So as not to forget to eat in step with each season, respecting local production and our own bodies, here is a short reminder calendar and a brilliant tool that tells you a great deal about every vegetable.

To keep this seasonal vegetable calendar to hand at all times, save this tool in your bookmarks: Toolsimple - Les légumes.

This natural seasonality holds for France. Remember to freeze your cooked vegetables so you can eat courgettes all year round and butternut purée in the middle of summer ;-) This calendar matches a classic seasonal diet (in France), useful for planning menus and shopping, or for teaching children about "eating in season".

January

  • Leek
  • Carrot
  • Green cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Chicory
  • Potato
  • Turnip
  • Celeriac
  • Beetroot
  • Onion

February

  • Leek
  • Carrot
  • Red cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Chicory
  • Potato
  • Turnip
  • Celeriac
  • Spinach
  • Beetroot

March

  • Leek
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Spinach
  • Radish
  • Turnip
  • Celery
  • Potato
  • Onion
  • Beetroot

April

  • Asparagus
  • Spinach
  • Radish
  • New carrot
  • Leek
  • Lettuce
  • Spring onion
  • Cauliflower
  • New turnip
  • Chard

May

  • Asparagus
  • Courgette
  • Radish
  • Lettuce
  • Spinach
  • Garden pea
  • New carrot
  • Chard
  • Cucumber
  • Fennel

June

  • Courgette
  • Cucumber
  • Tomato
  • Aubergine
  • Pepper
  • Green bean
  • Lettuce
  • Carrot
  • Fennel
  • Garden pea

July

  • Tomato
  • Courgette
  • Aubergine
  • Pepper
  • Green bean
  • Cucumber
  • Salad leaves (lettuce, batavia)
  • Carrot
  • Beetroot
  • Onion

August

  • Tomato
  • Courgette
  • Aubergine
  • Pepper
  • Green bean
  • Cucumber
  • Sweetcorn
  • Carrot
  • Fennel
  • Chard

September

  • Tomato
  • Courgette
  • Aubergine
  • Pepper
  • Green bean
  • Leek
  • Carrot
  • Beetroot
  • Cauliflower
  • Onion squash

October

  • Onion squash
  • Butternut squash
  • Leek
  • Cauliflower
  • Broccoli
  • Carrot
  • Beetroot
  • Turnip
  • Spinach
  • Potato

November

  • Leek
  • Green cabbage
  • Brussels sprout
  • Carrot
  • Turnip
  • Celeriac
  • Beetroot
  • Chicory
  • Potato
  • Squash

December

  • Leek
  • Carrot
  • Green cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Chicory
  • Turnip
  • Celeriac
  • Beetroot
  • Potato
  • Onion

And to get children eating vegetables, there is nothing better than a little nod on the plate with embroidered vegetable names: