AUGUST

It’s a shame everybody’s on holiday in August. Many of our Old English and American Tomatoes will ripen. Look out for gems such as Ivory Egg, Red Brandywine and yellow, plum-shaped Wonderlight.

We’ll also have a great range of salad leaves — such delights as Pepper Grass and Brown Golding Lettuce. Call us for a full list.

In England, autumn's approach is just apparent. In Scotland, the signs are more obvious. Pieds De Moutons, Ceps and Giroles all spring forth from the wooded Highlands. They are usually of exceptional quality and keenly priced against French.

In England, early Apples begin to ripen and a huge array of Squashes swell on their vines.

Bright green early Kent Cobs are the first nuts of autumn. They’re beautiful enough to decorate fruitbowls, and cheeseboards and they have a deliciously creamy fresh taste. Try them roasted, chopped into salads or pounded into sauces.

The fruitiest, most delicious August highlight has to be the arrival of Italia Muscat Grapes. They are the sweetest, most fragrant grapes of all. They last right through to the beginning of November. In recent years, Italy has dominated the entire grape market in August, providing Black Italia Seeded and White or Deep Red Messina Seedless varieties.

Expect to see Spanish Victoria Plums at the beginning of the month, followed by English in the third, or fourth week. Superb Damsons should be available too, as will French Greengages and wonderful, tiny, aromatic Mirabelles.

New Bramleys make their first appearance and the English Dessert Apple scene begins to take shape. Discovery appear first, followed by Tydeman's Early, Katy, Worcester Reds, Laxton's and finally, Coxes.

In addition to these varieties, we hope to have some truly unusual ones from The Apple Research Station in Kent. Last year, they provided us with 50 plus varieties of home-produced fruit. New Season Golden Delicious arrive from France in late

August, just when the southern hemisphere crop is beginning to taste rather tired. Guyot Pears first reach us in July, but are usually rock-hard and tasteless. By mid-August they have transformed into a sweet and tasty pear, with a juicy texture and a healthy blush.

Peaches and Nectarines continue to arrive in good shape and good quantity, but Apricots begin to get a little scarce by mid-month.

Cherry quality will decline sharply and they'll be gone before the beginning of September.

English Strawberries have been rather inconsistent this year anyway and usually get worse in August. Dutch fruit has remained good-looking, if rather tasteless, in recent years.

Crunchy is not an adjective often used to describe Dates. But Fresh Golden Dates for Egypt and Israel are as crisp as raw chestnuts. They have an unusual sweet, but, astringent taste.

Veg-wise, English Sweetcorn takes a starring role. Sweetcorn must be eaten field-fresh, so imported cobs can't compete with home-grown on taste. Baby Corn In The Husk is a real delicacy. The silken strands protecting the cob can be eaten, as can the inner sheaths of the husk itself.

Bobby Beans should be a good buy and English Runner Beans become excellent value-for-money.

Broccoli is at the mercy of the weather, but should be good, as long as we don't experience a heatwave.

Slender Leaf Broccoli spears are expected to be available throughout the month.

Cauliflower is much more temperamental and can be brilliant, or awful.

Parsnips, Turnips, Swede and Carrots become much more plentiful and therefore, cheaper.

Chilly days in August are not uncommon, so fortunately Plantains are in season - always such a warming, comforting dish.

Talking of warmth, a large selection of Chillies and other Hot Peppers will be available.

The month ends on an exciting veg-note with the arrival of a wonderful array of English Squashes. Such wonders as Acorn, Gem, Spaghetti, and Turk's Turban, plus many more! Potatoes should become relatively cheap and there’ll be a good choice of early varieties.

Roseval Red-Skinned Mids are set to return for another season. They’re at their best in August. Jersey Royals may fade, but English Mids will be plentiful. Larger New Potatoes will begin to set their skins.

English salad growers have not yet mastered the art of growing good Frisee, but one, in particular, excels at Radiccio. Throughout August and into September his glossy purple-red heads are a true delight.

Peppers represent good value and bargains can be found in all colours. Even the Dutch crops are often reasonably priced. English and French Roquette are usually both at their best and it's difficult to know which one to choose. All other salads should be good too, with the possible exception of Celery, if the weather is hot.

English Herbs should be plentiful and there'll be a colourful array of Edible Flowers to choose from.

Summer Savory is worth a mention. Its flavour blends superbly with that of beans.