From summer berries to autumnal squash, if you're wondering what fruit and veg is in season right now our seasonal food calendar is here to help.
Seasonal food is not only great on our plates but it's good for the planet too. Eating seasonal vegetables or fruit grown in the UK is also good for the environment. Instead of eating produce flown in from around the world, we can eat seasonal food grown in the UK that has a much lower carbon footprint - which is more sustainable.
Knowing which fruit or veg is in season now could save you money on food, plus eating seasonal food will make your meals taste better too. When foods are in season, there's more of it, which means lots of supermarkets will have deals and offers on surplus organic food. "A great tip for making the most out of seasonal veg is to bulk-buy fruit and veg when it's in season and freeze food before it becomes more expensive in later months," says Food Editor, Jessica Dady.
So, if you're wondering when you can go strawberry picking in the summer or pumpkin picking in the autumn or when you can start preparing those famous Brussels sprouts see our seasonal food calendar below...
January seasonal fruit and veg
Oranges and lemons are coming into season in January, as are root veg like parsnips and swedes. Salmon also makes its seasonal debut at the start of the year.
"Time to embrace the last of the beetroots before they are well and truly out of season. If grown fresh, you could try pickled beetroot so there's no waste at the end of the month," says Food Editor, Jessica Dady.
What fruit is in season in January?
- Apples (Bramley)
- Clementines
- Kiwi fruit (in season from mid-Jan)
- Lemons (coming into season)
- Oranges (coming into season)
- Passion fruit
- Pears
- Pomegranate
What vegetables are in season in January?
- Beetroot (end of season)
- Brussel sprouts
- Cauliflower
- Celery (end of season)
- Celeriac
- Kale
- Leeks
- Mushrooms (wild)
- Parsnips
- Potatoes (main crop)
- Rhubarb (coming into season)
- Shallots
- Swedes
- Turnips
Meat
- Duck (end of season)
- Goose (end of season)
- Rabbit (available, but at its best Jul-Dec)
- Turkey
- Venison
Fish and seafood
- Haddock
- Mussels
- Oysters
- Salmon (coming into season)
February seasonal fruit and veg
Only the hardiest of veggies are around in February - the only newcomer is purple-sprouting broccoli - but there's lots of lovely seafood in season. Keep the winter blues away with hearty recipes made with February's seasonal foods including cauliflower, leeks, shallots, and more.
"Leeks are one of my favourite veggies this time of year - especially when the weather is still cold, you can make delicious comfort food once you know exactly how to cook leeks. Our family favourites include leek and potato soup and chicken pie with leeks," says Food Editor Jessica.
What fruit is in season in February?
- Apples (Bramley) (end of season)
- Clementines (end of season)
- Kiwi fruit
- Lemons
- Oranges
- Passion fruit
- Pears (end of season)
- Pomegranates
What veg is in season in February?
- Brussel sprouts (end of season)
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Kale (end of season)
- Leeks
- Mushrooms (wild) (end of season)
- Parsnips (end of season)
- Potatoes (main crop) (end of season)
- Purple sprouting broccoli (coming into season)
- Rhubarb
- Shallots
- Swedes (end of season)
- Turnips (end of season)
Meat
- Rabbit (available but at its best Jul-Dec)
- Turkey (end of season)
- Venison (end of season)
Fish and seafood
- Haddock (end of season)
- Mussels (end of season)
- Oysters
- Salmon
March seasonal fruit and veg
In March, the weather (hopefully) warms up, getting you in the mood for lighter dishes with spinach, spring onions, and watercress coming into the season. Enjoy the last of the mussels and oysters.
"Peppers are a firm family favourite - whether it's cut into strips, seasoned with paprika and spices for fajitas, or finely chopped and added to a pasta bake. Stuffed peppers are a great choice if you really want to make the most out of this sweet veg," says our Food Editor.
What fruit is in season in March?
- Kiwi fruit
- Lemons (end of main season)
- Oranges (end of main season)
- Passion fruit (end of season)
- Pomegranates (end of season)
What veg is in season in March?
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac (end of season)
- Leeks (end of season)
- Peppers (coming into season)
- Purple sprouting broccoli
- Rhubarb
- Shallots (end of season)
- Spinach (comes into season mid-March)
- Spring onions (coming into season)
Meat
- Rabbit (still available)
- Turkey (still available)
Fish and seafood
- Mussels (end of season)
- Oysters (end of season)
- Salmon
April seasonal fruit and veg
Enjoy early spring in April and the seasonal foods that come with it, the most well-known, of course, being lamb. Asparagus and apricots make their debut, and it's also the season for tuna and crab.
"Spring onions are a must in our household - great for adding to salads, topping stir-fries, etc. I also love chopping them finely and adding tuna as a sandwich filling or cheese for a delicious jacket potato topping," says Jessica.
What fruit is in season in April?
- Apricot (coming into season)
- Kiwi fruit
- Rhubarb
What veg is in season in April?
- Asparagus (coming into season)
- Cauliflower (end of season)
- Peppers
- Purple sprouting broccoli (end of season)
- Rhubarb
- Spinach
- Spring onions
Meat
- Lamb (coming into season)
- Rabbit (still available)
- Turkey (still available)
Fish and seafood
- Crab (coming into season)
- Salmon
- Tuna (coming into season)
May seasonal fruit and veg
May is the month when seasonal food gets really colourful, with peas, carrots, and cherries coming into the season, along with aubergines and rockets. The first of the new potatoes arrive, sardines and pollock are available too.
"Chop carrots into batons, drizzle in honey, and roast in the oven - a great side dish for your Sunday roast dinner or simply served with lamb, mashed potato, and seasonal greens like peas and spinach," says Food Editor, Jessica.
What fruit is in season in May?
- Apricots
- Cherries (coming into season)
- Kiwi fruit
What veg is in season in May?
- Asparagus
- Aubergines (in season from late May)
- Carrots (in season from late May)
- New potatoes (coming into season)
- Peas (coming into season)
- Peppers
- Rhubarb (end of season)
- Rocket (coming into season)
- Spinach
- Spring onions
- Watercress (coming into season)
Meat
- Lamb
- Rabbit (available, but at its best Jul-Dec)
Fish and seafood
- Crab
- Pollock (pollack) (in season from mid-May)
- Salmon
- Sardines (in season from end of May)
- Tuna
June seasonal fruit and veg
Summer really kicks off in June. It's the best month for broad beans, pak choi, and courgettes, while strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, and tomatoes have started to ripen. Haddock and mackerel also come into season.
"It's time to start perfecting that potato salad recipe ready for BBQ season which is drawing near. New potatoes make the ideal potato for salads and are so simple to prepare - just clean, boil until soft, and add to your chosen salad serving warm or cold," says Jessica.
What fruit is in season in June?
- Apricots
- Blueberries (coming into season)
- Cherries
- Kiwi fruit
- Raspberries (coming into season)
- Strawberries (coming into season)
- Tomatoes (coming into season)
What veg is in season in June?
- Artichokes (globe) (coming into season)
- Asparagus
- Aubergines
- Broad beans (in season mid-June)
- Carrots
- Courgettes (coming into season)
- Fennel (coming into season)
- New potatoes
- Pak choi (in season end of June)
- Peas
- Peppers
- Rocket
- Spinach (end of main season)
- Spring onions
- Turnips (summer season crop in season)
- Watercress
Meat
- Lamb
- Rabbit (available but best Jul-Dec)
Fish and seafood
- Crab
- Haddock (coming into season)
- Mackerel (coming into season)
- Pollock (pollack)
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Tuna
July seasonal fruit and veg
Berries are in season and blackberries make their first appearance, along with melon and peaches. Sweetcorn, broccoli, beetroot, and courgettes come into season and seafood lovers can enjoy fresh, seasonal scallops.
"There are plenty of ways to embrace all the fresh berries that are in season this month. Simply wash and serve as they are or go all out and make a delicious strawberry cake, easy Eton mess, simple fruit salad - you name it. I just love fresh berries with Greek yogurt and a sprinkling of granola for breakfast," says Goodto's Food Editor, Jessica Dady.
What fruit is in season in July?
- Apricots
- Blackberries (coming into season)
- Blueberries
- Cherries
- Kiwi fruit
- Melon (coming into season)
- Peaches (coming into season)
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
What veg is in season in July?
- Artichokes (globe)
- Asparagus (end of season)
- Aubergines
- Beetroot (coming into season)
- Broad beans
- Broccoli (in season from end of July)
- Carrots
- Courgettes
- Cucumber (coming into season)
- Fennel
- New potatoes (end of season)
- Pak choi
- Peas
- Peppers
- Potatoes (main crop) (coming into season)
- Rocket
- Spring onions (end of season)
- Sweetcorn (coming into season)
- Turnips (summer season crop)
- Watercress
Meat
- Lamb
- Rabbit (main season begins)
Fish and seafood
- Crab
- Haddock
- Mackerel
- Pollock (pollack)
- Prawns
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Scallops (from mid-July)
- Tuna
August seasonal fruit and veg
Mediterranean vegetables are everywhere in August, berries are still going strong, broccoli is abundant and nectarines are coming into season. Think salads and smoothies. There's lots of fish and seafood around too.
"Smoothies are a great way to use up an abundance of seasonal fruit - and veg. My kids love creating their own 'potions' with whatever fruit is left in the fridge or freezer. A quick blitz in the blender (with adult supervision of course!) and you've got yourself a healthy snack," says Jessica.
What fruit is in season in August?
- Apricots
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Cherries (end of season)
- Kiwi fruit (end of season)
- Melon
- Nectarines (coming into season)
- Peaches
- Raspberries
- Strawberries (end of season)
- Tomatoes
What veg is in season in August?
- Artichokes (globe)
- Aubergines
- Beetroot
- Broad beans
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Celery (coming into season)
- Courgettes
- Cucumber
- Fennel
- Pak choi
- Peas
- Peppers
- Potatoes (main crop)
- Rocket
- Sweetcorn
- Watercress
Meat
- Lamb
- Rabbit
- Venison (may still be available)
Fish and seafood
- Crab
- Haddock
- Mackerel
- Pollock (pollack)
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Scallops
- Tuna
September seasonal fruit and veg
September marks the end of summer berries, but there are lots of other fruits like apples, plums, grapes, figs, and pears. Pumpkin, squash, kale, and leeks make their debut, lamb makes a comeback and it's the start of the mussel season.
"I love all the autumnal fruit and veg that is ready for harvesting in late August/early September. Apple for apple crumble, plum for plum cake, damsons for damson jam - the list goes on. Don't forget to use your freezer if you have an abundance of fruit or veg leftover - my kids go crazy blackberry picking so always handy to know they can be frozen and used for smoothies or cakes at a later date," says Food Editor, Jessica.
What fruit is in season in September?
- Apples (Bramley) (coming into season)
- Apricots (end of season)
- Blackberries
- Blueberries (end of season)
- Grapes (short season to October)
- Figs (coming into season)
- Melon
- Nectarines
- Peaches (end of season)
- Pears (coming into season)
- Plums (coming into season)
- Raspberries (end of season)
- Tomatoes
What veg is in season in September?
- Artichokes (globe)
- Aubergines
- Beetroot
- Broad beans (in season until early Sep)
- Broccoli
- Butternut squash (coming into season)
- Carrots
- Celery
- Celeriac (coming into season)
- Courgettes
- Cucumber (end of season)
- Fennel
- Kale (coming into season)
- Leeks (coming into season)
- Pak choi (end of season)
- Peas
- Peppers
- Potatoes (main crop)
- Pumpkin (coming into season)
- Rocket
- Sweetcorn
- Watercress
Meat
- Duck (coming into season)
- Goose (coming into season)
- Lamb
- Rabbit
- Venison (coming into season)
Fish and seafood
- Crab
- Haddock
- Mackerel
- Mussels (coming into season)
- Pollock (pollack)
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Scallops
- Tuna (until end Sep)
October seasonal fruit and veg
Autumn's still great for fruit and veg. It's the start of the season for wild mushrooms, cranberries, and shallots, while squash and pumpkin are widely available. Oysters start their season and it's turkey time too.
"Pumpkins are certainly not just for Halloween this month - you can make a whole heap of delicious pumpkin and squash recipes during their peak season. Think pumpkin pie, creamy pumpkin soup, and pumpkin cupcakes which are a personal favourite of mine made with fresh pumpkin puree," says Jessica.
What fruit is in season in October?
- Apples (Bramley)
- Blackberries (end of season)
- Cranberries (coming into season)
- Grapes (end of season)
- Figs
- Melon (end of season)
- Nectarines (end of season)
- Pears
- Plums (end of season)
- Tomatoes (end of season)
What veg is in season in October?
- Artichokes (globe)
- Aubergines (until mid-October)
- Beetroot
- Broccoli (end of season)
- Butternut squash
- Carrots (end of season)
- Celery
- Celeriac
- Courgettes (end of season)
- Fennel (end of season)
- Kale
- Leeks
- Mushrooms (wild) (coming into season)
- Parsnips
- Peas (end of season)
- Peppers (end of season)
- Potatoes (main crop)
- Pumpkin
- Rocket (end of season)
- Shallots (coming into season)
- Sweetcorn (end of season)
- Swedes (until mid-Oct)
- Turnips (winter crop coming into season)
- Watercress
Meat
- Duck
- Goose
- Lamb (end of season)
- Rabbit
- Turkey (coming into season)
- Venison
Fish and seafood
- Crab
- Haddock
- Mackerel
- Mussels
- Oysters (coming into season)
- Pollock (pollack)
- Prawns (end of season)
- Salmon (end of season)
- Scallops
November seasonal fruit and veg
Root vegetables like swedes and parsnips sweeten in the November frost and as the festive season approaches, chestnuts, clementines, and passion fruit are easy to come by. It's also the season for the love-hate - Brussels sprouts.
"Dust off the slow cooker and whip up some of the ultimate comfort food using this month's seasonal offerings - think chicken casserole with swede, and carrots, think roast dinners with honey-roasted parsnips. It's also time to start embracing festive favourites like Brussels sprouts which come into season this month," says Food Editor, Jessica Dady.
What fruit is in season in November?
- Apples (Bramley)
- Clementines (coming into season)
- Cranberries
- Figs (end of season)
- Passion fruit (coming into season)
- Pears
What veg is in season in November?
- Artichokes (globe) (end of season)
- Beetroot
- Brussels sprouts (in season from end of Nov)
- Butternut squash (end of season)
- Celery
- Celeriac
- Kale
- Leeks
- Mushrooms (wild)
- Parsnips
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Shallots
- Swedes
- Turnips
- Watercress (until early Nov)
Meat
- Duck
- Goose
- Rabbit
- Turkey
- Venison
Fish and seafood
- Crab (end of season)
- Haddock
- Mussels
- Oysters
- Pollock (pollack)
- Scallops
December seasonal fruit and veg
It's the season to be jolly in December as goose, duck, and of course, turkey are in the shops. Cauliflower comes into season, as does sweet pomegranate, while hardy veggies like parsnip, swedes, turnips, and sprouts are easy to find.
"Your Christmas dinner plate is sure to have an abundance of seasonal veg - and meat this month. Roast turkey, crispy roast potatoes, kale, leeks, cauliflower - the list goes on. Be sure to keep an eye out for deals on seasonal veg in supermarkets - especially after all the Christmas buzz," says Jessica.
What fruit is in season in December?
- Apples (Bramley)
- Clementines
- Cranberries (end of season)
- Passion fruit
- Pears
- Pomegranate (coming into season)
What veg is in season in December?
- Beetroot
- Brussels sprouts
- Cauliflower (in season from mid-Dec)
- Celery
- Celeriac
- Kale
- Leeks
- Mushrooms (wild)
- Parsnips
- Potatoes (main crop)
- Pumpkin
- Shallots
- Swede
- Turnips
Meat
- Duck
- Goose
- Rabbit
- Turkey
- Venison
Fish and seafood
- Haddock
- Mussels
- Oysters
- Pollock (pollack) (until start of Dec)
- Scallops
Are all foods seasonal?
No, not all foods are considered seasonal. Whilst fruit and vegetables are known to be ‘in season’ during certain times of the year, there are other food groups which are unaffected by the seasons.
Dairy products are available all year round and aren’t deemed seasonal foods. Milk, cream, eggs and butter are an example of this, with British bred cows and chickens producing their products from January right through to December.
What are the benefits of eating seasonal food?
There are a number of advantages to eating seasonal foods - benefiting your wallet, tastebuds and the environment at large.
As a rule, fruits and vegetables are fresher and tastier when in season as they will have been harvested recently and grown locally. Products sourced outside of their season are often grown under managed conditions or other parts of the world, and it takes time (and a lot of distance) to transport them to local stores.
This not only costs more, but also jeopardises the food’s quality and flavour. In contrast, seasonal vegetables will be cheaper to buy because they’ve been grown in the UK and won’t rack up huge travel costs. They’ll also taste superior as the time from being picked to appearing on your plate is considerably less.
What’s more, buying seasonal food is also better for the environment. This is because their shorter journey to store will have a better carbon footprint than foods that have been transported from thousands of miles away.
What fruit is in season during the summer?
Summer is the perfect month to embrace punnets of strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and cherries. Fresh, vibrant tropical fruits such as melon and kiwi are regularly available in supermarkets as well as sweet juicy fruits such as nectarines, peaches, and apricots.
Not forgetting tomatoes, which if grown at home, will be ready for picking during the summer months depending on what time of year you sewed your tomato seeds.
What fruit is in season during the winter?
From October onwards, seasonal fruits such as apples, blackberries, cranberries, figs, pears and plums are readily available in supermarkets in the UK. Fruits such as clementines and passion fruit come into season in November alongside pomegrante which comes into season in December.
In the new year fruit such as lemon and oranges come into season through to March when the spring weather starts to pick up and we see the season change.
What is the best way to make the most out of seasonal fruit?
Buy what you need - it may be tempting to embrace all the seasonal fruit in one go but buy what you and family needs to ensure no food waste. If you've grown a lot of the seasonal produce yourself and you're not going to get through it all - share with friends, family and neighbours.
Freeze seasonal fruit - if you have an abudance of fresh seasonal fruit that you know you're not going to get through then use your freezer. That way you can still be enjoying strawberries in the winter months, and pumpkin in the summer months.
Smoothies - fruit that is starting to look like its seen better days but hasn't gone mouldy yet can easily be popped into a smoothie and drunk. The same applies to vegetables too.
Jams, preserves and pickles - embrace the art of jam making. It's a great way to use up berries for example that you may have leftover. Plus you can enjoy the fruits of your labour all year round.
