Spring Vegetables (March–May)

Vegetable	Peak Season	Storage	Flavor	Pairs With
Asparagus	Apr–May	3–5 days fridge	Grassy, nutty, slightly bitter	Lemon, garlic, butter, eggs, cheese
Spring greens	Mar–May	5–7 days fridge	Tender, mild, slightly sweet	Vinaigrette, berries, nuts
Peas (English)	Apr–May	3–5 days fridge	Sweet, tender	Butter, mint, garlic, cheese
Radishes	Mar–May	2–3 weeks fridge	Peppery, crisp, spicy	Butter, salt, vinegar

Summer Vegetables (June–August)

Vegetable	Peak Season	Storage	Flavor	Pairs With
Tomatoes	Jun–Sep	3–5 days room temp, don’t refrigerate	Sweet, acidic, umami	Basil, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, mozzarella
Zucchini	Jun–Aug	4–5 days fridge	Mild, tender, water-rich	Garlic, herbs, lemon, parmesan
Summer squash	Jun–Aug	4–5 days fridge	Mild, slightly sweet	Garlic, herbs, oil, cheese
Green beans	Jul–Sep	5–7 days fridge	Mild, tender-crisp, slightly sweet	Garlic, lemon, sesame, almond
Bell peppers	Jul–Sep	1–2 weeks fridge	Sweet, slightly fruity	Garlic, onion, tomato, olive oil
Corn	Jul–Sep	3–5 days fridge in husk	Sweet, tender, milky	Butter, salt, lime, herbs
Cucumbers	Jun–Aug	5–7 days fridge	Mild, crisp, watery	Vinegar, dill, salt, lemon

Fall Vegetables (September–November)

Vegetable	Peak Season	Storage	Flavor	Pairs With
Leafy greens (kale, collards)	Sep–Nov	5–7 days fridge	Slightly bitter, hearty, chewy	Vinegar, oil, garlic, lemon
Winter squash	Sep–Nov	1–3 months room temp	Sweet, starchy, caramelized	Butter, sage, nutmeg, oil
Carrots	Sep–Nov	2–3 weeks room temp or fridge	Sweet, earthy, crunchy	Oil, salt, vinegar, herbs, ginger
Beets	Sep–Nov	2–3 weeks room temp or fridge	Sweet, earthy, dense	Vinegar, oil, dill, garlic
Broccoli	Sep–Nov	5–7 days fridge	Mild, tender florets, slightly bitter stalks	Garlic, lemon, oil, cheese
Cauliflower	Sep–Nov	5–7 days fridge	Mild, tender, nutty when roasted	Garlic, oil, lemon, vinegar, cumin
Brussels sprouts	Sep–Nov	5–7 days fridge	Slightly bitter, nutty, cabbage-like	Oil, vinegar, garlic, salt

Winter Vegetables (December–February)

Vegetable	Peak Season	Storage	Flavor	Pairs With
Leafy greens (kale, collards, spinach)	Dec–Feb	5–7 days fridge	Slightly bitter, hearty, chewy	Vinegar, oil, garlic, lemon
Root vegetables (carrots, beets, turnips)	Dec–Feb	2–3 weeks room temp or fridge	Sweet, earthy, dense	Oil, salt, vinegar, herbs
Winter squash	Dec–Feb	1–3 months cool dark place	Sweet, starchy, dense	Butter, sage, nutmeg
Cabbage	Dec–Feb	2–3 weeks fridge	Mild, sweet, crisp	Vinegar, caraway, oil, salt
Broccoli	Dec–Feb	5–7 days fridge	Mild, tender, slightly bitter	Garlic, lemon, oil, cheese
Cauliflower	Dec–Feb	5–7 days fridge	Mild, tender, nutty	Garlic, oil, lemon, curry spices

Year-Round Vegetables

Vegetable	Availability	Storage	Flavor	Pairs With
Spinach	All year	5–7 days fridge	Mild, slightly sweet, tender	Vinegar, oil, garlic, lemon
Lettuce/greens	All year	5–7 days fridge	Mild, crisp, fresh	Vinaigrette, salt, herbs
Onions	All year storage	2–3 months cool dark place	Sweet → sharp	Garlic, salt, vinegar, herbs
Garlic	All year storage	2–3 months cool dark place	Pungent, sharp, sweetens when cooked	Herbs, oil, salt, vinegar

Flavor Pairing Strategy

Acid (vinegar, lemon) brightens mild vegetables and balances rich fats. Fat (oil, butter) carries flavor and is essential for roasted vegetables. Salt amplifies natural sweetness. Garlic works with almost everything. Fresh herbs = brightness; dried herbs = intensity. Umami (soy, miso, cheese, tomato) deepens savory vegetables.

Quick Month-by-Month Shopping Guide

• March–May (Spring): Asparagus, peas, spring greens, radishes
• June–August (Summer): Tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, green beans, corn, cucumbers
• September–November (Fall): Leafy greens, winter squash, carrots, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts
• December–February (Winter): Root vegetables, winter squash, hardy greens, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower

Connects To

Bottom Line

Buy vegetables in season. They taste better, cost less, and are more reliable. Use the pairing chart to build simple, flavorful dishes. Keep root vegetables and winter squash on hand year-round for reliable weeknight cooking.