New seeds for 2007

Echinacea'Doubledecker'

Dianthus deltoides 'Arctic Fire' is easy to grow and flowers the same year from an early sowing. It has prostrate growth about 15-20cm (6-8in) high when in flower. Cut back hard after flowering to keep plants tidy. You can't complain about the price; 69p for 80 seeds and a new trial variety from Thompson & Morgan.

Echinacea 'Doubledecker' was previously only available as a plant from nurseries. Bred by the German company Jelitto, the first season's flowers are mainly single; in year two, a range of unusual flower formations develop. £2.45 for 20 seeds, mail order only from Mr Fothergill's.

Geranium rubifolium, from Kashmir, is only grown by a few nurseries. A bold, architectural plant, this geranium makes about 60cm (2ft) in sun or light shade, with soft, bramble-like leaves and a succession of purple-pink flowers with a white eye in summer and autumn. Eight seeds cost £2.75 from Plant World Seeds.

Wahlenbergia 'Snow Cap'

Wahlenbergia 'Snow Cap', a member of the Campanula family, is a selection from a South African species W. rivularis. It grows to 16-30cm (6-12in), and flowers from June until late August. A packet of seeds costs £2.35 from Plant World Seeds.

Digitalis purpurea 'Candy Mountain' flowers all around the stem with upward-facing bells that show their charming speckled throats. Sow in spring, in pots or the open ground, and they will flower the next spring. Strong stems grow up to 90-140cm (36-56in) in sun or partial shade. Packets of about 200 seeds cost £1.99 and are exclusive to Thompson & Morgan.

Dahlia 'Fireworks Mixed' is the first striped dahlia mixture from seed, claims Thompson & Morgan. You can grow dahlias from perennial tubers or buy in rooted cuttings, but treating as an annual is much cheaper, particularly if you want a lot of plants. £1.99 for 75 seeds from Thompson & Morgan.

Gazania 'Gazelle' thrives in hot, dry situations and is suitable for containers or the front of borders. The large, showy, daisy-like flowers come in yellow and white shades. Like dahlias, the half-hardy perennial gazania is usually grown as an annual. £1.79 for 25 seeds from garden retail outlets, exclusive to Johnsons Seeds.

Mimulus 'Mystic Mix' F1 is a dwarf, half-hardy annual with clear, brightly coloured flowers. The plant grows quickly to 15cm (6in), flowers early, and is ideal for hanging baskets. It is sold as pelleted seed for ease of handling, which means you can sow nicely spaced and there'll be no pricking out. £1.99 for 20 seeds from Kings Seeds.

Nolana 'Songbird Mix' could be a good alternative to petunias. Plants grow quickly and the trumpet-like flowers, which appear within nine weeks from sowing, continue all summer. This half-hardy annual grows to about 30cm (1ft) with a spreading habit and is ideal for hanging baskets, pots and containers. 50 seeds cost £1.65 from Sutton's Seeds.

Calendula 'Lemon Zest'

Calendula 'Lemon Zest' with its dainty habit on compact plants about 20cm (8in) in height, and gentle colouring, will suit gardeners who find traditional orange pot marigolds somewhat strident. 'Lemon Zest' will provide an easily grown spot of colour in borders and containers. Packets of about 120 seeds cost £1.65 from Sutton's Seeds.

Calendula 'Princess Orange and Black' is the shade of orange one associates with traditional pot marigolds, but the flowers have distinctive dark, almost-black centres. The quilled petals are edible and can be used to decorate salads and rice dishes. With stems 50cm (20in) long, they are ideal for cutting and giving border colour. £1.70 for 100 seeds. Exclusive to Mr Fothergill's.

Nasturtium 'Summer Carousel' is a new mixture comprising yellow and pink flowers. With a bushy habit, it has compact growth suitable for tubs and containers, or the front of a border. Nasturtiums are now available in bush and climbing forms, with single and double flowers, in a range of yellow, orange, red and white colours, some with blotched petals. This one costs £1.70 for 25 seeds from Mr Fothergill's.

Rocket 'Sprint'

Aubergine 'Ophelia' F1 is a new variety that produces large numbers of small dark-purple fruits on compact plants and is ideal for a pot on the patio. Sow early between January and March, and grow indoors until there is no danger of frost. £1.95 for six seeds from vegetable specialist DT Brown.

Cabbage 'Kalibos' is an heirloom variety from Eastern Europe listed by several companies. A tightly packed, pointed head of purple leaves, lightly steamed or served raw in salads is full of vitamins A and C. Sow between March to May, transplant in June, and cut in late summer and autumn. £1.35 for 130 seeds from Suttons Seeds and Dobies.

Cabbage 'Kilaton' F1 is part of a breeding breakthrough in the recent introduction of brassicas resistant to club root - a troublesome soil-borne disease. Sow this winter cabbage in April, transplanting in July and cropping in autumn and winter. £2.49 for 50 seeds from Kings Kings Seeds and, under the name 'Kilaxy', from Suttons Seeds.

Cauliflower 'Purple Graffiti' F1 is a modern variety with dramatic purple heads, which are quick to mature, but have a long harvesting season. Sow outdoors from February to May, transplant when large enough to handle, and cut between July and October. 'Purple Graffiti' features in several catalogues at £1.65 for 35 seeds.

Chilli 'Super Chilli' F1 is one of the hottest around. Whether you want to eat chilli peppers or grow them as decorative plants, there's lots of choice as seed companies respond to popular demand. This variety is ideal for growing in containers - masses of fruit are held upright on bushy plants. £1.85 for 10 seeds from Mr Fothergill's and Johnsons Seeds.

Cauliflower 'Purple Graffiti'

French bean 'Valdor' is a dwarf variety that can be grown indoors in March or April for planting out early May, or sow outdoors from late April to mid July. The attractive, golden-yellow pods mature over a long period, which is ideal for home gardeners. A packet of 100 seeds cost £1.45 from Sutton's Seeds and Dobies.

Pak choi 'Green Revolution' FI is an oriental brassica that you can crop as salad leaves all the year round (under cover in winter). Use outdoor sowings from May onwards as baby leaves, or leave to mature into a full head. This is a neat, compact variety that is slow to bolt. £1.60 for 150 seeds, exclusively from Mr Fothergill's.

Radish 'Rainbow Mixed' is a new trial variety and comes in white, purple, red, and gold colours. You can grow radish all year round, (under glass from January to March). In summer they're ready in 28 days. 69p per packet from Thompson & Morgan.

Runner bean 'Teenie Beanie' (Rotbluhende) has been chosen by Thompson & Morgan as its Vegetable of the Year. The new bean yields bunches of small, stringless pods just 15cm (6in) long with a good flavour. Sow from mid April to early June, and pick regularly for continuous cropping all summer and autumn. £2.49 for 50 beans from Thompson & Morgan.

Salad leaves are temptingly and creatively displayed in most of the seed catalogues and lots of new types are on offer. I find salad rocket very worthwhile, it's quick to mature, and it crops heavily within 28 days. If you can't find an odd corner in the garden, then grow in a pot - 'Sprint' costs £1.79 for 500 seeds and is a variety exclusive to Johnsons Seeds.

Sweetcorn 'Quick Treat' F1 is one of the new sugary, juicy varieties, and this one matures early. Sow in an unheated glasshouse in April and plant outdoors in mid-May. Or sow outdoors in May. Water in dry weather. £1.95 for 50 seeds, exclusively from Mr Fothergill's.

Tomato 'Legend' isn't new, but is recommended because it is resistant to blight disease. A bush, outdoor variety - the beefsteak fruits ripen early, have very few seeds and an excellent flavour. Thirty seeds cost £1.65 from Plants of Distinction.