AN easy-to-grow melon — yes, I know we’ve heard that claim before, but can you resist giving it a go? In 2026 I’ll definitely be trying Honey Drops Dara, a new introduction from Dobies. 

It’s said to produce up to 15 apple-sized fruits per plant, in an unheated greenhouse or under a cloche outdoors. The edible skin is thin enough for it to be eaten unpeeled, and turns from green to yellow to signal ripeness. Resistant to mildew, this is a melon with productive side-shoots that don’t need training or removing. Not available as seed, it comes as a 4 inch (9cm) potted plant for growing on.

For those whose “garden” consists of a sunny windowsill, House Tomato from Real Seeds sounds ideal. An heirloom variety from Russia, via Canada, it’s a 1ft (30cm) tall bush producing a good crop of cherry toms. What makes this one so interesting is that it doesn’t just do OK in a pot, it’s actually been bred for that specific purpose and will grow better in a pot than in the ground. 

And if you save the seeds from a few of the fruits — very easy to do with tomatoes — you won’t need to buy a new packet each year. 

Two more heirloom vegetables, this time Savoy cabbages from Italy, are among the new offerings from Chiltern Seeds. Re D’Inverno translates as King of Winter, and boasts “exceptional cold hardiness,” for harvesting throughout the dark months. Violaceo di Verona refers to the deep violet heads of the cabbage, surrounded by silvery-blue foliage. Frost only makes Savoys taste better.

Grandad’s Revenge is a great name for a chilli pepper, though perhaps slightly on the sinister side. What did the grandchild do to deserve a pepper described as “exceptionally fiery — up to 2 million SHU!” and “Tropical fruitiness followed by intense heat”? Think I’ll leave that one on the shelf, but if you need it, you’ll find it at Thompson & Morgan.

GherKing isn’t a bad name either as puns go, and for those wishing to recreate the traditional chip-shop “wally” this new variety of gherkin from Fothergill’s looks promising. The catalogue calls it “phenomenally productive” with “chunky, firm fruits and a superb flavour. The perfect variety for pickling.” It’s for growing outside, not in a greenhouse.

Suttons have a salad potato called Jacky, the latest thing is blight resistance. It’s a “second early” type, for harvesting in summer, after the new potatoes and before the maincrops. Said to have “superb flavour and texture,” it’s a vigorous grower, so perhaps more suitable for an allotment than a small garden, noted for producing a large number of tubers.

Lil Pump-ke-mon at Marshalls is intended for small gardens, though, and even patios, giving mini fruits that are white with orange and green stripes.