Eating with the seasons is a great way to stay in harmony with nature, get a huge variety of delicious fruit and vegetables in your diet and support British farmers who are working all year round to supply fantastic quality produce.
Although we can’t grow tropical delights like bananas and mangoes in the UK, we are so lucky to have an abundance of seasonal treats coming into their best throughout the year. At 44 Foods, we make it our mission to provide a fantastic selection of quality British produce. You can find the current selection here.
Here’s our handy guide to what’s in season in the UK throughout the year.
Winter (December – March)
During the winter months of December to March, make the most of root vegetables like Jerusalem artichoke, potatoes, parsnips and swede.
Dark green leafy vegetables like cavolo nero, kale and purple sprouting broccoli taste fabulous as well as providing lots of essential vitamins. Traditional basics like onions, cauliflower, cabbage, leeks and mushrooms are also in good supply.
UK-grown apples and pears grow well over winter and you’ll see the first stems of forced rhubarb arriving in January. Once it gets to March, if the weather has been kind, you might be lucky enough to get some early season asparagus too!
Spring (April – June)
Outdoor rhubarb is in abundance from April and if the temperatures are warm, it’s not unheard of to get the very first British strawberries. Asparagus is plentiful around this time and you'll get the first Jersey Royal potatoes too.
May heralds the arrival of broad beans, broccoli and all the pea varieties, including mangetout and sugarsnaps.
The first delicate raspberries may be starting to ripen and once the weather really starts to get sunny, they’re joined by cherries and gooseberries. In June, you’ll find aubergines, beans, tenderstem broccoli, courgette, fennel and the first early salad potatoes.
Summer (July – September)
When you’re al fresco eating during the summer months, it’s not hard to create colourful and delicious dishes that are entirely in season in the UK.
More British berries including blueberries, redcurrants and blackberries are in good supply, while the warmer temperatures help to ripen veggies such as green beans, chard and sweetcorn.
Autumn (October – November)
As we move towards autumn you’ll see harvest festival favourites squash, pumpkins and marrows coming to the fore.
Dropping temperatures result in the success of hardier vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage, beetroot and swede.
