) and chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) are ripe for the picking for those who prepared their greenhouse in February.

Summary: April

• Vegetables: leek, mushrooms, spinach, rhubarb
• Herbs: chives, watercress
• In the greenhouse: celeriac, radishes, kohlrabi, chard

What is in season in May?

In May, there is suddenly more seasonal produce: in addition to the begin of the asparagus season (Asparagus officinalis), mushrooms, kohlrabi, radishes and chard can also be harvested directly from the garden. There is no need to do without lettuce either: Lollo Rossa (Lactuca sativa var. crispa) makes it straight from the garden onto your plate in May, alongside the delicious spring onion. Dandelion (Taraxacum) is still considered a weed by many but is actually a wonderful addition to fresh lettuce and can be found in abundance in May. And you can also get hold of delicious tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) and cucumbers (Cucumis sativus), with the first early varieties being harvested from the greenhouse beginning in late May. May brings with it an abundance of fresh herbs namely, basil, coriander, oregano, rosemary and sage, perfect for light seasonal meals.

Summary: May

• Vegetables: mushrooms, spinach, asparagus, radish, kohlrabi, chard, broccoli, new potatoes, rhubarb, spring onions
• Lettuce and herbs: Lollo Rossa, dandelion, basil, rocket, coriander, oregano, rosemary, sage
• In the greenhouse: cucumbers, tomatoes

What is in season in June?

The vegetable season really kicks off in June, with a variety of brassicas, broad beans (Vicia faba), peas (Pisum sativum) and radishes (Raphanus) flourishing and ready for harvesting. Garden staples such as potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativus) and courgettes (Cucurbita pepo var. giromontiina) are also ready for picking. Curly lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. crispa) and iceberg lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata) put salad lovers in a good mood. Additional enjoyment is provided by peppers (Capsicum), whose fruits are also finally ripe in the greenhouse. There is also something for those with a sweet tooth in June: in addition to the delicious strawberries (Fragaria), the first blueberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) and sour cherries (Prunus cerasus) are also ripe. Sadly, the rhubarb and asparagus seasons end in June – from St. John’s Day on the 24^th of June, both plants are traditionally no longer harvested.

Summary: June

• Vegetables: mushrooms, asparagus, radishes, kohlrabi, cauliflower, broccoli, white cabbage, sweetheart cabbage, chard, peas, broad beans, potatoes, carrots, courgette, rhubarb
• Lettuce: Batavia, curly leaf, iceberg, butterhead, Lollo Rossa, dandelion
• Fruits: strawberries, blueberries, sour cherries
• From the greenhouse: tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers

What is in season in July?

What started well in June continues just as well in July: common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) and onions (Allium cepa) are ripe and Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis) and red cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar. capitata var. rubra) are both good seasonal options for cooking. Fresh garlic (Allium) is a classic cooking favourite that adds flavour to any dish and is at its peak in July. If you are growing cucumbers in your vegetable patch, both salad cucumbers and pickling cucumbers are ready for picking. If you still have not had your fill of lettuce, you can enjoy radicchio (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum) in July.

But in July, it is fruit lovers who truly get their money’s worth, with raspberries (Rubus idaeus), sweet cherries (Prunus avium), apricots (Prunus armeniaca) and Mirabelle plums (Prunus domestica subsp. syriaca) providing divine sweetness, whilst the currants (Ribes) and gooseberry (Ribes uva-crispa) seasons begin providing a deliciously sour taste.

Summary: July

• Vegetables: aubergine, broad beans, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, chard, Chinese cabbage, common beans, cucumbers, courgettes, garlic, fennel, kohlrabi, leek, mushrooms, onions, peas, potatoes, radishes, red cabbage, savoy cabbage, sweetheart cabbage, white cabbage
• Lettuces: Batavia, curly leaf, iceberg, butterhead, Lollo Rossa, dandelion, radicchio
• Fruits: apricots, blueberries, currants, gooseberries, Mirabelle plums, raspberries, sweet cherries, sour cherries
• From the greenhouse: peppers, tomatoes

What is in season in August?

In August, there is no need to grow plants in the greenhouse anymore: pepper and tomato plants grown outside are now ready for harvesting. Likewise, celery (Apium graveolens var. dulce) and parsnips can now be nibbled fresh from the bed again. August is also a good month for exotic and almost forgotten vegetables like fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and sweetcorn (Zea mays convar. saccharata). In addition to blackberries (Rubus), cranberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) and watermelons (Citrullus lanatus), the fruit trees are also becoming active again and bearing a rich harvest. And delicious apples (Malus), pears (Pyrus), peaches (Prunus persica) and plums (Prunus domestica) are on the way.

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Summary: August

• Vegetables: broad beans, carrots, celery, chard, Chinese cabbage, common beans, courgettes, cucumbers, fennel, kohlrabi, leeks, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, peas, peppers, pickling cucumbers, potatoes, radishes, red cabbage, tomatoes, savoy cabbage, sweetheart cabbage, sweet corn, white cabbage
• Lettuces: Batavia, curly leaf, iceberg, butterhead, Lollo Rossa, dandelion, radicchio
• Fruits: apples, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, currants, gooseberries, Mirabelle plums, peaches, pears, plums, raspberries, strawberries, sweet cherries, sour cherries, watermelon

What is in season in September?

In keeping with the cooling temperatures, we can look forward to the number one autumn vegetable in September’s seasonal produce namely, pumpkins (Cucurbita). But also, pungent horseradish (Armoracia rusticana), delicious turnips as well as healthy beetroot (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris) are not to be missed at the beginning of autumn. Sweetcorn and peppers are harvested, adding a crunch to your favourite recipes. Among the fruit varieties, grapes (Vitis) and elderberries (Sambucus) invite you to snack, but also to make delicious liqueurs or jams.

Summary: September

• Vegetables: aubergine, beetroot, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chard, Chinese cabbage, common beans, courgettes, cucumbers, fennel, horseradish, kohlrabi, leeks, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, peppers, pickling cucumbers, potatoes, pumpkin, radishes, red cabbage, spinach, tomatoes, turnips, savoy cabbage, sweetheart cabbage, sweet corn, white cabbage
• Lettuces: Batavia, curly leaf, iceberg, butterhead, Lollo Rossa, dandelion, radicchio
• Fruits: apples, blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, elderberries, grapes, peaches, pears, plums, watermelon

What is in season in October?

Now that the temperatures are dropping again, it is getting too cold for some plants. Cucumbers only bear their fruit in the greenhouse in October. Parsnips and salsify (Scorzonera), on the other hand, cope well with the colder temperatures as do Brussels sprouts and chicory. The end of October marks the end of the potato crops, but these store well and can be eaten all through winter. Walnuts (Juglans regia), hazelnuts (Corylus avellana) and chestnuts (Castanea sativa) provide the perfect autumn atmosphere: these delectable nibbles can now be found in abundance in the right places.

Summary: October

• Vegetables: beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, chard, Chinese cabbage, common beans, courgettes, cucumbers, fennel, horseradish, kohlrabi, leeks, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, peppers, pickling cucumbers, potatoes, pumpkin, radishes, red cabbage, salsify, spinach, tomatoes, turnips, savoy cabbage, sweetheart cabbage, sweet corn, white cabbage
• Lettuces: chicory, iceberg, Lollo Rossa, radicchio
• Fruits: apples, pears, hazelnuts, elderberries, chestnuts, grapes, walnuts
• In the greenhouse: cucumbers

What is in season in November?

It is slowly getting emptier in the beds again. In November, many vegetables disappear due to the cold temperatures. Vegetables such as kale and leeks, on the other hand, thrive in these conditions, as they cannot withstand the hot summer sun. Whereas spinach and kohlrabi can only be harvested if grown in greenhouses. The lettuce bed is also becoming increasingly bare, with only chicory and lamb’s lettuce left for picking. November favourites include butternut squash and pumpkins, which are perfect for a warming soup in late autumn. During November, few fruits are still in season, though pears and apples are still available.

Summary: November

• Vegetables: Artichokes, beetroot, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, celeriac, Chinese cabbage, fennel, horseradish, kale, leeks, mushrooms, parsnips, pumpkin, red cabbage, salsify, swede, sweetheart cabbage, turnips, wild mushrooms
• Lettuce: chicory, lamb’s lettuce
• Fruit: pears, apples
• In the greenhouse: kohlrabi, spinach

What is in season in December?

Just in time for Christmas, the vegetable patch is not very busy, although Christmas essentials like Brussel sprouts, parsnips, turnips and swedes are are still in season and perfect for harvesting. Chicory and lamb’s lettuce also defy the low temperatures in the greenhouse. Spinach and celeriac can be harvested in well protected greenhouses.

Summary: December

• Vegetables: mushrooms, kale, parsnips, Brussels sprouts, potatoes, swede, turnips
• In the greenhouse: celeriac, chicory, lamb’s lettuce spinach

If you want to go one step further and not only buy seasonal vegetables, but even grow them yourself, you can find all the information and tips on which plants to sow when in the year in our sowing calendar.