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Guide to When Fruits & Vegetables are In Season
When you start growing your own food, or even supporting a local CSA farm or farmers market, you’re beginning to learn what foods are in season. This might seem like a strange thing to learn but most of our modern world has no idea how to eat seasonally.
When you buy food from the grocery store it comes from all over the world offering you infinite culinary opportunities. However because your food is often traveling from many miles away , it’s often picked under-ripe with less flavor and nutritional benefits. Eating in season has wonderful benefits and is often cheaper than the off-season. It’s a great opportunity to buy bulk cases of fruit or veggies and preserve them for the winter months to save money.
Because produce prices are cheaper in the months the food is in season understanding what’s available is a great way to reduce grocery spending. This does depend on your climate and location in the world, but here’s a general month-to-month list of what foods you can expect to find in season depending on the time of the year.
When Fruits & Vegetables are In Season
January
Apples, Cabbage, Pears, Rosemary, Sage, Turnips, Winter Squash.
Overwintered veggies: Parsnips, arugula, spinach, mache, greens like kale.
February
Apples, Cabbage, Pears, Rosemary, Sage, Turnips.
Overwintered veggies: Parsnips, arugula, spinach, mache, green like kale.
March
MarchApples, Pears, Rosemary, Sage.
Overwintered veggies: Parsnips, arugula, spinach, mache, greens.
Early Spring Gardening with Season Extenders: Arugula, spinach, baby greens, radishes.
April
Apples, Asparagus, Chives, Pears, Rhubarb, Rosemary, Sage, Spinach.
Early Spring Gardening with Season Extenders: Arugula, spinach, baby greens, radishes.
May
Apples, Asparagus, Chives, Chinese Vegetables, Radish, Rhubarb, Rosemary, Sage, Salad Greens, Spinach, Turnips.
Early Spring Gardening with Season Extenders: Arugula, spinach, baby greens, radishes, baby root veggies.
June
Apples, Carrots, Cauliflower, Cherries, Chinese Vegetables, Chives, Cilantro, Lettuce, Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Rhubarb, Rosemary, Sage, Salad Greens, Spinach, Strawberries, Thyme, Turnips.
July
Apricots, Basil, Beans, Beets, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Cherries, Chinese Vegetables, Chives, Cilantro, Cucumbers, Kale, Lettuce, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Radish, Raspberries, Rhubarb, Rosemary, Sage, Salad Greens, Spinach, Strawberries, Summer Squash, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Thyme, Turnips.
August
Apples, Apricots, Basil, Beans, Beets, Blackberries, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chinese Vegetables, Chives, Cilantro, Corn, Cucumbers, Currants, Garlic, Kale, Lettuce, Melons, Onions (sweet), Peaches, Pears, Peppers, Plums, Potatoes, Radish, Raspberries, Rosemary, Sage, Salad Greens, Shallots, Spinach, Strawberries, Summer Squash, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Thyme, Turnips.
September
Apples, Basil, Beans, Beets, Blackberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chinese Vegetables, Chives, Cilantro, Corn, Cucumbers, Currants, Garlic, Kale, Lettuce, Leeks, Melons, Onions (sweet), Onions (cooking), Pears, Peppers, Plums, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radish, Raspberries, Rutabagas Rosemary, Sage, Salad Greens, Shallots, Spinach, Strawberries, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Thyme, Turnips, Winter Squash.
October
Apples, Beans, Beets, Blackberries, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chives, Cilantro, Corn, Cranberries, Garlic, Kale, Lettuce, Leeks, Onions (sweet), Onions (cooking), Parsnips, Pears, Peppers, Potatoes, Pumpkins, Radishes, Rosemary, Rutabagas, Sage, Salad Greens, Swiss Chard, Tomatoes, Thyme, Turnips, Winter Squash.
November
Apples, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Garlic, Kale, Leeks, Onions (cooking), Parsnips, Pears, Rosemary, Rutabagas, Sage, Thyme, Turnips, Winter Squash.
Winter Season extending: Asian & Mustard Greens, Kale, Green Onions, Cold Hardy Lettuces, Radishes and Root Veggies (Carrots, Beets, Rutabagas), Swiss Chard.
December
Apples, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Garlic, Pears, Rosemary, Sage, Turnips, Winter Squash.
Winter Season extending: Asian & Mustard Greens, Kale, Green Onions, Cold Hardy Lettuces, Radishes and Root Veggies (Carrots, Beets, Rutabagas), Swiss Chard.
Conclusion
Learning how to eat in season is a fantastic way to connect with your food. It’s also a great way to save money by purchasing foods during the peak season months and preserving it.
If you’re a home gardener and wish to expand on the months you harvest your food in a year I would highly recommend season extenders like cold frames, greenhouses or low tunnels to add a few months a year of fresh food.
Learn what foods are in season depending on the time of the year
Source: Fix.com Blog
My name is Isis Loran, creator of the Family Food Garden. I’ve been gardening for over 10 years now and push the limits of our zone 5 climates. I love growing heirlooms & experimenting with hundreds of varieties, season extending, crunchy homesteading and permaculture.
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