Preserving the Harvest-- when was the harvest?

[bunnyjadwiga]

1. Greens-- most popular in fall/winter and spring-- esp. mentioned for Lent
   1. Leeks
   2. Spinach
   3. Beet greens (aka swiss chard)
   4. Lettuces
   5. Cabbage/coleworts
   1. Note that broccoli, cauliflower, are late period and usually fall veg, though some broccoli & broccoli raab is now available in the spring
   2. brussels sprouts? who knows? the documentation we have is for cutting the baby cabbages that sprout from the stem after cabbage is harvested.
   Potherbs: used apparently all year round, incombination with (1)
   1. Parsley
   2. cress
   3. Turnip greens
   4. Mustardgreens and other potherbs
2. Roots-- have a definite growing season, generally harvested in summer/fall; can be kept in cold storage/pickled
   1. onions (though scallions/green onions are available in the spring)
   2. garlic
   3. parsnips/carrots
   4. turnips/navews, etc
3. Fruit
1. Apples: season early August-mid-november
2. Pears: July through frost
3. Medlars: after frost
4. Quinces: September-December
5. Strawberries: May/June
6. Blackberries: July through Michaelmas (Sept 29)
7. Melons: midsummer through September
8. mulberries: June/July
   
9. Apricots?
10. Peaches: Midsummer through september
11. cherries: midsummer (July?)
12. Sloes/plums: midsummer
13. lingonberries, whortleberries, etc.
4. Other Veg
1. Lagenaria gourds: midsummer through Novembe
2. Fava beans
3. Peas: fresh-- May; dried: ?
4. Asparagus: spring, esp. May
5. Grains
1. Barley: september?
2. "Winter" Wheat: July-early august
3. Rye
4. Millet
5. Oats
6. Meat: available year-round, but slaughtering was also seasonal
   1. Kid
   2. Lamb: early lamb is spring-summer
   3. Mutton: year round, though most culling done in fall.
   4. Veal
   5. Beef: year round, though most culling done in fall.
   6. Pig: fattened and killed in November, usually
   7. Chicken: year round
   8. Game birds
   9. Venison
   10. Rabbits/Hares: available year round, though more plentiful in summer/early fall

These are rough estimates based on English sources, and current modern parameters.

Ok, so what else am I missing?

Comments

[math5.livejournal.com]

garlic with onions?
the way I've seen it done for peas you keep them 1-2 weeks longer before harvest when you want to store dry.
What about the nuts? Do you consider that there's niothing special to do for long-term storage?

[jdulac.livejournal.com]

wheat is generally harvested in July. That's also when the bread riots tend to occur after a few bad years, as the last years stocks are low and the new wheat not in yet.

Meat is hugely seasonal, largely based on the reproductive cycle. You can't get lamb in November. Or rather, it isn't quite lamb. You get piglets in the spring, but it is generally not getting the most meat for the effort if you slaughter pigs before November (they are fattened on the acorns in the woods in the fall). Large game is generally hunted in the autumn. And so on...

[landverhuizer.livejournal.com]

bunnies (just first thing that popped into mind :S), available fresh much of the time.

Not sure all seasonal meats were, at least not commonly, available in all seasons even keeping in mind preservation.

what about fish? Possibly too many to go through quickly but there are different seasons for them too.

cherries, summer

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

I suspect that for some of the plant crops, the timing depends on latitude. Stuff grown in Italy or Spain will tend to be available sooner (and perhaps have a longer range of availability) than stuff grown in Britain and Scandinavia.

Under greens -- turnip greens! And possibly mustard greens as well, which may have a different growing season than most greens. How about cresses (such as watercress)?

Under fruits -- cranberries/lingonberries and other members of that family. Possibly including blueberries but I don't know for sure.

under other veg -- asparagus (where it was available in period). I don't know if cauliflower would fall under cabbages (group 1) or not.

Grains -- oats (in Scotland/Ireland anyway)?

[math5.livejournal.com]

I suspect that for some of the plant crops, the timing depends on latitude.
It does. It also affect the plants/strains available (there's already a clear difference between North and South of France).
I knew I had forgotten a parameter :)

[bunnykissd.livejournal.com]

Mulberries are a July kinda thing if I remember correctly... At least, that's when I make my annual trip to Mary-Jo's for harvesting them off her tree! LOL! I think I forgot to go this year!

[bunnykissd.livejournal.com]

Ooops... End of June thing, not July! I wonder if she's still got them on her tree... yes tree... it's one GI-NORMOUS bush! LOL!

[hljod-huskona.livejournal.com]

Brussel Sprouts: I don't know about historical contexts in England, but I do know that they are a colder vegetable and are usually harvested in the colder months of Fall (this is when we've harvested ours, too). Hope that might help! =)