Do you know which fruits and vegetables are in season? It’s difficult to know all of them, and I am with you, with our busy lives we might remember a dozen.
Also, which ones are good for you? or Which ones help fight climate change?
That gives you plenty to think about, doesn’t it? And that is why we created this post.
Do you buy fruits and vegetables at your local market or supermarket? If you buy them in your local market, that’s fine. But growing your own gives you this unique, feeling of satisfaction.
Do you want to know why?
Keep reading.
To be honest, you can easily grow seasonal vegetables in your backyard, patio or a small garden. Yes, we recommend doing it because food is going to be more and more expensive.
Why Is It Important to Eat Seasonally?
Eating seasonal food will support your local economy and is vital to help farmers.
Which easy supermarket buy, or garden pick, would you prefer?
So, if you live in America, Britain or any European country, try and buy fruits and vegetables that are in season. This is not only good for the country’s economy, but you are also helping to reduce CO2.
Grow weather-resistant produce, hardy and lasting crops.
Seasonal foods like Brussels sprouts or kale contain the nutrients, minerals and other vitamins that our bodies need. It’s also important to eat seasonally because fruits and vegetables quickly lose their nutrients once picked.
Which Fruit and Vegetables Are in Season In The UK, US and EU All Year Round?
From January to December each year you can either buy, plant indoors or outdoors and then harvest each month with our guide to seasonal food.
So, without further ado, let’s get on to the list of seasonal produce (below) for better health and great savings.
Note: All these are presented in English and French.
Seasonal foods in Spring/Printemps
Let me tell you that after a long cold winter, there’s nothing more satisfying than opening the windows to let the fresh warm air in and celebrate spring.
With the very first seasonal ingredients such as asparagus broad beans, green peas, red radishes, green beans, spring onions, fresh strawberries and also artichokes.
What to Plant in Spring?
Find out what is the easiest fruit and veggies to plant, read this: what to plant begin of April/May. If you are a bit ahead, try What to plant in June.
You can also start planning and making all sorts of great recipes with these fruits/vegetables. See our side widget to find weekly veggie trays.
Pick the ones you want to grow from the following list below:
- Artichokes/Artichauts
- Apricots/Abricots
- Asparagus/Asperges
- Avocados/Avocats
- Bitter lettuces (Arugula, French/Belgium Endives, Escarole, Chicory)- Laitues amères, (Roquette, Endives françaises/belges, Escarole, Chicorée)
- Beets/Betteraves
- Cherries/Cerises
- Carrots/Carottes
- English garden peas/Mange-tout
- Fava beans/Haricots de Fava
- Green beans/Haricots verts
- Green garlic/Ail vert
- Potatoes/Pommes de Terre
- Radishes/Radis
- Rhubarb/Rhubarb
- Runner beans/Haricots verts (Sow indoors in April to enjoy them from July to October)
- Spinach/Épinard
- Strawberries/Fraises
- Vidalia onions/Oignons de Vidalia
- Zucchini/Zucchini/Courgettes
Seasonal Foods in Summer/L’Ete:
- Beets/Betteraves
- Corn/Maïs
- Cucumbers/Concombres
- Eggplant/Aubergine (can grow in April in a heated greenhouse)
- Fresh herbs/Herbes fraîches
- Garlic/Ail
- Runner beans/Haricots verts
- Okra/Gombo
- Onions/Oignons
- Potatoes/Pommes de Terre
- Summer squash/Potimarron
- Summer lettuce (Romaine, Mâche, Butterhead, Oak Left green/red)/Laitue d’été (Romaine, Masque, Butterhead, Chêne Gauche vert/rouge)
- Blackberries/Mûres
- Blueberries/Myrtilles
- Figs/Figues
- Grapes/Raisins
- Limes/Citrons verts
- Mangos/Mangos
- Melons/Melons
- Nectarines/Nectarines
- Peaches/Pêches
- Plums/Prunes
- Raspberries/Framboises
- Tomatoes/Tomates
Seasonal foods in Autumn/Fall /L’Autumne
- Arugula/Roquette
- Apples/Pommes
- Beets/Betteraves
- Bell peppers/Poivrons
- Broccoli/Broccoli
- Brussel sprouts/Choux de Bruxelles
- Cabbage (green, Napa, red, Savoy)/Chou (vert, Napa, rouge, Savoie)
- Celery/Céleri
- Chard/Bettes
- Fennel/Fenouil
- Garlic/Ail
- Green tomatoes/Tomates vertes
- Kale/Chou kale
- Leeks/Poireaux
- Mushrooms/Champignons (Lots of varieties)
- Parsnip/Panais
- Pumpkins/Potirons
- Radishes/Radis
- Rutabagas/Suédois
- Shallots/Échalotes
- Shelling beans/Haricots
- Turnip/Navet
- Winter squash (acorn, butternut, spaghetti)/Courge d’hiver (8 varieties) (gland, butternut, spaghetti)
- Cranberries/Canneberges
- Figs/Figues
- Grapes/Raisins
- Kiwi/Kiwi
- Mirabelles/Mirabelles
- Pears/Poires
- Persimmons/Kakis
- Pomegranates/Grenades
- Prunes/Pruneau
Autumn/Winter/Hiver Seasonal Fruit & Vegetable:
- Avocados/Avocats
- Beets/Betteraves
- Broccoli/Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts/Choux de Bruxelles
- Cabbage (green, napa, red, savoy)/Chou (vert, Napa, rouge, Savoie)
- Citrus fruits (grapefruit, lemons, oranges, tangerines)/Agrumes (pamplemousses, citrons, oranges, mandarines/clémentines)
- Carrots/Carottes
- Cauliflower/Choufleur
- Chard/Bettes
- Dates/Dattes
- Fennel/Fenouil
- Green onions/Oignons verts
- Kale/Chou kale
- Parsnips/Panais
- Pears/Poires
- Sweet potatoes/Patates douces
- Turnips/Navets
- Wild mushrooms/Champignons sauvages
- Winter squash (acorn, butternut squash, spaghetti)/ gland, butternut
- Yams/Ignames
Note: Here is the PDF (as promised) with the entire list and content. You can download it, print it and read it at your own time.
So, there you have it, a full list of fruits and vegetables. Whenever you grow your produce (check the season list), you most likely will be harvesting quality fresh produce from your own yard for a later stage.
January is an ideal time to plan and prep the garden to start growing your fruits and vegetables.
There are plenty of delicious vegetables that can be great for making soups during cold seasons such as chard, leeks, potatoes, and cabbage.
There are several varieties of leafy vegetables available for harvest from February, such as Brussels sprouts, leeks and parsnips.
Note that this is also the right season to start preparing your vegetable path/garden and prepare a rotational crop system.
Which vegetables are available all season?
From our vegetable fruit calendar, we can only say one: Beets. Beets are available all year.
In between spring and summer, you can expect a variety of fresh green vegetables -see a few below:
- Asparagus,
- Bean,
- Carrots,
- Cauliflowers,
- Elderflowers,
- Peas,
- New potatoes,
- Radish,
- Rhubarb,
- etc.
Explore seasonal fruits and vegetables in Europe
You are now able to discover in three clicks, which fruits & vegetables are in season throughout Europe.
Yes, The EUFIC provides you with an innovative interactive map, that allows you to select a season, month and country, showing you the fruits and vegetable for that month of the year. This anytime of the year. And it’s free.
Instructing healthier eating habits for you and your family.
As some veggies become more popular over the seasons, and follow their tool, it will be clear why some fruits and veggies are seasonally harvested in some areas, but not others.
I am a big fan of purple sprouting broccoli, and I know that I can buy it almost all year round. But, I prefer to sow it earlier in January, so it grows faster, and keeps producing for about a month after that first floret is harvested because that is when it is at its best, between February and April.
Summary
Come back to this list of seasonal produce or go to our homepage to get on your way to better health and more savings!
If you are like us, you would agree that it is silly buying apples originating from Australia or New Zealand at the height of the English or American apple harvest, right?
When buying seasonal food you will get fresher, tastier, more nutritious and less expensive produce, and you will be environmentally friendly too. Remember, that isn’t just healthy for our bodies, it helps the world around us by cutting down on carbon emissions.
That doesn’t mean that we can’t enjoy a bowl of strawberries and cream for New Years’ breakfast! We can just all strive to do our small part by eating as consciously and ethically as possible.
This listing may not be 100% complete, but also may vary depending upon climate change or where you live in your area.
Thank you.
Share your thoughts, and please let me know if I miss any.