Television gardening

Gardeners’ World celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Newish face Adam Frost is pencilled to replace Monty Don in the long term. There are likely to be 36 one-hour shows in 2017, up from just 18 half-hour shows less than a decade ago.

New plants

Gardeners are looking for robust plants that can stand up to extreme weather – and container-growing remains a strong trend as plots shrink. Fleuroselect says 2017 will be the year of the zinnia and the bean, so look out for new seed ranges. Last year’s new plant launches were typified by the long-flowering Calendula 'Powerdaisy’, from Kerley nursery, Cambridgeshire. Monty Don hates “ugly” begonias, so expect them to make a comeback among those who value jauntiness. Ball Colegrave says its 'Northern Lights Scarlet Burst’, is a new, weather-hardy variety.