Order of the day

It's always the same. The hottest new patio flowers sell out first. When seed- sowing time comes around in March and April, you scan the garden-centre racks only to find empty spaces where the top newcomers were. On the other hand, if you order the new introductions from the catalogues next spring, a few of your selections are sure to be marked "out of stock" when your parcel arrives in the post.

So, although the sowing season is months away, it pays to buy your seed now and to order from the catalogues in the comfort of your own home, rather than to trek from one garden centre to another trying to find the best new varieties.

Here is my selection of the best newcomers, based not only on how impressive they are in the garden, but also on value for money and how easy they are to grow.

Sunflowers

Sundance Kid: Most sunflowers are too big for tubs. Sundance Kid, however, grows to only about 45cm/18in. And while the flowers are not huge, there are lots of them and the colour is great: bronze in the centre then rusty orange and yellow at the petal tips. It's as easy to grow as any sunflower. Available from Dobies and Suttons.

Antirrhinum

Frosted Sunset: This is a great plant. It has snapdragon flowers in orange and yellow combined with prettily patterned cream-and-green foliage. Reaching about 30cm/12in in height, Frosted Sunset will flower for months in tubs if you snip off the dead flower spikes. It's also good at the front of sunny borders. Available from Thompson and Morgan.

Marigold

Hero Yellow: Marigolds provide more colour throughout the summer than any other flower. At 25-30cm/10-12in, Hero Yellow is an ideal size for tubs and containers. Its big, double flowers are bright pure yellow and they just keep on coming, especially if you deadhead. Available from DT Brown.

Coreopsis

Sea Shells: This is a unique new flower. It looks like a bright yellow daisy except that the petals, instead of being flat, are rolled into shells, giving the flower altogether more punch. It's easy to grow when scattered outside in a sunny place in March or April. Available from Mr Fothergill's and Unwins.

Nemesia

Aegean Sea: I love this plant. It has taken the seed company many years to perfect but it's been worth the wait. Neat, bushy little plants grow to about 25cm/10in and are covered with the most delightful sparkling blueand-white flowers. Just keep the plants moist and they'll flower all summer. And with 500 seeds in the packet, there's enough for two or three sowings. Available from Mr Fothergill's.

Sweet Pea

Minuet: Dwarf sweet peas are all the rage. Minuet grows to just 90cm/3ft and as its stems cling together, it doesn't need canes. The flowers are prettily patterned in five different shades and look great tumbling from big tubs or in sunny borders.

Lavender

Bridesmaid: Another great fragrant flower is Lavender Bridesmaid. The flowers are white with a delicate lavender pattern. Available from Unwins. So, order now and you won't be disappointed. When your seeds arrive, seal the packets in a freezer bag and leave them in the bottom of the fridge until spring. Then you'll be ready to sow the varieties that everyone else has missed out on.

Contacts

DT Brown: 0845 6014656
Dobies: 01803 696444
Mr Fothergill's: 01638 552512
Suttons: 01803 696363
Thompson and Morgan: 01473 688821
Unwins: 01945 588522