What is the seasonal food of July? What are the farmers and growers currently harvesting for our plates?

(Please note there are a few adverts on this page – why? Because we like the companies, they produce great food, and we want to encourage you to support their work – fuelling your body with the best food you can is important. As they say, it is better to pay the greengrocer than the doctor!)

Some pretty delicious stuff actually – this is the best of the British season and if it is locally grown and organic, you will hardly need to cook it (yesterday, from Riverford Organic, we got broad beans. They are already gone!)

Vegetables in season in July…

Samphire (get in quick with this one!)

Globe artichokes

Broad Beans

New Potatoes

Asparagus (though not for much longer! And the taste is so different to last month during the first week of harvesting…)

Wet garlic

Spinach

Runner beans

Nettles (use the young leaves, not the older ones… so cut a patch down if you have to and wait for them to resprout)

Lettuce

Radish

Elderflower (for champagne or cordial, of course)

Carrots

Cucumbers

French beans

Sugarsnap peas

Watercress

A number of herbs (for example basil, fennel and mint… don’t be mean when you cook, use a big handful!)

Fruit in season in July…

Gooseberries

Cherries

Blackcurrants

Redcurrants

Raspberries

Strawberries (for Wimbledon. Raspberries are just as good though!)

We hope you grow at least some vegetables, herbs or fruit in your garden (or on your balcony, or wherever…)

If we could recommend one plant to start with? Rosemary. It looks after itself, smells amazing and you can harvest it for cooking with or using in flower arrangements. Perfect.

For more on how to eat seasonably (and the taste benefits are enormous) you need to read these…