In the kitchen

• Also known as fava beans when dried, broad beans are at their best in the UK from late spring to late summer. Although originally from the Middle East, they’ve been grown in the UK for thousands of

Pretty and productive, buy ready-grown plants to speed up harvests

With 2.6m Instagram followers, chef Thomas Straker’s recipes are hugely popular. Find out why for yourself by trying these dishes from his latest book

I am, generally, indiscriminate in my enthusiasm for vegetables. But not when it comes to potatoes. I don’t cook them often, so I never bothered growing them in my veg patch. They take up too much spa

Looking for a tempting little side dish with minimum fuss? These crunchy runner beans tossed with cheese and nuts fit the bill perfectly. SERVES 2 as a side PREP 5 mins COOK 3 mins EASY V Toast and ch

Serves 2Prep time 15 min, plus coolingCook time 15 min BE A BETTER COOK Using ripe, in-season tomatoes is crucial as the dish relies heavily on their flavour. Good quality Spanish olive oil is key too