You might think of winter as a barren time for farmers and growers but this is the time of year when many vegetables come into their own.
Celeriac, parsnips and turnips take centre stage in soups and casseroles, and what would the Christmas dinner table be without Brussels sprouts?
Click on the links below to jump straight to a list of what’s in season during December, January and February and recipe ideas including a layered parsnip bake that’s perfect as a side dish or a meal in itself. And don't forget that there are plenty of great vegetables that you can get your hands on all year round.
Jump to: December | January | February
There's still plenty of British produce to be had in December, such as parsnips, potatoes, various apples and those lovely Brussel sprouts for festive dinners.
British fruit and vegetables available in December:
- Apples
- Beetroot
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Butternut Squash
- Cabbages
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Chicory
- Cucumbers
- Jerusalem artichokes
- Kale
- Lamb
- Leeks
- Lettuces
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Parsnips
- Pears
- Pak Choi
- Potatoes
- Pumpkins
- Purple sprouting broccoli
- Salad cress
- Spring greens
- Swedes
- Tomatoes
- Turnips
Recipe of the month
Leek and Stilton Soup: A great winter warmer which could even make a tasty starter for your Christmas dinner. Taken from Countryside Kitchen cook book.
Meet the grower
Brothers Nick and Patrick Allpress run Allpress Farms in Cambridgeshire, harvesting around 7,000 tonnes of leeks a year - 98% of which are sold to retail customers.
January sees all types of British apples, beetroot, cabbages, rhubarb and even walnuts available to shoppers.
British fruit and vegetables available in January:
- Apples
- Beetroot
- Brussels Sprouts
- Cabbages
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Chicory
- Cucumbers
- Jerusalem artichokes
- Kale
- Leeks
- Lettuces
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Parsnips
- Pears
- Pak Choi
- Potatoes
- Purple sprouting broccoli
- Rhubarb
- Salad cress
- Spring greens
- Spring onions
- Swedes
- Tomatoes
- Turnips
Recipe of the month
One Pot Potato and Pork Chilli: With just a five minute preparation time, this one pot dish is easy to put together and makes the most of great British pork.
Meet the farmer
Fourth-generation farmer and single mum Anna Longthorp rears free-range pigs near Doncaster.
In February there's still an abundance of British apples to be had in shops and supermarkets and tomatoes start to make an appearance.
British fruit and vegetables available in February:
- Apples
- Beetroot
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbages
- Carrots
- Cauliflowers
- Celeriac
- Chicory
- Cucumbers
- Jerusalem artichokes
- Kale
- Leeks
- Lettuces
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Parsnips
- Pears
- Pak Choi
- Potatoes
- Purple sprouting broccoli
- Rhubrarb
- Salad cress
- Spring greens
- Swedes
- Tomatoes
- Turnips
Recipe of the month
Layered Parsnip and Lancashire Bake: Parsnips with a cheesy twist, this dish is ideal for vegetarians or as accompaniment to hot roast meats or poultry.
Meet the grower
Ollie Bartlett, of Alan Bartlett and Sons, specialises in growing, washing and packing root vegetables for UK supermarkets. Produce goes from field to fork in as little as two days.
Use the links below to find more seasonal produce and recipes using our wonderful home-grown food.
