Cooking and eating seasonally is a wonderful experience but with all the imported, transported and hot-housed food these days how can you even tell what’s in season?
Growing your own fruit and veggies is a simple solution and backyard and balcony gardens are on the rise, but in these times of urban living most of us still need an alternate source of produce. Farmer’s Markets and Co-ops are a great resource for food and knowledge, talk to them about what’s being grown at any point. If grocery stores are your primary source it is even more important to be educated and know what to look out for!
Seasonal availability of course varies by region but below are some basic guides on growing seasons. Print out these lists to keep them on hand for shopping and meal planning. We have some great infographics coming soon!
Spring
Vegetables:
artichoke: globe
asian greens
asparagus
beans: broad beans
beans: green beans
beetroot
bitter melons
broccoli
cabbage: wombok
carrots
capsicum
cauliflower
chillies
collard greens
corn
cucumber
_
fennel
kale: cavalo nero
kale
kohlrabi
lettuce
peas
potatoes
silverbeet
snow peas
spinach
swedes
sweet corn
tomatoes
zucchini
zucchini flowers
Fruit:
apricots
avocado
bananas
berries: blueberries
berries: mulberries
berries: raspberries
berries: strawberries
cherries
cumquats
grapefruit
kiwi fruit
lemons
loquats
mandarins
mangoes
mangosteen
_
oranges: blood
oranges: seville
oranges: valencia
papaya
passionfriuit
pawpaw
pineapple
pomelo
rhubarb
tangelos
Summer
Vegetables:
asian greens
asparagus
beans: borlotti
beans: butter
beans: flat
beans: green
beans: snake
capsicums
chillies
chokos
cucumbers
eggplant
leeks
lettuce
mushrooms
okra
onions
peas
_
potatoes
pumpkin
radish
silverbeet
snowpeas
spinach
squash
sweet corn
tomatoes
turnips
watercress
witlof
zucchini
Fruit:
achacha
almonds
apricots
bananas
berries: blueberries
berries: blackberries
berries: boysenberries
berries: currants
berries: loganberries
berries: raspberries
berries: strawberries
cherries
figs
grapefruit
grapes
limes
loquats
lychees
_
mangoes
mangosteens
melons: rockmelon
melons: honeydew
melons: watermelon
nectarines
oranges: valencia
papaya
passionfruit
pawpaw
peaches
pineapple
pistachios
plums
prickly pears
rambutans
rhubarb
Autumn
Vegetables:
asian greens
beans: butter
beetroot
broccoli
brussells sprouts
cabbage: red
cabbage: green
carrots
capsicums
cauliflower
celeriac
celery
chokos
cucumber
eggplant
fennel
kale: cavalo nero
leeks
_
lettuce
mushrooms
okra
onions
parsnips
peas
potatoes
pumpkin
silverbeet
spinach
squash
swedes
sweet potato
tomatoes
turnips
watercress
witlof
zucchini
Fruit:
apples
avocado
bananas
chestnuts
custard apples
fejoias
figs
fingerlimes
fuji fruit
grapes
guava
kiwifruit
lemons
limes
mandarins
mangosteens
melons: rockmelon
melons: honeydew
_
melons: watermelon
nuts: almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts
oranges: navel
oranges: valencia
papaya
passionfruit
peaches
pears: nashi
pears
persimmons
plums
pomegranate
quince
rhubarb
tamarillo
Winter
Vegetables:
artichoke
artichoke: jerusalem
asian greens
beetroot
broccoli
brussels sprouts
cabbage: red
cabbage: green
cabbage: wombok
carrots
cauliflower
celeriac
celery
celeriac
fennel
kale: cavalo nero
_
kale
kohlrabi
leeks
okra
olives
parsnips
pumpkin
silverbeet
snow peas
spinach
swede
sweet potato
truffles
turnips
witlof
Fruit:
avocado
bananas
cumquat
custard apple
fejoias
grapefruit
kiwifruit
lemons
mandarins
melons
nuts
olives
oranges: blood
oranges: navel
oranges: seville
papaya
_
passionfruit
pears
pears: nashi
persimmon
pomelo
quince
tamarillo
tangelos
[…] So for April make anything you wish as long as the main ingredient is seasonal where you live! In most of Australia, try pears, apples or figs for starters. In the Northern Hemisphere go crazy with strawberries or rhubarb or any other new treats peeking through. For more seasonal fruit ideas try this list. […]