WHILE we are busy harvesting our summer produce, Paignton-based Suttons is planning next year's veg garden.

The company has unveiled for Digging Deep some of its new introductions which will start appearing in catalogues this autumn.

This has been the year of the tomato, with sales really taking off. There are more varieties to try next year like Tomatoberry, described as a strawberry shaped tomato. Tomatoberry can be grown in the greenhouse, tunnel or on a sunny patio.

Another new variety is Tomato F1 Orkado, with medium-sized fruits ideal for salsas. It can be grown either in the greenhouse or outdoors in the garden.

Tomato Red Alert is said to be one of the sweetest around, early to mature and very easy to grow.

An old favourite is back in the catalogue in the shape of Tomato F1 Tumbler which had disappeared but has been re-selected and re-invigorated.

Suttons has also produced its own tomato food called Tomato Power Food which was successfully launched this year. It has an NPK balance of 10-10-2 which translated means it is said to be probably the best specialised tomato feed on the market, including essential trace elements and seaweed extract.

For next year Suttons will be offering two plus one packets of seeds. Buy any two packets of Suttons vegetable seeds and choose one of two new varieties free. These will be a stripey aubergine and a yellow variety of radish.

Chillis are rapidly growing in popularity and they have a new Torro Rosso variety. This has been extensively tested on the Suttons trial grounds at Ipplepen and is said to be a great tasting sweet pepper.

Runner bean 'St George' will suit beginners or keen gardeners as it has not only beautiful flowers but tasty beans. It is easy to grow and offers high yields.

Kale 'scarlet' is an easy to grow winter vegetable with a long seed sowing season. It is a picking or a cut and come again type of kale, ideal for new gardeners.

A herb I am looking forward to trying is thyme 'Orange Scented' This should appeal to the 'chef' and gardener and I can imagine it goes really well with lemon thyme.

Among the new flowers are Zinnia Faberge with a 'pin cushion' frill of central petals in a wide range of colours.

Viscaria Angel Eyes, was originally bred by Suttons in the late 1800s but has been completely re-selected to return it to its former glory. It offers large flowers in shades of blue and rose together with white.

One of my favourites already for next year which I will be buying is Eschscholzia Bridal Bouquet. I love eschscholzias for the way they flutter in the wind in such a delicate, butterfly way. The Bridal Bouquet has wonderful frilly double flowers in delightful pastel shades. They will be a real star of the 2010 garden.

Poppy Lilac Pompom is aptly named, with heavily fringed light lilac flowers.

Marigolds might seem like old hat, but they are a summer garden staple and while the yellow varieties bring a touch of sunshine to the garden, the rusty colours simply glow in the late evening sun. New for 2010 is French Marigold Jolly Japes, a bright colour mixture from pale yellow to dark rust, with double flowers.

Snapdragons, or Antirrhinums are another flower which deserves renewed popularity. The new Pola variety can even be grown in a basket, with its cascading, trailing habit.

Happily Suttons will also be offering a three for two offer on flower seeds, offering either Clarkia Lilac Pixie which are easy to grow, or Ipomoea (morning glory) Inkspots with large trumpet like flowers.

Suttons has also created a fun range of gardening for youngsters. New this year is a mini Fun to Grow junior growbag, perfect for sunflowers, tomatoes and many other plants. Also new is for children to grow fresh food for their pets. Fun to Grow grow your own petfood blister packs contain full instructions and fun facts.

Suttons has developed a special website as part of the national Grow Your Own Campaign. The website has been developed to provide 'at a glance' information for the new gardener. It features the top 10 easiest to grow fruit and vegetables and lots of other recommendations on easy to grow plants.

There are instructions and details of the different health benefits of the vegetables.

Its website includes a useful New Veg Growers section answering the questions Suttons most frequently hear from novice gardeners.

Check it out on www.suttons.co.uk/grow_your_own.htm