Seasonal foods in England (what to eat and when)
If you prefer to live on real wholefoods and fresh produce, here are a few ideas to buy in season. Produce will be tastier and more affordable.
Many people have no choice but to shop at big supermarkets, if they don’t live near affordable farm shops or box schemes. But what you do is to vote with your wallet, and try to go for local seasonal foods, to encourage them to support our local farmers, and reduce ‘food miles’.
Check medication before eating lots of leafy greens. Read more on food safety for people and pets. For tinned ingredients, rinse/remove lids (or pop ring-pulls over holes) then step on upper cans to pinch rims together, to stop wildlife getting trapped.
Unless you have food waste bins, just bin pepper and allium scraps (onion, leeks, garlic, shallot, chives), citrus/tomato/rhubarb scraps. To avoid acids harming compost creatures.
Grow organic food in pet-friendly gardens (away from toxic plants, mulch and other hazards). For indoor plants, avoid facing foliage to outdoor gardens, to prevent birds flying into windows).
Spring (greens, peas and fresh herbs)
- Asparagus (only in season for around 8 weeks, be quick!) It also can make your pee smell, but don’t worry, just enjoy in salads and soups!
- Spinach, peas, radishes and new potatoes are all spring vegetables.
- Rhubarb (when available) is good with vegan custard and in crumbles. Or stew with a little sugar and orange zest, or use it in overnight oats.
Summer (tomatoes, courgettes, berries, salads)
- Organic tomatoes taste way nicer, so give them a go.
- Only buy organic courgettes (some ‘bad batches of seeds’ can be dangerous – one cook writer almost died from eating them)
- Berry fruits are nice stewed or in crumbles.
Autumn and winter (squash, roots, brassicas)
- Pumpkin and squash soup are delicious in winter.
- Carrots and parsnips are nice stewed and mashed.
- Beetroot is an earthy veg, also good in desserts and baking
- Kale is one of the few veg that grows during the ‘hungry gap’ and is rich in calcium. Pair with less bitter greens in recipes.
- Apples and pears are good stewed or in pies and crumbles
