Part of the pleasure in seeing potatoes flowering is that it means they are ready to be lifted.  In reality this only applies to early potatoes.  Maincrop varieties, like these Desiree ones, are best left for another month or two so that you get a mix of jacket potato sized ones and roast potato sized ones. 

For the next month or so we can enjoy the mouthwatering first earlies, surely the most delicious of home grown veg.

Our overwintered onions will be ready to harvest once we get a few days of decent sunshine.  In the meantime I have discovered a brilliant use for the lush onion tops before they wither away.  Fry them up and add them to a tortilla, according to the latest Moro East cook book.  Now, can someone suggest a good use for all those broad bean pods (other than composting them)?

At the Chelsea flower show this year the much maligned foxglove was back in vogue.  Mostly in tasteful whites or pale pinks, but there was also the occasional magenta.  They do have a habit of self seeding a bit too freely, but they are very welcome nonetheless.  They add a natural flare to borders and paths.  And where would the bees be without their trumpets to hide in?

There are so many varieties of lettuce its difficult to know which to grow.  The cos variety on the left, Paris Island, makes the best ceasar salad, but it is a bit too crisp for a mixed salad.  Little Gem is a more versatile cos. 

The loose leaf variety on the right is Bergamo, which has pretty bright green leaves and mixes well with rocket and herbs.  Perfect with grilled goats cheese.