100 days until Christmas – where to stock up

Schools have only just gone back. The cricket season has days to run. Tomatoes are still growing in the garden.

But – more importantly – it is just 100 days until Christmas! Ding Dong Merrily on High.

That’s right. Summer is barely over but for a large number of people September 16 marks the official start to pre-Advent. Well, in fact, if we are being liturgically pedantic it marks a week before Michaelmas, which itself is a good month before Hallowe’en and All Saints Day, which in turn is a good month before Advent.

According to John Lewis, since September 3 the most frequent term typed into the search box is not ‘iPad’ or ‘coffee machine’ but ‘Christmas’. As a result Christmas is now the first tab on the John Lewis home page.

If you are one of these people desperately searching for Christmas in September and just cannot wait until December to buy presents and stuff a turkey, we are here to help. Afterall, many people like to spread the cost. Here is a guide to what Christmas products you can buy or order now.

TREES

Ordering a Christmas tree in September? It sounds as foolish as trying to play polo on an ice rink. But you can do it. The Christmas Forest, one of the most reliable of real tree retailers (which operates a large number of pop-up shops around London from the last weekend of November), is already taking telephone orders. Call 01865 42706.

Its website will start to take orders at the end of September.

CRACKERS AND BAUBLES

Most of the major department stores have opened their Christmas shops, though John Lewis holds out until October 1 in its stores (online, it is already going gangbusters). Selfridges opened its on August 4, during sweltering temperatures and a full 142 days before the big day.

Selfridges always opens its Christmas shop this early, arguing that many tourists, especially Americans, like to “collect” Christmas tree decorations and enjoy buying a new one each time they visit Britain, regardless of the time of year.

Selfridges said, back in August: “Within the first hour the top three purchases were the Glitter Union Jack Bauble, Tower Bridge Glass Bauble and Personalised Boxed Bauble.”

HAMPERS

The doyenne of hamper retailers, Fortnum & Mason has yet to release its selection of Christmas hampers for this year. They are due to be published by September 19. But Lakeland, the kitchen and gadget shop, is already selling a range of hampers with gifts from the Lake District. The £50 Lakeland Buttermere Hamper includes the rather tasty Hawkshead Brandy Butter.

TURKEYS

In theory, a turkey is something you should only buy on Christmas Eve. Or possibly the 23rd if you are being efficient. There is good reason for this – they start to smell after a few days.

But you can order them well in advance. In fact today marks the official opening of the Copas Turkey website and Christmas ordering lines.

The other famous brand independent brand of free-range turkeys is Kelly. Officially, its ordering line opens on October 6, but the farm says it has already started taking orders.

CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS & MINCE PIES

These, in all fairness, do have a long shelf life. And Tesco's 'Christmas is Coming' section of its website is selling enough festive baked goods to fill Downton Abbey. Indeed, a number of products, including Tesco Finest Panettone and Tesco Finest Christmas Pudding, are on special offer until October 10. Hurry -- you wouldn't want to run out of figgy pudding before Hallowe'en.

A more interesting source of puddings might be Berries of the Isle of Man, who happen this year to also be the sole supplier of Aldi. From this week you can order one of its award-winning puddings, made with Isle of Man cider and Manx flour from its website.

FRESH FOOD

Already getting nervous about stocking up on enough smoked salmon parcels and sprouts. Well, you are just going to have to wait a bit.

Ocado has already got its customers sweaty palmed by sending out emails urging them to book a Christmas delivery, without actually releasing any delivery slots. The email said: “We stagger the release of Christmas slots to manage the rush to our website. We’ll email you on 1st October to confirm the date you can start booking.”

Marks & Spencer’s ordering service for Christmas starts on October 9.