The 19 things in the Typed food library at their best in May — cheapest, most local, and grown outdoors rather than under glass or shipped. These are open-ground growing seasons for the northern hemisphere; in the southern hemisphere read this page as November.
New this month
Not in season in April, in season now.
Everything in season in May
- AsparagusA prebiotic fibre source, famous for a harmless and genetically variable side effect.
- BananaA practical potassium source — tablets are capped far lower for safety.
- CarrotsCooking actually makes its signature nutrient easier to absorb.
- CucumberMostly water by weight — which is exactly the point of it.
- Daikon RadishDaikon is a crunchy, watery radish that's low in calories but surprisingly high in vitamin C, and its natural enzymes may give your stomach a small hand with starchy food.
- Iceberg LettuceIceberg lettuce isn't "just crunchy water" - it's mostly water, but that water comes packaged with real vitamin K.
- LettuceNearly all water — but the darker the leaf, the more it actually gives you.
- MangoOne of the few fruits genuinely rich in both vitamin C and vitamin A.
- PapayaContains a digestive enzyme, plus one of the highest vitamin C counts of any fruit.
- PineappleContains bromelain — the same enzyme sold as a digestive supplement.
- RadishRadishes are mostly water and crunch, but that spicy bite is doing real work in your body.
- RhubarbA very low-calorie, high-fiber stalk vegetable with a distinctly tart bite.
- RocketRocket is in the mustard family, not the lettuce family, and that is where the peppery taste comes from.
- Romaine LettuceRomaine is mostly water and crunch, but it packs a real dose of vitamin K and vitamin A into very few calories.
- Snap PeasA handful of snap peas can cover your whole day's vitamin C, pod and all.
- Snow PeasSnow peas are the crunchy whole pod you eat, pea and all -- low calorie, high in vitamin C, and good for digestion.
- SpinachThe Popeye story about spinach and iron is not quite true.
- StrawberriesA genuinely strong vitamin C source people do not associate with berries.
- WatercressWatercress is a peppery little green that punches way above its weight -- basically a multivitamin with crunch.
A season says when something is at its best, not what is on the shelf. Almost all of this is available all year through glasshouses, controlled-atmosphere storage and imports — the season is the thing the price tag hides.
Other months