Can you believe it’s already the middle of September? Despite this, I am going to be sharing the UK’s seasonal fruit and vegetables in Autumn. Technically it isn’t Autumn until the 21st of September, but I like to think it’s Autumn on the first. What are some things you are looking forward to doing this Autumn? I am very excited to make pumpkin-spiced cupcakes after discovering my love for them last year. I’m not really a fan of Halloween but I would like to watch a cosy autumnal/Halloween film.
Talking of seasonal fruit and vegetables, pumpkins and apples are not just for Halloween recipes, they can also be a design for custom patches as accessories for Halloween outfits!
You can read my winter, spring and summer seasonal fruit and vegetable posts.
(Featured photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash)
What is the difference between eating seasonally and organic food?
Organic and in-season is something I think a lot of people get confused with, I used to myself. But they are really not the same. The thing that they have in common, is being better for the planet and ourselves.
Organic – Something that is produced organically means that pesticides haven’t been used. They are often much more expensive in supermarkets, but overall they taste much better and are healthier for you.
Seasonally – Eating in season means that is when the food would naturally be at its peak.
What are the benefits of eating in season?
- Health benefits – There are so many health benefits because fewer chemicals tend to be used. Farmers don’t need to worry as much about the produce behaving a certain way, because they are in season and growing as they should naturally.
- Reduced price – In-season fruit and vegetables aren’t as expensive as they would be out of season. This is because they don’t need as many pesticides, heaters/greenhouses to create a fake ‘natural’ environment. Also, it is much easier for farmers to grow a large crop of in-season foods.
- Tastes better – Fruit and vegetables that are in season tend to taste much nicer and are more nutritious. A prime example is strawberries. Out-of-season strawberries just do not taste anywhere near as nice as in-season ones, especially when you pick them yourself. A lot of fruit and vegetables are chilled after picking to preserve them, but this makes a lot of the flavour disappear.
- More eco-friendly – Eating in season means that there are far fewer food miles to get the item from the field to you. It also means that you can buy more locally, or even pick them yourself. To be even more eco-friendly, you could try hydroponic gardening which is a sustainable alternative to soil-based cultivation.
UK seasonal fruit and vegetables in Autumn
September
- Apples
- Artichoke
- Aubergine
- Beetroot
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Celery
- Chestnuts
- Chillies
- Chives
- Coriander
- Courgette
- Cucumber
- Figs
- French beans
- Garlic
- Grapes
- Kale
- Leeks
- Lettuce
- Mangetout peas
- Marrow
- Mint
- Onions
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Pak Choi
- Pears
- Peas
- Peppers
- Plums
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Raspberries
- Radishes
- Red currants
- Rocket
- Rosemary
- Runner beans
- Sage
- Samphire
- Shallots
- Sorrell
- Spinach
- Spring onions
- Squash
- Sweetcorn
- Swiss chard
- Thyme
- Tomatoes
- Turnips
- Watercress
October
The month of pumpkin carving, roasted vegetables and cosy meals!
- Apples
- Artichoke
- Aubergine
- Beetroot
- Blackberries
- Broccoli
- Butternut squash
- Carrots
- Celery
- Celeriac
- Cranberries
- Elderberries
- Fennel
- Fig
- Grapes
- Kale
- Leek
- Mushrooms
- Parsnips
- Pears
- Pepper
- Plums
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Rocket
- Runner beans
- Shallot
- Sweetcorn
- Swede
- Swish chard
- Turnip
- Watercress
Continue reading: UK seasonal fruit and vegetables in Autumn
November
As it gets towards the end of Autumn and near Winter, there are fewer fruits in season.
- Apples
- Artichoke
- Beetroot
- Brussel sprouts
- Butternut squash
- Celery
- Celeriac
- Clementines
- Cranberries
- Kale
- Leek
- Mushrooms
- Parsnip
- Passionfruit
- Pear
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Shallots
- Swede
- Swiss chard
- Turnip
Which fruit and vegetables in season in Autumn are you most looking forward to?
Caroline ♡
Like you, I love this time of year. Here in Canada, much of our growing and harvesting season is past but I’m still looking forward to pumpkin pie and roasted pumpkin seeds. I’m also still harvesting late tomatoes from my garden and have a few peppers that are still ripening.
Pumpkin season is one I’m very much looking forward to as well! We still have a few tomatoes left too, would love to grow peppers – I bet they are tasty.
Fall is such a wonderful time of year for produce! I enjoyed your reasons for eating in season too.
Thank you
Autumn seasonal fruits and veggies are awesome. That’s why autumn meals tasted yummy-licious! Thank you for sharing this knowledge.
So true
It’s wild that it’s already mid-September! Thank you for sharing a list of seasonal fruits and vegetables in autumn, and I imagine the seasonal produce is similar here in Denmark. I am most excited about pumpkin and squash!
So true! Thank you x
This is interesting to know, I don’t focus a lot on fruits and season. Thank you for sharing!
Just like you, I always think of Autumn as starting from the 1st of September. It just feels right, doesn’t it? Haha. This was such a great read and has got me excited for Autumn recipes 🙂
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
Totally agree, thank you x
Thanks for this, buying seasonal veg didn’t even cross my mind. Great tip to save money this winter though, so thanks for sharing!
Hope you find lots of yummy seasonal veggies x
I am so excited for the vegetables that we can use in our cooking at home. Thank you for sharing this list!
Lauren.
Me too x
Thank you for sharing this great list. I can’t wait to make seasonal recipes in the slow cooker.
That sounds so good!
Organic doesn’t mean that no pesticides have been used. You can still used pesticides organic produce, you just have a smaller selection of which pesticides you can use, but the end result is the same
No man-made pesticides are used, potentially natural ones. But they aren’t harmful to us, and don’t kill off unnecessary pests like most man-made ones do
Our veg garden is looking a little bare this year as I was away for most of August, but our fruit trees are all cropping heavily – apples and plums, with lots of pears and a few figs to harvest soon. I agree, eating seasonally makes so much more sense!
Definitely x
Great post, eating seasonable veg is deffo. a great way to keep your food bill down, too!
Corinne x
Totally agree x
My neighbour has an allotment. She has just brought round a basket of goodies – beetroot, pears, rhubarb and kale are my favourites! I just love autumn food.xxx
Oh I love that!
I think your UK climate is similar to my own here in Vancouver and this is such a helpful list! I love using fruit and vegetables that were grown locally!
Thank you 🙂