What's in season in New South Wales in October

★ Asian greensvegetable

August to May in New South Wales

Bok choy, choy sum, gai lan and wombok are grown in overlapping plantings around Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, so there is some in every month. Cooler months give the best leaves.

★ Asparagusvegetable

September to November in New South Wales

One of the shortest and most clearly seasonal vegetables in the country, and close to the only reliable sign that spring has arrived at a market. Victoria grows nearly all of it.

★ Blueberryfruit

June to February in New South Wales

The mid north coast of New South Wales grows most of the country's blueberries and starts picking in winter, well before Victoria and Tasmania pick in summer.

Avocadofruit

July to October in New South Wales

Queensland picks through autumn and winter and Western Australia takes over in spring, which is why avocado never quite feels seasonal even though each region's crop is.

Bananafruit

February to November in New South Wales

Queensland grows over nine in ten Australian bananas and picks them all year. Lady fingers are the smaller, sweeter variety worth looking for from autumn to spring.

Beetrootvegetable

May to October in New South Wales

Queensland's Lockyer Valley grows most of the country's beetroot, with the best of it through winter.

Broccolivegetable

March to December in New South Wales

A cool season crop. Queensland supplies it through winter and Victoria and Tasmania through spring and summer.

Cabbagevegetable

February to October in New South Wales

Grown in almost every state and planted in batches, so there is local cabbage for most of the year. Winter heads are the densest.

Cauliflowervegetable

May to October in New South Wales

A winter vegetable. Victoria grows the most, and the heads are firmest and whitest in the cold months.

Cucumbervegetable

October to December in New South Wales

Grown in South Australian and Queensland glasshouses year round, so local cucumbers are always around. Field cucumbers are a summer crop.

Fresh herbsherb

September to March in New South Wales

Soft herbs such as basil and coriander peak in late spring and summer. Parsley, chives and mint run for much of the year.

Lettucevegetable

July to March in New South Wales

Victoria grows lettuce in the warmer months and Queensland's Lockyer Valley takes over for winter, so it never really leaves.

Orangefruit

June to February in New South Wales

Navels are the winter orange and Valencias the summer one. The New South Wales Riverina grows the most of both.

Parsnipvegetable

April to October in New South Wales

A cool season root grown mostly in Victoria and Western Australia, at its sweetest in winter.

Potatovegetable

January to November in New South Wales

Australia's biggest vegetable crop. Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria grow most of it, and staggered plantings plus storage keep local potatoes in supply all year.

Raspberryfruit

April and June to October in New South Wales

Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales pick raspberries in summer, and Queensland grows a winter crop.

Spinach and silverbeetvegetable

All year in New South Wales

English spinach, silverbeet and kale grow year round in Victoria and Queensland. They are at their best in the cooler months.

Sweet cornvegetable

October to May in New South Wales

Queensland grows most Australian sweet corn, and it is a summer crop in every state. Buy it as close to picking as you can, because the sugar turns to starch within days.

Zucchinivegetable

April to November in New South Wales

Queensland grows zucchini through the southern winter and the southern states take over in summer.