As spring unfolds, nature offers a rich bounty of fresh produce, from tender broad beans to cheek-puckering rhubarb. This season is ideal for gardeners and food enthusiasts to make the most of the best offerings, whether in the kitchen or the garden. With longer days and warmer weather, now is the time to sow, plant, prune, and harvest for a delicious and rewarding experience.
In the Kitchen: Spring's Finest Flavours
Spring brings a variety of unique ingredients that can elevate any meal. Here are some highlights to enjoy this season.
Elderflower
On sunny May days, when elderflowers emit a heady and sweet scent, they are perfect for picking. Use them to infuse cordial for a refreshing drink. For a special treat, pour a litre of gin into a large, shallow dish and submerge as many elderflower heads as possible, florets down, for two hours. After draining and bottling, enjoy this infused gin with tonic and ice on a warm evening for a delightful spring tipple.
Rhubarb
The world's finest rhubarb originates from a few square miles in Yorkshire, thanks to a unique combination of climate, soil, and cultural practices. For a delicious treat with the freshest stalks, dip raw rhubarb in the syrup from a jar of stem ginger and nibble away. This simple method highlights the natural tartness and sweetness of this spring favourite.
Asparagus
Whether you steam the spears for a few minutes or roast them in a hot oven until charred and nutty, freshness is key. Asparagus loses its full flavour every few hours after being harvested from the field, so seek out the freshest bunches available to enjoy its peak taste and texture.
Radishes
To savour radishes and their leaves at their best, serve them alongside excellent softened butter and a small pile of sea salt, such as Blackthorn. If the radishes are mild, adding a little white pepper to the salt can enhance the flavour, creating a simple yet sophisticated snack.
New Potatoes
The small, nutty, waxy potatoes of spring are a seasonal favourite. The most famous variety, Jersey Royals, also known as International Kidney, are grown on the sunny, seaweed-fertilised slopes of Jersey, called côtils. Their unique growing conditions contribute to their distinctive flavour and texture.
Pea Shoots
Unlike the more assertive rocket, pea shoots offer a sweet, nutty flavour that sings of spring. These succulent tips from pea plants are best enjoyed simply dressed with good olive oil and a little salt, making for a light and vibrant addition to salads or garnishes.
Broad Beans
Broad beans are at their best when served raw, as they often are in Italy. When they are the size of a little fingernail and just plucked from their downy pods, pair them with a wedge of good pecorino cheese, some olive oil, and a scant squeeze of lemon for a fresh and flavourful dish.
In the Garden: Essential Spring Tasks
Spring is a busy time for gardeners, with numerous tasks to ensure a successful growing season. Follow these guidelines to maximise your harvest.
Sowing and Planting
Start by sowing tomatoes and chillies undercover by mid-March. In modules, sow courgettes, cucumbers, squash, sweetcorn, basil, and French beans. For outdoor sowing, focus on broad beans, salad leaves, carrots, peas, beetroot, spinach, and chard, with French beans and sweetcorn added from May onwards. Plant early potatoes in March and main crop varieties from April to ensure a steady supply throughout the season.
Harvesting and Pruning
Harvest early rhubarb with a firm, twisting tug to avoid damaging the plant. Prune stone fruit trees, such as plums and cherries, from late April after they have finished flowering to promote healthy growth. Additionally, earth up potatoes by mounding soil around the stems to protect the tubers and encourage more production.
Garden Maintenance
Cut back soft-leaved perennial herbs, like lovage and chives, to invigorate them and encourage new growth. This simple task helps maintain a productive herb garden throughout the spring and into the summer months.
By embracing these tips, you can fully enjoy spring's bounty, whether through delicious meals in the kitchen or a thriving garden. This season offers endless opportunities to connect with nature and savour the freshest flavours available.
