Autumn is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness and marks the end of the growing season. In the UK the harvest season falls around the end of September and the beginning of October. Whether you grow your own vegetables or visit farm shops, greengrocers and markets, you’ll find a wealth of British crops for late summer salads or cosy autumnal feasts.
What is the harvest season? The harvest season is an important time in the British farming calendar as crops are ready to be harvested for food. The harvest festival is traditionally celebrated on the Sunday nearest the harvest moon, which is the full Moon that occurs closest to the autumn equinox, which is today (23rd September).
So, with the Harvest season upon on us we've created our own British harvest guide - what we are harvesting in our own gardens and what you can be too!
HARVESTING TIPS
September is probably the most abundant month in the vegetable garden. Summer crops, such as salads, tomatoes, courgettes, cucumbers and runner beans are still highly productive while autumn crops such as apples, pears, squash, leeks are nearly ready for harvesting.
Use up your tomatoes
If yours are still green at the end of the month, bring them indoors to ripen or use them for chutney.
Apple time
Many apple varieties are ready this month. To check if its time to pick yours, gently cup a fruit and push it upwards - if the apple stalk easily breaks away from the branch its ready!
Freeze your raspberries for winter
Autumn-fruiting raspberries can be picked up to the first frosts. Either enjoy fresh or freeze to enjoy during the winter.
Roots at the ready
Beetroots, carrots and potatoes can be lifted and used. If they are still in the ground when the cold ,wet weather arrives they’re best lifted and stored in a cool dry place. Parsnips can stay in the ground over winter!
Winter salad
Sow some rocket or oriental salad leaves now in a pot, window box or bed and it should germinate quickly and give you small harvests through winter and a flurry of leaves in spring, Position in a sheltered, sunny spot. 
Here's our selection of vegetables and fruits to harvest or buy
Vegetables to harvest or buy
- Beetroot
- Cabbage
- Calabrese
- Cauliflower
- Carrots
- Celery
- Chard
- Courgettes and summer squash
- Cucumbers
- Fennel
- French beans
- Lettuce and other salad leaves
- Potatoes
- Peppers and chilies
- Runner beans
- Tomatoes
- Spinach
- Sweetcorn
- Shallots, onion and garlic
Fruit to harvest or buy
- Blueberries
- Figs
- Raspberries
- Plums and damsons
- Apples and pears