Through the seasons / Belgium
Seasonal fruit and vegetables in Belgium: a month-by-month calendar
A Belgian apple in January may come from the autumn harvest. A tomato sold in winter has not necessarily grown in step with the local season. When choosing produce, consider the month, the origin and the growing method together.
The month-by-month calendar
These examples provide pointers for Belgium, to read alongside Apaq-W’s Walloon calendar. They are neither a complete inventory nor a promise of availability. Weather, region, variety and growing under unheated cover can bring harvests forward or delay them.
The “Harvests” column gives seasonal examples. “Stored produce” means products from an earlier harvest kept in suitable conditions. Availability depends on varieties and stocks: Belgian origin does not prove that something was recently harvested.
| Month | Harvests | Stored produce |
|---|---|---|
| January | Leeks, Brussels sprouts, lamb’s lettuce | Apples, carrots, potatoes |
| February | Leeks, Savoy cabbage, lamb’s lettuce | Apples, parsnips, potatoes |
| March | Leeks, spinach | Apples, carrots, onions |
| April | Rhubarb, radishes, spinach | Apples and potatoes, depending on stocks |
| May | Asparagus, rhubarb, radishes, lettuce | Potatoes, depending on stocks |
| June | Strawberries, peas, lettuce, radishes | Onions, depending on stocks |
| July | Cherries, raspberries, courgettes, green beans | Fresh harvests take over |
| August | Plums, blackberries, tomatoes, courgettes | First dried onions |
| September | Apples, pears, plums, squash | Potatoes, onions |
| October | Apples, pears, leeks, cabbage | Squash, potatoes, onions |
| November | Leeks, Brussels sprouts, lamb’s lettuce | Apples, pears depending on variety, squash |
| December | Leeks, Savoy cabbage, lamb’s lettuce | Apples, carrots, squash |
References: Apaq-W: seasonal fruit and vegetable calendar for Wallonia (in French) ; Écoconso: storing fruit and vegetables in winter (in French)
Local, seasonal and organic: three separate questions
Origin answers “where was this grown?”. Seasonality concerns the production cycle. Organic refers to a certified production method. Any one of these criteria does not automatically tell you the other two.
Apaq-W describes its calendar as a guide excluding heated greenhouses and excessively long refrigerated storage. A seasonal calendar is therefore not simply a list of everything available on shop shelves throughout the year.
At a market or farm, ask practical questions: is this your harvest, a partner’s produce, a stored product or a greenhouse crop? Where you buy it does not establish its origin. Answers are more useful than a general impression of closeness.
References: Apaq-W: seasonal fruit and vegetable calendar for Wallonia (in French) ; Écoconso: distinguishing organic, local and seasonal (in French)
Plan meals around the harvest
Choose two or three available vegetables first, then adapt your recipes. In winter, a leek dish, squash soup and lamb’s lettuce salad bring variety without looking for summer vegetables. Adjust quantities to suit your household.
In spring, leave room for changes from week to week. In summer, plan to use delicate berries promptly. In autumn, distinguish what needs eating first from what can be kept longer in suitable conditions.
A simple substitution can keep a recipe seasonal: cabbage instead of courgette in soup, or apple compote instead of fresh berries. These are cooking ideas, not statements of nutritional equivalence.
Store produce according to its needs
Different products need different conditions. Whole squash and dry onions can be kept in a suitable dry, ventilated place. Leafy vegetables and berries are more delicate. Once cut, a product cannot be stored in the same way as when it was whole.
Écoconso describes several storage methods, including for apples, pears and root vegetables. Their suitability depends on the condition of the produce and the temperature and humidity of the storage space. Check your supplies regularly rather than treating an indicative storage period as a guarantee.
Shop according to your equipment and planned meals. Before cooking, wash fruit and vegetables with clean water, particularly when they will be eaten raw, as EFSA recommends.
References: Écoconso: storing fruit and vegetables in winter (in French) ; EFSA: proper food handling (in French)
Frequently asked questions
Is a Belgian apple in winter out of season?
It may come from an autumn harvest that has been stored. That is different from a winter harvest. Check its origin and ask the producer which varieties and stocks are available.
Does this calendar apply everywhere in Belgium?
It provides indicative guidance using a Walloon reference. Exact dates vary with the region, growing conditions and the year’s weather.
Does Be-local already offer seasonal produce boxes?
No. The illustrations and calendar are editorial content. Product orders, subscriptions and handover arrangements are not available through this site.
Sources and references
References consulted on . Written for Be-local; the organisations cited are not project partners.
- Apaq-W: seasonal fruit and vegetable calendar for Wallonia (in French)
- Écoconso: storing fruit and vegetables in winter (in French)
- Écoconso: distinguishing organic, local and seasonal (in French)
- EFSA: proper food handling (in French)
This general information does not replace product labelling or guidance from the relevant authorities.
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