April

April is a wonderful month, not least due to the arrival of Nisperos or Summer Medlars. The apricot- coloured sweet and sour, succulent fruits are really something to look forward to. Delicious eaten raw like a plum, poached, or even made into a pie or crumble. A real Mediterranean treat! They should be in stock by mid-month.

Jersey Royals are likely to be available throughout the month but will only become reasonably priced towards the end. Their quality is likely to be exceptional throughout. Last year, Large Potato prices only doubled during April, but the year before they reached £25 a bag!

Hop Shoots are not the most reliable of crops but they are one of the most delicious. The beautiful, deep purple, tangy spears should be available for advanced orders, later in the month.

Brilliant, but pricey, glasshouse-grown English Asparagus makes a glorious entrance at the beginning of the month. In terms of looks and taste, it really is unbeatable. If you’re looking for a bargain, however, turn to Portugal or Spain. The competition between the senders is so fierce that price-slashing becomes the norm. The spears are not as perfect as those of the home-produced crop but are tasty enough, and unbeatable value.

Other high quality vegetables include Barbera (Spaghetti Weed) and maybe some early Samphire at the end of the month.

English Spinach gets better and better as the weather becomes milder.

Dutch Aubergines are rarely anything other than excellent. Their price is as high as their quality in March, but in April they should become much better value.

New season French Turnips are a real April treat.

Dutch Leeks should be at their slender, tender best but Spanish Onions will certainly be at their worst. English are better. Chilean come in at a high price, but are well worth it. Firm, fresh, large new season bulbs, with a great taste.

Portuguese Hispe Cabbage gains a few fans in March but it’s not until the English crop is ready in April that the price falls enough to allow full-scale use. The squeaky, golden hearted sweetie is a must.

Don’t bother to order Brussels Sprouts though. If there are any, they’re likely to be of poor quality. Spring Greens are a cheapish special treat.

French and USA Apples begin to suffer from ageing and we will turn to Chile and South Africa for our supplies. Cape Top Red were a very popular variety last year. Coxes fade from the scene too but Cape Royal Gala are not a bad alternative.

Melon prices often reach ridiculous heights in April as supplies become short. Citrus is between season-ish.

Blood Oranges started early this year and may not last the month, but slightly blood-flecked Sanguina are an excellent alternative.

Quality problems are likely in Grapes. White Seedless usually suffer very badly but some good Chilean fruit may arrive. Sunred Seedless may remain good throughout the month but an early start this year, may signify an early disappearance. Barlinka Large Black Seeded should step into the fray.

Cape Plums will certainly come to an end, leaving Chilean Roysum and Angelino to hold the fort.

Price is the main attraction of Spanish Strawberries. Sadly, their quality may falter if warm weather hits Spain early. English will be around by mid-month, but are usually watery at first. Dutch are often tastier, but very dear.

Tiny Seedless Lychees are shy superstars that occasionally grace us with their presence in April. They’re as sweet as they are beautiful — catch them if you can!

If you are looking for a substitute for fading Bramley Apples, you could do worse than choose English Rhubarb. It’s good and cheap. Easy-Peelers become extremely difficult.

New Brazilian Satsumas look good but taste sharp.

Salad crops have their ups and downs in late Spring. Tomatoes, Lettuce and Cucumber prices should fall as the English production gets underway. Spanish Peppers fade in the heat leaving the Dutch to monopolise the market. As usual, they take advantage of the situation by putting prices up. Not until the end of the month, when the English crop arrives, will prices settle down.

Avocados go through a bad patch as the Spanish season winds down. Fortunately, the South African season is due to start mid-month and the fruit is invariably excellent.

Wonderful Wild Garlic will continue to excite the palate throughout the month. Radiccio suffers from a touch of the slimes as the weather becomes warmer in Italy. Some years are worse than others.

Green-houses and tunnels encourage a host of English Herbs to get up and grow early. Lovage, Angelica, Sweet Cicely, Lemon Balm and all manner of wonderful Mints will be available soon after Easter, if we get some spring sunshine.

In Mushrooms, Fresh Morelles are the subtly perfumed stars. They’ll be available throughout the month, followed much later by the first Fresh Ceps of the season. St Georges are supposed to appear on April 23rd but often don't arrive until early May.