July sees the (hopefully) long, warm summer days stretch well into the evening. Why not take a break from sipping pimms on the lawn, and check out what's going on in your veg patch!

So, what treats can you expect to find on your plate this month?

• Food of the month: strawberries
• Strawberry recipes
• Also in season
• In the garden

About strawberries

Strawberries, once a seasonal treat have become a year round commonplace, but the pulpy, tasteless fruit cannot be compared to the richly sensual fresh fruit eaten straight off the plant whilst still warm from the sun.

Our climate is perfect for berry fruits and of all the berry fruits that evoke the seasons, strawberries are top of the list. The strawberry season starts in June and the vast range of varieties means that outdoor strawberries can keep going until autumn.

You should keep your strawberries out of the fridge, as they really do taste better when eaten at (summer) room temperature.

Did you know?
Strawberries are the only fruit with their seeds on the outside.

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Strawberry recipes

So, your hard work has paid off, and you are rewarded with a glut of juicy strawberries ripe for the picking, and you can't face another bowl of strawberries and cream, so be inspired with our two scrumptious strawberry recipes.

Strawberry Cider

Treat yourselves and your guests to a refreshing glass of strawberry cider this summer.

Ingredients:

• 500g strawberries
• 2 tablespoons caster sugar
• Juice of 1 orange
• 500ml sweet cider, chilled
• Ice

Method:

• Crush strawberries lightly and place in a bowl.
• Scatter over the sugar and add orange juice.
• Macerate for 1 hour.
• Top up with cider, add ice and serve!

From 'Farmhouse Cookery' by Laura Mason

Sissinghurst strawberry cheesecake

Everybody loves strawberries, everybody loves cheesecake, so making this super recipe can't fail to delight!

Method:

Preheat oven to 180^oc / gas mark 4

Biscuit:

• Put butter, cream & sugar in pan, keep stirring and slowly bring to boil.
• Remove from heat and stir in almonds and flour.
• Spread half mixture over a baking sheet in a 20cm round, and bake for 10-12 minutes.
• Cool for 2 minutes on the sheet and then put on a rack.
• Repeat with rest of mixture.

Filling:

• Beat the cream cheese until softened, and then gradually beat in the milk, lemon zest, juice and double cream.
• Chill for 2-4 hours until set.
• Press four strawberries through a sieve, into a pan. Add the sugar and redcurrant jelly and heat gently, stirring to dissolve. Boil for 2-3 minutes until syrupy, then cool.
• Slice the remaining strawberries.
• Break the biscuit into shards.
• Layer up the cheesecake and strawberries in tumbler glasses and then dust with icing sugar.
• Chill until ready to serve.

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Also in season

Although it's tempting, man cannot live on strawberries alone. So what other goodies are out there for the eating?

Fruit: blackberries, blueberries, cherries, elderflowers, gooseberries, loganberries, raspberries, redcurrants and rhubarb.

Vegetables: Artichokes, beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chard, cucumber, dandelion, fennel, garlic,kohl rabi, lettuce, onions, spring onions, peas, potatoes, radish, rocket, samphire, shallots, sorrel, spinach, turnips, watercress.

In the garden

So we reach the height of the great British summer, and it's not just us enjoying the sunshine - your garden is soaking it up too!

• Watering will be big business this season. Aim to water your plants in the cooler hours to avoid evaporation - or follow the green gardening advice from Nyman's garden, and reduce the watering by 50 per cent by watering at night!
• Pinch out your tomatoes and runner beans to ensure that you get the best harvest from your plants.
• Enjoy the fruits of your harvest!