What’s in season – October

October is a month of changing colours and bright hedgerow berries that greet you at every turn.  Although the main harvest is over there are still opportunities to fill your baskets with goodies and enjoy natures bounty before nature goes to sleep for the winter months.

Of course this month it’s Halloween and squash and gourds are readily available. Some farms have even opened up their fields so picking a prize pumpkin can be a fun outing for all the family!

Whether you grow your own, buy from farmshops, supermarkets or veg vans, there’s plenty of seasonal produce to enjoy.

Fruit in season

There’s still time for Apples, pears, quince and Autumn fruiting rasps which are all available in October. Why not try one of our recipes for Mini Apple Cakes or Pear and Almond cake. Pears are ready to be picked when perfectly ripe fruit start to fall from the tree – so keep watching them so the insects don’t get there first!

Vegetables in season

Our chilli plants have created a wonderful array of colours this year and we used them to make chili jam. For the kitchen gardener vegetables you could be harvesting may include sweetcorn, beetroot, turnips, onions and the last of the potatoes.

At this time of year there is now an extensive range of commercially grown UK crops that you should also look out for: Beetroot, Cabbage, Calabrese (often called broccoli in the shops), Celeriac, Celery, Carrots, Cauliflower, Chard, Chillies, Jerusalem artichokes, Kale, Kohl rabi, Leeks, Marrow, Mushrooms, Onions and shallots, Pak choi, Parsnips, Potatoes, Rocket, Spinach, Swede and turnip, Winter squash and pumpkins.

Foraged food

Natures larder is still overflowing in October and delights to be foraged include, including Blackberries, Rowan berries, Hazlenuts, Rosehips, Elderberries, Sloes, Sweet chestnut, Bullace (Prunus domestica) and Walnuts.

Herbs

Lots of herbs are available to be harvested; Basil, Chervil, Chives, Coriander, Dill, Oregano, Mint, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Sorrel, Tarragon, Thyme

 

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