Summer fruit and veg: What’s in season?

Summer! It’s finally here! The warmer weather is a welcome change and I’m loving seeing new, fresh produce in the shops and markets. For me, summer is all about strawberries but there’s so much good stuff harvested at this time of year that there’s plenty of choice when it comes to seasonal produce. So, without further ado…

What fruits and vegetables are in season right now?

With summer underway, there are lots of seasonal fruit and veg to enjoy in the UK. The summer season lasts from June to August, when you can get your hands on things like runner beans, tomatoes, summer squash, and all sorts of berries. These are some of my current favourites…

Strawberries

Strawberries are the ultimate summer fruit – and for good reason. They’re full of flavour, perfectly sweet, and really refreshing thanks to their high water content. I like to enjoy them straight from the punnet, and there’s something so quintessentially British about a bowl of strawberries with a fresh dollop of whipped cream on top, too.

Although Britain’s strawberry season starts in early May, it reaches its peak in June and July. You can also grab them well into August. I love that you can use strawberries for both sweet and savoury dishes, from a classic Eton mess to a summer salad with feta and rocket.

Courgettes

Courgettes are one of the easiest vegetables to use in dishes, whether as the star of the show or to step up your five-a-day. There’s no need to peel, you just give them a quick rinse, trim off the ends, and cut them into 3mm slices.

Courgettes are a staple in my quick weeknight pesto pasta, and I adore a simple grilled courgette salad. Mix the sliced courgette with some olive oil, fresh thyme, and lemon juice before placing it under the grill for around 10 minutes. Arrange on a plate and top with shaved parmesan and toasted pine nuts. Delish!

Thyme

Talking of thyme, it’s one of my favourite herbs to use in summer. The only thing I love more is thyme andhoney. It’s a beautiful combination that goes perfectly with salads, grilled halloumi, baked feta, or roast peaches. I keep pots of thyme and rosemary on our kitchen windowsill, ready to pick when needed.

During summer, you’ll also find:

VEG

Artichoke, aubergine, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, sweetheart cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumber, fennel, French beans, garlic, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, mangetout, marrow, mushrooms (cultivated and wild), wild nettles, new potatoes, onions, Pak choi, peas, peppers, potatoes, radishes, rhubarb, rocket, runner beans, samphire, shallots, sorrel, spinach, spring greens, spring onions, summer squash, sweetcorn, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, and white cabbage.

FRUIT

Apricots, bilberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, cherries, damsons, gooseberries, greengages, loganberries, peaches, plums, raspberries, and redcurrants.

HERBS AND FLAVOURINGS

Basil, chervil, chicory, chillies, chives, coriander, dill, elderflower, mint, nasturtium, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage, and tarragon.

What summer fruit and veg are you enjoying right now? Let me know your favourite quick dinners, too! I’d love some recommendations.