The diverse land and climate in Australia lends itself to the growing of bountiful and varied seasonal produce. Each season brings a different variety of fruits and vegetables to choose from that are unique to each month.
Eating seasonal produce reduces the environmental impact that farming them off-season presents. They are much tastier and are packed with much more nutrients than those grown in hothouses/greenhouses or those that have been imported. Which in turn encourages the consumption of local produce and encourages the local farming community.
Out of season produce could be grown in artificial environments or sprayed with pesticides. For biosecurity reasons imported produce may be subjected to fumigation. I believe seasonal produce is not only much tastier but it is also much better for you.
Following is a general guide to the most common seasonal produce in Australia as the diversity of temperatures in Australia makes it difficult to be precise.
SEASONAL PRODUCE JANUARY
VEGETABLES
Asian Greens (AA Choy, Amaranth, Chinese or Oriental Celery, Choy Sum, Tatsoi); Asparagus; Avocado; Beans (Green & Flat); Capsicum; Celery; Corn; Cucumber; Eggplant; Lettuce; Mushrooms; Okra; Peas (Snow, Sugar Snap); Potatoes; Radish; Rhubarb; Rocket; Spring Onions; Squash; Tomatoes; Zucchini.
FRUIT
Apricots; Bananas; Blackberries; Blueberries; Carombola/Star Fruit; Grapes; Grapefruit; Honeydew; Lemons; Limes; Lychees; Mangoes; Nectarines; Oranges (Valencia); Passionfruit; Peaches; Pears (Packham, Williams); Pineapples; Plums; Rambutan; Raspberries; Rockmelon; Rhubarb; Strawberry; Watermelon
HERBS
Basil; Chervil; Chives; Continental Parsley; Coriander (Cilantro); Curry Leaves; Dill; Horseradish; Lemon Grass; Lime Leaves; Marjoram; Mint; Oregano; Parsley; Rosemary; Sage; Tarragon; Thyme; Lemon Thyme.
SEASONAL PRODUCE FEBRUARY
VEGETABLES
Asian Greens (AA Choy, Amaranth, Chinese or Oriental Celery, Choy Sum, Tatsoi); Avocado; Beans (Green, Snake & Flat); Capsicum; Celery; Chili; Corn; Cucumber; Eggplant; Lettuce; Mushrooms; Okra; Peas (Snow, Sugar Snap); Radish; Rhubarb; Rocket; Tomatoes; Zucchini; Yellow Squash.
FRUIT
Bananas; Blackberries; Blueberries; Carambola/Star Fruit; Fig; Grapes; Honeydew; Lemons; Limes; Lychees; Mangoes; Mangosteens; Nectarines;
Oranges (Valencia); Passionfruit; Peaches; Pears (Packham); Pineapples; Rambutan; Raspberries; Red & White Currants; Rockmelon; Strawberries; Watermelon
SEASONAL PRODUCE MARCH
VEGETABLES
Asian Greens (Amaranth, Bok Choy, Chinese or Oriental Celery, Choy Sum, Chrysanthemum Greens, Gai Lan, Tatsoi); Avocado; Beans: Green; Beetroot; Broccoli; Brussel Sprouts; Cabbage; Capsicums; Celery; Chilies; Corn; Cucumber; Eggplant; Kale; Lettuce ; Mushrooms; Okra; Onions; Peas; Spinach; Squash;
Sweet Potato (Kumara) ; Tomatoes ; Zucchini;
FRUIT
Apples; Bananas; Dates; Fig; Grapes ; Honeydew; Kiwi Fruit; Lemons; Limes; Mangoes; Mangosteens; Mulberries; Nectarines; Oranges (Valencia); Passionfruit; Peaches; Pear (Beurre Bosc, Red Sensation, Williams Bon Chretien, Winter Nelis); Plums; Pomegranate ; Quinces; Rhubarb; Rockmelon; Strawberry; Tamarillo.
SEASONAL PRODUCE APRIL
VEGETABLES
Artichoke; Asian Greens (Amaranth, Choy Sum, Chrysanthemum Greens, Tatsoi); Avocado; Beans (Snake, Green); Beetroot; Broccoli; Brussels Sprouts; Cabbage; Capsicum; Cauliflower; Celery; Cucumber; Fennel; Kale; Leeks; Mushrooms;
Okra; Onions; Peas: Garden; Potatoes; Pumpkin; Silverbeet/Chard; Spinach; Squash; Swede; Sweet Potato/Kumura; Tomatoes; Turnips.
FRUIT
Apples; Bananas; Dates; Grapes; Guava; Kiwi Fruit; Limes; Mandarins; Passionfruit; Pear (Beurre Bosc, Corella Frelle, Josephine de Malines, Red Anjou, Red Sensation, Williams, Bon Chretien, Winter Nelis); Persimmons; Quinces; Rhubarb; Tamarillo.
SEASONAL PRODUCE MAY
VEGETABLES
Artichoke, Asian Greens (Amaranth, Choy sum, Chrysanthemum Greens, Tatsoi), Avocado, Beetroot, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Capsicum, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Fennel, Kale, Leeks, Mushrooms, Okra, Onions, Parsnips, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Silverbeet/Chard, Spinach, Squash, Swede, Sweet Potato (Kumura), Tomatoes, Turnips.
FRUIT
Apples, Bananas, Dates, Grapes, Guava, Kiwi Fruit, Lemons, Mandarins, Oranges (Navel), Pear – Beurre Bosc, Corella Frelle, Josephine de Malines, Packham’s Triumph, Red Anjou, Red Sensation, Williams Bon Chretien, Winter Nelis), Persimmons, Quinces.
SEASONAL PRODUCE JUNE
VEGETABLES
Artichokes (Jerusalem), Asian Greens (Bok choy/ Pak Choy, Gai Lan, Mustard Greens, Tatsoi), Avocado, Beetroot, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Carrots: Dutch, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Fennel, Garlic, Ginger, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Onions, Parsnips, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Silverbeet/ Chard, Spinach, Spinach – English, Swede, Sweet Potato (Kumura), Turnips, Witlof, Wombok (Chinese Cabbage).
FRUIT
Apples , Bananas, Dates, Grapefruit , Kiwi Fruit, Lemons, Limes, Mandarins, Oranges – Navel, Pear – Beurre Bosc, Pear – Corella Frelle, Pear – Josephine de Malines, Pear – Packham’s Triumph, Pear – Red Anjou, Pear – Winter Nelis, Persimmons, Pineapples, Pommelo, Quinces, Rhubarb.
SEASONAL PRODUCE JULY
VEGETABLES
Artichoke, (Globe, Jerusalem) , Asian Greens (Bok Choy/ Pak Choy, Gai Lan, Mustard Greens, Tatsoi), Avocado, Beetroot, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Carrots: Dutch, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Fennel, Garlic, Ginger, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Onions, Parsnips, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Silverbeet/ Chard, Spinach, Spinach – English, Swede, Sweet Potato (Kumura), Turnips, Witlof, Wombok (Chinese Cabbage).
FRUIT
Apples, Bananas, Dates, Grapefruit, Kiwi Fruit, Lemons, Limes, Mandarins, Oranges ( Navel), Pear (Beurre Bosc, Corella Frelle, Josephine de Malines, Packham’s Triumph, Red Anjou, Winter Nelis), Pineapples, Pomelo, Quinces, Rhubarb, Rockmelon.
SEASONAL PRODUCE AUGUST
VEGETABLES
Asian Greens (Bok Choy/Pak Choy, Gai Lan, Mustard Greens, Tatsoi), Avocado, Beetroot, Broccoli, Broccolini, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Carrots: Dutch, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Fennel, Garlic, Ginger, Kale, Kohlrabi, Leeks, Onions, Parsnips Potatoes, Pumpkin, Silverbeet/ Chard, Spinach, Spinach – English, Swede, Sweet Potato (Kumura), Turnips, Witlof, Wombok (Chinese Cabbage).
FRUIT
Apples, Cumquat, Grapefruit, Kiwi Fruit, Lemons, Limes, Mandarins, Oranges (Blood, Navel), Pear (Beurre Bosc, Corella Frelle, Josephine de Malines, Packham’s Triumph, Red Anjou, Winter Nelis), Pineapples, Pommelo, Rhubarb, Rockmelon, Strawberry, Tangelos.
SEASONAL PRODUCE SEPTEMBER
VEGETABLES
Artichoke (Globe), Asian Greens (AA Choy, Amaranth, Choy sum, Chrysanthemum Greens, Tatsoi), Asparagus, Avocado, Beans (Green, Broad), Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Garlic, Ginger, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Onions, Peas: (Garden), Potatoes, Pumpkin, Silverbeet/ Chard, Spinach, Spring Onions, Tomatoes, Watercress.
FRUIT
Apples, Grapefruit, Lemons, Mandarins, Oranges (Blood, Navel, Valencia),
Paw Paw, Papaya, Passionfruit, Pear (Beurre Bosc, Corella Frelle, Josephine de Malines, Packham’s Triumph, Red Anjou, Winter Nelis), Pineapples, Pomelo, Rockmelon, Strawberry, Tangelos, Watermelon.
SEASONAL PRODUCE OCTOBER
VEGETABLES
Artichoke (Globe), Asian Greens (AA Choy, Amaranth, Chinese or Oriental Celery, Choy sum, Chrysanthemum Greens, Tatsoi), Artichoke, Asparagus, Avocado, Beans: Green, Beans: Broad, Broccoli, Cucumber , Garlic, Kale, Lettuce , Mushrooms, Onions, Peas: Garden, Potatoes, Silverbeet/ Chard, Spring Onions, Tomatoes , Watercress, Zucchini.
FRUIT
Bananas, Blueberries, Grapefruit, Lemons, Mangoes, Oranges –(Valencia), Paw Paw, Papaya, Passionfruit, Pear (Beurre Bosc, Corella Frelle, Josephine de Malines, Packham’s Triumph, Red Anjou, Winter Nelis), Pineapples, Pomelo, Rockmelon, Strawberry, Tangelos, Watermelon.
SEASONAL PRODUCE NOVEMBER
VEGETABLES
Artichoke (Globe), Asian Greens (AA Choy, Amaranth, Chinese or Oriental Celery, Choy sum, Chrysanthemum Greens, Tatsoi). Asparagus, Avocado, Beans (Green), Cucumber, Lettuce, Onions, Peas (Garden, Snow, Sugar Snap), Potatoes, Silverbeet/Chard, Spring Onions, Tomatoes, Watercress, Zucchini.
FRUIT
Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Grapes, Grapefruit, Honeydew, Loquats, Mangoes, Mulberries, Paw Paw, Papaya, Passionfruit, Peaches, Pear (Beurre Bosc, Josephine de Malines, Packham’s Triumph, Red Anjou, Winter Nelis), Pineapples, Pomegranate, Rockmelon, Strawberry, Watermelon.
SEASONAL PRODUCE DECEMBER
VEGETABLES
Artichoke, Asparagus, Asian Greens (AA Choy, Amaranth, Chinese or Oriental Celery, Choy sum, Tatsoi), Avocado, Beans (Green, Flat), Capsicum, Celery, Chili, Corn, Cucumber ,Eggplant, Lettuce, Onions, Peas (Garden, Snow,Sugar Snap), Radish, Rocket, Spring Onions, Squash, Tomatoes, Zucchini, Zucchini Flowers.
FRUIT
Apricot, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cherries, Grapes , Honeydew, Lemons, Lychee, Mangoes, Nectarines, Oranges (Valencia), Paw Paw, Papaya, Passionfruit, Peaches, Pears (Packham’s Triumph), Pineapples, Pomegranate , Rambutan, Raspberries, Red & White Currants, Rockmelon, Strawberry, Watermelon.
RESOURCES
Sustainable Table; Seasonal Food Guide; Sydney Markets; Natural Health Medicine; My Green Australia.
We have a tradition in our family of getting together once a week at Mum’s house for “Family Dinner Night”. Mum was always responsible for getting the meat and starch side of the dinner organised and it was always my responsibility to do the salads and vegetable sides. It was always a huge production with the dinner table groaning under the strain of the variety of dishes created.
