April is a month of surprises; you can be fooled on day one, caught out by an unexpected downpour or two, happen upon a blanket of bluebells or crack open an Easter egg. Discover what fruit and veg are in season in April and make the most of them with our recipe suggestions.
These April favourites will add balancing freshness to the table next to other seasonal stars like roast lamb, dried fruits, marzipan and, of course, lots and lots of chocolate eggs.
Discover our best spring dinner ideas, top spring one-pots and spring salads for the new season. For a seasonal tipple to accompany your meal, try our spring cocktail recipes.
We also have our guides on what to eat in March and May
April seasonal produce
1. Radishes
Look for radishes that are firm and feel heavy for their size. If they come with their leafy tops on, all the better because you can eat those, too. Try making our vibrant radish salad, a perfect starter for Easter, topped with a crispy pangrattato. It can be served with bread for scooping, or as part of a larger charcuterie spread.
Tip
Try adding halved radishes to a stir-fry.They’ll need about 3-5 minutes so add them towards the end of cooking. Great with pork and black bean sauce. Visit our radish recipes for more ideas.
2. Rocket
This peppery leaf is easy to grow and extremely versatile. You can cook it like spinach in quiches or frittatas, build salads, or turn it into pesto and dollop generously on pasta or a homemade pizza.
How to grow rocket
“Sow seeds in pots or in the ground, covered with a thin layer of soil, and water well. Within a few weeks you’ll be able to snip off leaves. They grow back about three or four times. Keep watering and cut flowering stems. Both flowers and seeds are edible.” Miranda Janatka, BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine
3. Edible flowers
If you’re out picking, not all flowers are edible and some can be very toxic. Check the RHS website and if in doubt, leave them. If buying flowers, check they’re unsprayed (organic) and free from chemicals, or opt for packs of edible flowers available online or from some larger supermarkets. They make a showstopping finishing touch to lots of dishes, but you’ll need to add them at the last minute as they wilt quickly. Alternatively, try crystallising them for a more stable decoration.
Use edible camomile flowers to bake our lemon & yogurt loaf cake or check out our larger collection of botanical baking recipes for more inspiration.
How to crystallise flowers
Holding a flower or petal with tweezers, use a small paintbrush to paint both sides with lightly beaten egg white. Spoon over caster sugar and shake off the excess. Leave to dry for 3 hrs or overnight. Will keep for up to four weeks.
Try making our violet creams, topped with crystallised roses and violets or these delicate floral shortbread biscuits.
4. Round lettuce
With its crispness and subtle sweetness, round lettuce is well complemented by bitter cousins like little gem or endive in a salad, dressed in a mustard vinaigrette. Lots of lettuces cook well, too, so on a colder day try this light and flavourful soup.
How to make mustard vinaigrette
Whisk 2 tsp Dijon mustard with 3 tsp red wine vinegar. Season, then slowly add 2 tbsp sunflower oil, whisking as you go until the mixture is thick and smooth. Stir in 4-5 chopped chives, then dress your salad.
Try these gochujang pork belly lettuce wraps or sticky pork lettuce wraps for another delicious way to enjoy this type of lettuce.
5. Rhubarb
Botanically, rhubarb is a vegetable (it’s related to sorrel and dock) but its thick, fleshy stalks are treated as a fruit, despite their tart flavour. Rhubarb grows in two crops. Forced rhubarb arrives earlier in the year and is grown in darkness, giving a more tender and delicate flavour of the two.
Explore our ways with rhubarb guide for more ways to use rhubarb, including turning it into an easy compote. Try baking our rhubarb, ricotta & pistachio cake and rhubarb & custard pavlova this weekend, or discover more seasonal rhubarb dishes for spring. To make your rhubarb last longer, read our how to freeze rhubarb guide.
More seasonal fruit and veg in April
Seasonal food dates in April
4 April – International Carrot Day
Celebrate with our favourite carrot recipes.
7 April – World Health Day
Find lots of health and nutrition advice on our health hub.
21 April – National Tea Day
Brew fragrant flavours from our tea recipes.
Other dates for your diary:
1 April – April Fool’s Day
1 April-9 April – Passover
3 April – Good Friday
5 April – Easter Sunday
Check out our best Easter recipes.
23 April – St George’s Day
Mark the day with traditional English recipes.
26 April – Virgin Money London Marathon
Fuel yourself for the event with our Friday marathon training meal plan.
See our seasonal calendar for more inspiration.
More seasonal recipes and information
Our top 20 spring recipes
Foraging: a beginner’s guide
Spring greens recipe collection
10 recipes to make you feel like spring is here
Healthy spring recipes
Top 10 rhubarb recipes
Easter hub page
