70 new varieties make their debut in seedsman’s latest catalogue
Aromatic herbs, versatile vegetables and unusual flowers are at the forefront of the new varieties in Thompson & Morgan’s 2023 seed catalogue.
There are 70 new varieties to grow in 2023, with plants to cater for every size of garden, horticultural style and culinary taste you desire. Here are a few highlights from the new range:
Versatile vegetables – Lettuce Cos Globus (Lactuca sativa)
This cos lettuce produces large round heads rather than the usual bullet-shaped ones, meaning more lettuce from less space. Globus can weigh almost 1kg but don’t worry if you think your family can’t do it justice. You can simply harvest the outer leaves, leaving the centre to keep on growing.
It’s perfect for salads and sandwiches, with a good flavour and crunch. Read more about growing salad crops in all seasons.
- Height 35cm x spread 30cm.
- Sow March to August.
- Harvest June to October.
- 130 for £2.99.
Herb Basil Purple Ball (Ocimum basilicum)
This basil gives a topiary appearance, with plants naturally forming tight balls of small, deep purple leaves. There’s no need to pinch or prune to create the shape.
Tubular flowers appear late in the season to add even more colour and value to this variety. The purple foliage has green variegation, making it a useful filler for window boxes, containers and borders. It’s also ideal for growing under tomato plants, where it will deter pests and attract pollinating insects. See more about companion planting here. Read about culinary herbs here.
A Fleuroselect Gold Medal award-winning variety, it performs well under sunny, warm weather conditions and is drought-resistant.
- Height 30cm x spread 30cm.
- Sow March to June.
- Plant late May to June.
- Harvest July to October.
- 15 seeds for £3.99.
Versatile vegetables – Sweetcorn Eden (Zea mays convar. saccharata var. rugosa)
As the result of new breeding, Eden was voted the best-tasting cream/white-coloured Super Sweet variety in recent trials.
Sweetcorn Eden is vigorous, producing 18-20cm cobs with good tip fill, protected by a tight husk. The cobs are crisp, tender, flavoursome, and very sweet. They’re so juicy that they are perfect to eat raw. Pick a ripe cob straight from the plant and eat it like an apple.
- Height 190cm x spread 50cm.
- Sow April to May.
- Plant May to June.
- Harvest August to September.
- 20 seeds for £4.49.
Linaria Licilia Peach (L. maroccana)
In as little as 6 weeks from sowing, you’ll get to enjoy these tiny baby snapdragon-like flowers. Another Fleuroselect award-winner, the hardy annual L. maroccana Licilia Peach is also an RHS Plants for Pollinators variety, attracting beneficial insects to the garden.
With the combination of peachy-yellow mini blooms, this lovely new Linaria will fill borders and containers with a mass of flowers. The blooms are held on long stems, making them great as a cut flower.
- Height 45cm x spread 40cm.
- Sow March to June and September.
- Flowers June to September (June to July in year two).
- 1,000 seeds for £2.99.
For more information on these and the other new varieties, visit www.thompson-morgan.com.
