Fruit And Vegetables In Season In April In The UK

Eat seasonally with this handy guide to the fruit and vegetables in season in April in the UK.

April is such an exciting time here in Britain. We’re finally out of winter, and have a full month of spring ahead of us – yippee!

However, before we get too carried away with Spring fever, remember that British seasonal fruit and vegetables are still a bit thin on the ground this month. This is because April falls in the hungry gap.

The hungry gap is the period in spring when there is very little by way of fresh produce to harvest. In fact, April is the hardest month of the year for growers, because there is so little to harvest. The winter root vegetables are on their way out, and fresh produce doesn’t tend to be ready to harvest until May at the very earliest.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. There are still a few old favourite fruits and vegetables in season in April to keep us going through the month. Plus there’s the addition of some spring delights – radishes, cucumbers, spring onions, and even some herbs this month to cheer up our plates! And, finally this forager’s favourite – wild nettles!

If you’ve not tried nettle before, it’s similar in taste to spinach. And once you boil it there’s no danger of stinging – I promise! Give it a go this month – maybe start with this wild nettle pesto recipe? And let me know how you get on!

As before, I’ve included all of the information below in a free printable, without images. This is to make life easier for you when you’re out shopping for seasonal produce, or meal planning. Grab the free fruit and vegetables in season in April printable here!

April’s Best

Asparagus season is just beginning, and this tender, flavour-packed vegetable is best eaten as fresh as possible. Purple sprouting broccoli is also at its peak in April, and is great roasted or steamed. Meanwhile, spring greens, such as young cabbages and kale, are at their most tender, offering a tasty crunch to dishes.

Rhubarb is the main fruit available at this time – in particular look out for forced rhubarb from Yorkshire. Its bright pink stems have a tart flavour that works well in sweet dishes, such as crumble, or for adding a bit of a tang to savoury dishes.

The Fruit In Season In April

• Rhubarb

Yup, it’s slim picking for seasonal fruit. But there’s always rhubarb crumble!

The Vegetables In Season In April

• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Cabbage (Spring Green)
• Cauliflower
• Cucumber
• Kale
• Lettuce – here’s how to store lettuce to keep it fresher for longer
• Potatoes (Jersey Royal New Potatoes)
• Purple Sprouting Broccoli
• Radishes
• Rocket
• Samphire
• Spring Onions – here’s how to keep spring onions fresher for longer
• Watercress
• Wild Nettles – here’s how to make wild nettle pesto.

The Herbs to Buy Now

• Basil
• Chives – here’s how to make chive flower vinegar to help preserve the flavour.
• Dill
• Sorrel

Got too many herbs? Here’s how to freeze fresh herbs to help save waste.

What’s On Your Menu This Month?

Enjoy April – eat well and eat seasonally! I’m always curious as to what people are eating this month, so do share any good recipes in the comments below! I’m going to give this asparagus spaghetti a go – I do love a bit of asparagus!

And before you go, don’t forget to grab your free printable on the fruit and vegetables in season in April!