The seeds of love
nearly black flowers so there’s always something interesting to check out.
Keen veg growers will find lots to mull over at dobies.co.uk, a supplier to gardeners since the late 19th century.
‘British Summertime’ is a British-bred courgette that will yield an abundance of fruit even in cold weather conditions.
One of the earliest fruiting courgettes, it’s an open bush that improves air circulation, reducing the incidence of disease. The fruits are spine-free so no scratched hands when you harvest.
Sow from April to June, plant out from June to August and harvest these beauties in July to October.
Or check out Tomato Y Ddraig Goch F1 (Red Dragon), the first tomato to be officially registered with a Welsh name. It’s another superb British-bred variety with an exquisite flavour and outstanding rich red tomatoes.
Introduced at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2019, this new cordon variety has been created by crossing two other favourites of both gardeners and cooks – Goldstar and Cedrico. New flower seeds at suttons.co.uk include Sanvitalia, the hanging basket sunflower which is a mini-version of its much-loved larger sibling.
This sun lover produces dozens of gorgeous blooms that will cascade over your hanging baskets and containers – perfect if you love to grow sunflowers but don’t have the space.
If you do have a little bit of room, Sunflower ‘Tiger Eye’ is a new bi-colour variety that has bright blooms with golden-yellow petals and a unique deep-red ring around the disc floret.
It’s multi-stemmed so you can expect plenty of flowers per plant and it will grow to around two feet tall.
Also lovely is a new
Eschscholzia called ‘Lady Marmalade’. This Californian poppy has lots of semi-double rose-like blooms in golden yellow shades with orange centres, and although they are rather dainty looking they are ideal for poor, dry soils.
Seeds will also make for thoughtful Christmas presents for your green-fingered friends and family.
Crocus.co.uk has a really pretty sweet pea gift set (£12.99) that includes seeds and compost in an enamel bucket.
And who wouldn’t love a tin of cosmos seeds from sarahraven.com, a selection of varieties both pink and white as well as ‘Double Click Cranberries’. which is beautifully described as being like “a handful of ruffled silk in the richest carmine”.
I do hope Santa is reading this…
Sunflower ‘Tiger Eye’ has a unique deep red ring around the floret