August

The harvest is in. Fill your freezer.

Plums, greengages, damsons for preserving. Runner beans by the armful. Sweetcorn at its peak -- cook within hours of picking. Outdoor tomatoes finally ripe. Blackberries free from every hedgerow. This is the month to preserve.

34 items in season · 10 at peak

Worth seeking out

Fresh British sweetcorn - beautiful whole specimen

Sweetcorn

At its absolute peak. From field to pan in under an hour if you can.

Peak: August

Find sweetcorn nearby
Fresh British tomatoes - beautiful whole specimen

Tomatoes

Outdoor tomatoes finally ripe. Heritage varieties at their best.

Peak: July - September

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Fresh British blackberries - beautiful whole specimen

Blackberries

Free from every hedgerow. Pick above waist height.

Peak: August - September

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Everything in season

Fresh British sweetcorn - beautiful whole specimen

Sweetcorn

Peak

Cook within hours of picking -- the sugar turns to starch fast.

Jul – Sep

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Fresh British tomatoes - beautiful whole specimen

Tomatoes

Peak

Vine-ripened British tomatoes taste nothing like imports.

Jun – Oct

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Fresh British strawberries - beautiful whole specimen

Strawberries

English outdoor berries are worth every penny of the wait.

May – Aug

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Fresh British blackberries - beautiful whole specimen

Blackberries

Peak

Free from every hedgerow. Pick above waist height.

Jul – Sep

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Fresh British runner beans - beautiful whole specimen

Runner Beans

Peak

Slice thin on the diagonal. The scarlet flowers are edible too.

Jul – Oct

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Fresh British plums - beautiful whole specimen

Plums

Victoria plums at their peak. Greengages if you are lucky.

Aug – Oct

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Fresh British carrots - beautiful whole specimen

Carrots

Peak

Heritage varieties in purple, yellow, and white. Taste the rainbow.

Jan – Dec

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Fresh British beetroot - beautiful whole specimen

Beetroot

Peak

Roast whole, wrapped in foil. The skins slip off when done.

Jan – Dec

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Fresh British spinach - beautiful whole specimen

Spinach

Baby leaves raw in salad, mature leaves wilted with garlic.

Mar – Oct

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Fresh British broad beans - beautiful whole specimen

Broad Beans

Tiny ones raw with pecorino. Bigger ones double-podded and buttered.

May – Aug

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Fresh British garden peas - beautiful whole specimen

Garden Peas

Eat them standing in the garden. Sugar turns to starch within hours.

May – Sep

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Fresh British courgettes - beautiful whole specimen

Courgettes

Peak

Small is beautiful. Pick at finger-length for the best flavour.

Jun – Oct

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Fresh British raspberries - beautiful whole specimen

Raspberries

Peak

Warm from the cane, they collapse on the tongue.

Jun – Sep

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Fresh British cherries - beautiful whole specimen

Cherries

Jun – Aug

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Fresh British pears - beautiful whole specimen

Pears

Aug – Feb

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Fresh British broccoli - beautiful whole specimen

Broccoli

Peak

Jun – Nov

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Fresh British cauliflower - beautiful whole specimen

Cauliflower

Roast whole with spices until deeply golden.

Jan – Dec

Find nearby

Coming next month

September is the orchard season. English apples and pears take centre stage, with dozens of varieties you will never find in supermarkets.

Fresh British apples - beautiful whole specimen
September

Apples

Fresh British pears - beautiful whole specimen
September

Pears

Fresh British pumpkins - beautiful whole specimen
September

Pumpkins

Now find a farm shop that stocks it.

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