These days we're all more aware of the benefits of eating seasonally. Not only do fruit and vegetables taste better when grown in season, but they're also often cheaper to buy. Eating seasonally is better for the environment, too, as seasonal produce doesn't require additional heating or water to grow, and is more likely to have been grown locally, which means fewer emissions are generated from transportation. Plus, eating local, seasonal produce is a great way to support local farmers.

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What's even better, is if you can grow some of those fruit and vegetables yourself. There's nothing quite as satisfying, or delicious, as picking homegrown herbs to garnish your first crop of new potatoes. Growing your own food can improve the sustainability of your diet, too.

Whether you grow your own food or buy UK-grown food from a shop, eating with the British seasons will bring you closer to nature. A freshly podded bowl of peas smells like summer, and is even more precious if you've grown your own peas. And, in winter, turnips, kale and sprouts – some of the best winter vegetables to grow – feel warming and cosy, just what we all need in February. Nature has a way of giving us food to suit the season – eating a tomato salad in January just doesn't chime with the UK weather.

Knowing which fruit and vegetables are in season is a great way to inspire your cooking. Find out which home-grown fruit and vegetables are in season and when in the UK, below.


January

Red cabbage. Jason Ingram
Red cabbage. Jason Ingram

Fruit

  • Apple (stored)
  • Pears (stored)
  • Rhubarb (forced)

Vegetables

  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage (green savoy types)
  • Cabbage (white)
  • Cauliflower
  • Cavolo nero
  • Celeriac
  • Chard
  • Chicory
  • Kale
  • Leek
  • Mushroom (cultivated)
  • Parsnips
  • Pumpkin and winter squash (stored)
  • Purple sprouting broccoli
  • Spinach (perpetual)
  • Spring greens

February

Adam Frost picking forced rhubarb from rhubarb forcer
Gardener picking forced rhubarb from rhubarb forcer. Neil Hepworth

Fruit

  • Apple (stored)
  • Pears (stored)
  • Rhubarb (forced)

Vegetables

  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage (green savoy types)
  • Cauliflower
  • Cavolo nero
  • Celeriac
  • Chard
  • Chicory
  • Kale
  • Leek
  • Mushroom (cultivated)
  • Pumpkin and winter squash (stored)
  • Purple sprouting broccoli
  • Spinach (perpetual)
  • Spring greens

March

Picking purple sprouting broccoli. Nick Hepworth
Picking purple sprouting broccoli. Neil Hepworth

Fruit

  • Rhubarb (forced)

Vegetables

  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage (green savoy types)
  • Cauliflower
  • Cavolo nero
  • Celeriac
  • Chard
  • Chicory
  • Kale
  • Mushroom (cultivated)
  • Purple sprouting broccoli
  • Spinach
  • Spinach (perpetual)
  • Spring greens
  • Turnip

April

Harvesting asparagus. Sally Nex
Harvesting asparagus. Jason Ingram

Fruit

  • Rhubarb (maincrop)

Vegetables

  • Asparagus
  • Cauliflower
  • Chard
  • Lettuce
  • Mushroom (cultivated)
  • Purple sprouting broccoli
  • Radish
  • Spinach
  • Spinach (perpetual)
  • Spring onions
  • Turnip
  • Watercress

May

Fresh peas. Paul Debois
Fresh peas. Paul Debois

Fruit

  • Rhubarb (maincrop)
  • Strawberry

Vegetables

  • Asparagus
  • Cabbage (green pointed types)
  • Carrot
  • Chard
  • Garlic
  • Lettuce
  • Mangetout
  • Mushroom (cultivated)
  • Mustard leaves and mizuna
  • Peas
  • Radish
  • Spinach
  • Spinach (perpetual)
  • Spring onions
  • Turnip
  • Watercress

June

Ripening strawberries. Paul Debois
Ripening strawberries. Paul Debois

Fruit

  • Apricot
  • Blackcurrant
  • Cherry
  • Gooseberry
  • Greengage
  • Loganberry
  • Raspberry
  • Redcurrant
  • Rhubarb (maincrop)
  • Strawberry

Vegetables

  • Asparagus
  • Broad bean
  • Cabbage (green pointed types)
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Chard
  • Garlic
  • Globe artichoke
  • Kohlrabi
  • Lettuce
  • Mangetout
  • Mushroom (cultivated)
  • Mustard leaves and mizuna
  • Onions
  • Peas
  • Potato (new)
  • Radish
  • Spinach
  • Spinach (perpetual)
  • Spring onions
  • Turnip
  • Watercress

July

Harvesting courgettes. Sally Nex
Harvesting courgettes. Sally Nex

Fruit

  • Apricot
  • Blackberry
  • Blackcurrant
  • Blueberry
  • Cherry
  • Gooseberry
  • Greengage
  • Nectarine
  • Peach
  • Raspberry
  • Redcurrant
  • Rhubarb (maincrop)
  • Strawberry
  • Tayberry

Vegetables

  • Beetroot
  • Broad bean
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage (green savoy types)
  • Cabbage (green pointed types)
  • Cabbage (white)
  • Cabbage (red)
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Cavolo nero
  • Chard
  • Chicory
  • Courgette and summer squash
  • Cucumber
  • Garlic
  • Globe artichoke
  • Green beans
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Lettuce
  • Mangetout
  • Mushroom (cultivated)
  • Mustard leaves and mizuna
  • Onions
  • Pak choi
  • Peas
  • Potato (new)
  • Radish
  • Runner bean
  • Spinach (perpetual)
  • Spring onions
  • Tomatoes
  • Turnip
  • Watercress

August

Runner bean picking. Sally Nex
Runner bean picking. Sally Nex

Fruit

  • Apricot
  • Blackberry
  • Blackcurrant
  • Blueberry
  • Damson
  • Elderberry
  • Fig
  • Gooseberry
  • Greengage
  • Loganberry
  • Nectarine
  • Peach
  • Plum
  • Raspberry
  • Redcurrant
  • Strawberry
  • Tayberry

Vegetables

  • Beetroot
  • Broad bean
  • Broccoli
  • Cabbage (green savoy types)
  • Cabbage (green pointed types)
  • Cabbage (white)
  • Cabbage (red)
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Cavolo nero
  • Celery
  • Chard
  • Chicory
  • Chilli peppers
  • Courgette and summer squash
  • Cucumber
  • Fennel (bulb)
  • Globe artichoke
  • Green beans
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Lamb's lettuce
  • Leek
  • Lettuce
  • Mangetout
  • Mushroom (cultivated)
  • Mushroom (wild)
  • Mustard leaves and mizuna
  • Onions
  • Pak choi
  • Peas
  • Peppers (capsicum)
  • Potato (maincrop)
  • Potato (new)
  • Radish
  • Runner bean
  • Spinach (perpetual)
  • Spring onions
  • Sweetcorn
  • Tomatoes
  • Turnip
  • Watercress

September

Apples ripening on the tree. Sarah Cuttle
Apples ripening on the tree. Sarah Cuttle

Fruit

  • Apple
  • Apricot
  • Blackberry
  • Blueberry
  • Crab apple
  • Damson
  • Elderberry
  • Fig
  • Loganberry
  • Melon
  • Nectarine
  • Peach
  • Pears
  • Plum
  • Raspberry

Vegetables

  • Aubergine
  • Beetroot
  • Broad bean
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage (green savoy types)
  • Cabbage (green pointed types)
  • Cabbage (white)
  • Cabbage (red)
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Cavolo nero
  • Celery
  • Chard
  • Chicory
  • Chilli peppers
  • Courgette and summer squash
  • Cucumber
  • Fennel (bulb)
  • Green beans
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Lamb's lettuce
  • Leek
  • Lettuce
  • Mangetout
  • Mushroom (cultivated)
  • Mushroom (wild)
  • Mustard leaves and mizuna
  • Onions
  • Pak choi
  • Parsnip
  • Peas
  • Peppers (capsicum)
  • Potato (maincrop)
  • Radish
  • Runner bean
  • Spinach
  • Spinach (perpetual)
  • Spring onions
  • Swede
  • Sweet potato
  • Sweetcorn
  • Tomatoes
  • Turnip
  • Watercress

October

Pumpkins in a pumpkin patch. Sarah Cuttle
Pumpkins in a pumpkin patch. Sarah Cuttle

Fruit

  • Apple
  • Pears
  • Plum
  • Quince
  • Raspberry

Vegetables

  • Aubergine
  • Beetroot
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage (green savoy types)
  • Cabbage (green pointed types)
  • Cabbage (white)
  • Cabbage (red)
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Cavolo nero
  • Celeriac
  • Celery
  • Chard
  • Chicory
  • Chilli peppers
  • Courgette and summer squash
  • Cucumber
  • Fennel (bulb)
  • Green beans
  • Jerusalem artichoke
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Lamb's lettuce
  • Leek
  • Lettuce
  • Mushroom (cultivated)
  • Mushroom (wild)
  • Mustard leaves and mizuna
  • Pak choi
  • Parsnip
  • Peppers (capsicum)
  • Potato (maincrop)
  • Pumpkin and winter squash
  • Purple sprouting broccoli
  • Radicchio
  • Radish
  • Runner bean
  • Spinach
  • Spinach (perpetual)
  • Spring greens
  • Spring onions
  • Swede
  • Sweet potato
  • Sweetcorn
  • Tomatoes
  • Turnip
  • Watercress

November

Cavolo Nero plant. Sally Nex
Cavolo Nero plant. Sally Nex

Fruit

  • Apple (stored)
  • Pears (stored)
  • Quince (stored)

Vegetables

  • Beetroot
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage (green savoy types)
  • Cabbage (white)
  • Cabbage (red)
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Cavolo nero
  • Celeriac
  • Celery
  • Chard
  • Chicory
  • Jerusalem artichoke
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Lamb's lettuce
  • Leek
  • Lettuce
  • Mushroom (cultivated)
  • Mushroom (wild)
  • Mustard leaves and mizuna
  • Pak choi
  • Parsnip
  • Pumpkin and winter squash
  • Radicchio
  • Spinach
  • Spinach (perpetual)
  • Spring greens
  • Swede
  • Turnip

December

Harvesting Brussels sprouts. Miranda Janatka
Harvesting Brussels sprouts. Miranda Janatka

Fruit

  • Apple (stored)
  • Pears (stored)
  • Quince (stored)
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Vegetables

  • Beetroot
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage (green savoy types)
  • Cabbage (white)
  • Cabbage (red)
  • Cauliflower
  • Cavolo nero
  • Celeriac
  • Celery
  • Chard
  • Chicory
  • Kale
  • Kohlrabi
  • Leek
  • Mushroom (cultivated)
  • Mustard leaves and mizuna
  • Parsnip
  • Pumpkin and winter squash (stored)
  • Purple sprouting broccoli
  • Radicchio
  • Spinach (perpetual)
  • Spring greens
  • Swede
  • Turnip
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