The 4 seasons
The 4 seasons
Today, International Earth Day, we celebrate it with our post dedicated to the vegetable calendar of native products, in the islands. Enjoy it.
The Balearic Islands, and specifically Mallorca, have an excellent location in the Mediterranean area. This clearly influences their climate, which although the 4 seasons are perfectly differentiated, they generally enjoy a moderate Mediterranean climate, without extremes, very stable.
We have already commented in another post on the average annual temperatures, which make the islands a paradise for plant growth. Throughout the year there is a continuous explosion of flowering plants and trees that logically increases with the spring.
The favourable climate, together with a traditional fruit and vegetable cultivation, allows us to find tasty and fresh products all year round. In this post we will try to follow the agricultural calendar throughout the year.
Since we are already in April, let’s start with the products of this season. The spring gives us the gift of flowering of almost all fruit trees, even if the fruit production occurs at different times of the year. For example now we can find the orange trees in flower, the plums, the quinces, the apricots, the olive trees… Although at the moment the agricultural production in nurseries allows to obtain all the fruits and vegetables throughout the year, we are going to follow which is, in a natural way, the seasonality and that we can harvest in this month if we encourage us to cultivate our own garden.
April: Lemon, medlar tree, chard, onions, garlic, lettuce, pepper, leek..
The lemon tree has the peculiarity of being able to give rotes, flowers and fruits at the same time although the spring is the best moment. As for the medlar tree, a very typical fruit tree in Mallorca gives us its delicious fruits in this season. As for vegetables, it is a delight to be able to harvest the fresh chard that grows naturally in the field.
May: Apricot, peach, loquat, spinach, asparagus, peppers, leeks, carrots, beetroot.
The apricot is a very Mediterranean fruit and very typical of Mallorca. The apricots of Porreres are famous, delicious both fresh and dried, which allow us to enjoy them all year round.
June: Apricot, plum, lemon, peach, melon, watermelon, green beans, onion, garlic, tomato, carrot, beetroot, courgette, comb, pepper.
Melon and watermelon are the classic summer fruits and make us enjoy from June to the end of September.
July: Apricot, plum, fig, lemon, peach, melon, watermelon, garlic, onion, zucchini, pumpkin, green beans, lettuce, cucumber, pepper, tomatoes, carrot, beet.
Tomatoes in July are at their best, it is the ideal time for gazpachos and to make natural preserves for the whole winter. Also for jams.
August: Plums, figs, lemon, peach, melon, watermelon, garlic, onion, zucchini, pumpkin, green beans, tomato, cucumber, carrot, beetroot. Almond, carob.
Figs are the star fruit of the month of August, it is time during this month, to enjoy them because they last a short time and take advantage to make jam or candied figs. It is important to note at this time of year that almonds are harvested and used extensively in the islands’ cuisine, especially in the preparation of desserts. The carob is a little known fruit, but very typical of these lands. In recent years, with the growing interest of young people in vegan cuisine and the awareness of the use of natural products in cosmetics, the use of carob for human consumption has increased greatly, as it was previously used basically to feed animals, especially donkeys and horses. In humans, it is used to make flour for pastries, chocolate substitute for diabetics and in the manufacture of cosmetics.
September: In this month the pomegranates begin to appear although their peak is in December. Grapes, melon, pumpkin, garlic, onion, spinach, cucumber, leek, tomato, carrot.
October: Pomegranate, persimmon, quince, custard apple, kiwi, grape, chard, garlic, onion, eggplant, pumpkin, spinach, cucumber, pepper, cabbage, beet, carrot.
The most exotic fruits appear at this time, very seasonal and although you can currently find in stores almost all fruits throughout the year, these are especially typical of this time and you will hardly find them out of season. For example quince, persimmon and pomegranate. It is time to make quince jelly and eat it with Mallorcan or Mahon cheese.November: Pomegranate, persimmon, quince, custard apple, tangerine, orange, grape, chard, garlic, artichoke, aubergine, pumpkin, courgette, red cabbage, spinach, peas, leek, pepper, beetroot, carrot. In the south of Mallorca late October early November is the ideal time to harvest the olive in Mallorca, although in the peninsula depending on the weather it is harvested at other times. But in general it is at the end of the summer that the formation of oil in the olive begins. In the last years the cultivation of olive trees has grown a lot in the islands, producing oils of great quality, very appreciated by the most gourmets.
December: Persimmon, custard apple, lemon, tangerine, orange, grape, chard, garlic, onion, artichoke, red cabbage, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, peas, pepper, leek, beet, carrot, The peas are an exquisite vegetable that we can frame in the group of legumes. It is a delicacy to pick up the fresh peas and cook them on the spot, even eating them raw directly from the bush. They are also short lived so we are more used to eating them frozen or canned. Being able to eat them fresh is a real privilege.
January: Lemon, tangerine, orange, chard, artichoke, garlic, red cabbage, cabbage, cauliflower, peas, beans, pepper, leek, carrot. Like peas, beans are a delicacy that we only enjoy fresh a few weeks a year. Take advantage of the month of January to eat them or to make your own preserves.
February: In February we repeat the products of January: Lemon, tangerine, orange, chard, artichoke, garlic, red cabbage, cabbage, cauliflower, peas, beans, pepper, leek, carrot. Like peas, beans are a delicacy that we only enjoy fresh a few weeks a year. Take advantage of the month of January to eat them or to make your own preserves. Although it is necessary to emphasize in this month the flowering of the almond-tree, floral spectacle by which many tourists come to enjoy the field at this time.
March: In addition to all the above, in March we highlight the production of asparagus. If you live in the countryside, a morning walk in search of wild asparagus can become a good physical activity to start the day, and while you’re at it, you can enjoy a delicious asparagus scramble for breakfast.