What's in season in Queensland in October

★ Bananafruit

All year in Queensland

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.

★ Blueberryfruit

August to December in Queensland

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.

★ Honeydew melonfruit

August to December in Queensland

Queensland melons come in spring, Western Australian and Northern Territory crops through the dry season, and New South Wales in summer.

★ Papayafruit

All year in Queensland

Papaya and pawpaw are grown almost entirely in far north Queensland and picked all year, with the sweetest fruit in spring and early summer.

★ Pineapplefruit

February to November in Queensland

Queensland picks pineapple for most of the year, with autumn and spring peaks. Summer fruit is noticeably sweeter.

★ Zucchinivegetable

March to December in Queensland

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

Asian greensvegetable

September to March in Queensland

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.

Broccolivegetable

May to October in Queensland

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

Brussels sproutsvegetable

October in Queensland

South Australia's Adelaide Hills grow more Brussels sprouts than anywhere else in the country, and the season is autumn and winter, sweetest after a frost.

Cabbagevegetable

April to October in Queensland

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

July to October in Queensland

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

Celeryvegetable

September to March in Queensland

Victoria grows well over half of the country's celery, with the main season running from late spring through summer.

Fresh herbsherb

October to January in Queensland

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

Garlicvegetable

September to October in Queensland

Most garlic sold in Australia is imported. Local garlic is harvested from September in Queensland through to January in Tasmania, then cured, so new season Australian garlic is in shops from about November.

Grapefruitfruit

May to October in Queensland

A winter citrus from the New South Wales Riverina, South Australia's Riverland and Queensland.

Green beansvegetable

February to November in Queensland

Queensland supplies beans through the southern winter, and Tasmania and Victoria take over in the warmer months.

Leekvegetable

April to October in Queensland

A cool season crop grown mostly in Victoria, available from autumn through spring.

Lettucevegetable

September to April in Queensland

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

Mangofruit

October to March in Queensland

Australia's mango season runs north to south. Darwin picks from late winter, Queensland from October, and Carnarvon in Western Australia carries it into summer. No mango is grown commercially in Victoria or Tasmania, so a producer only market there will not have any.

Peasvegetable

July to November in Queensland

Tasmania grows most of Australia's peas, though mostly for freezing. Fresh snow peas and sugar snaps are a spring crop.

Potatovegetable

March to November in Queensland

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

June to October in Queensland

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

Rockmelonfruit

September to December in Queensland

Queensland supplies rockmelon in spring and New South Wales in summer. Wet weather in growing districts has caused Christmas shortages in recent years.

Spinach and silverbeetvegetable

All year in Queensland

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

Strawberryfruit

June to November in Queensland

The one that surprises people: Queensland grows strawberries through winter, so the southern summer berry and the Queensland winter berry are two different seasons rather than one long one.

Sweet cornvegetable

September to May in Queensland

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.

Tomatovegetable

May to November in Queensland

Bowen and Bundaberg supply the country's winter tomatoes and glasshouses fill the rest of the year. A field tomato in Victoria or South Australia is a late summer crop.