September marks the end of summer and the start of autumn, giving it something of a split personality. What you choose to eat may depend on your own feelings towards these seasons as well as the weather. Of summer there is much remaining – a glut of tomatoes, onions and marrows to be preserved for the winter. But even if days are glorious, there is likely to be a nip in the evening air and barbeques will begin to give way to roasts. The alternate play between rain and sun brings forth flushes of fungi and blackberries need picking from the hedgerows. Partridge and wild duck are added to the grouse on sale at the butchers. Plums are at their peak in the orchards.
In the garden | |
Fruit Plums and Damsons Mid-season apples: Charles Ross, James Grieve, Lord Lamborne Crab apples Early pears: Conference & Williams Figs Autumn Raspberries Cobnuts Herbs Basil Thyme Sage Rosemary Bay Salads Tomatoes |
Vegetables Cauliflower Onions Marrow Runner Beans Sweetcorn Chillies Kohl Rabi |
In the wild | |
Field and Horse Mushrooms Chanterelles Hazelnuts Blackberries Rosehips Elderberries |
Beasts of the Land | |
Meat & Game Grouse Partridge Duck Pigeon Venison |
More Michaelmas Goose Pork |
Beasts of River and Sea | |
Fish Mussels Red Mullet Squid |