A capsicum with the thick flesh of a sweet pepper and the flavour of a chilli is one of the most eye-catching of the new introductions in the 2016 seed catalogues. Sweet ’n’ Spicy is exclusive to Plants of Distinction (www.plantsofdistinction.co.uk; tel (01206) 307-999), and promises fruit which are large, early and juicy, but still have “a mild spicy kick.” The catalogue recommends using them in salads.

If for some reason you have a yearning to grow something really ugly, you could try an old Venetian variety of courgette called Rugosa Friulina, from The Organic Catalogue (www.organiccatalogue.com; tel (01932) 878-570). Beneath its yellow, warty skin it is said to be “one of the tastiest” of all courgettes and to stay firmer than others when cooked.

Crimson Crush is being marketed by Dobies (www.dobies.co.uk; tel (0844) 967-0303) as “The world’s first fully blight-resistant outdoor tomato.” Disease resistance is sometimes bred into plants at the expense of other qualities, but Dobies insist that this one produces “great yields” and that the fruit are “exceptionally fine tasting” and large.

But if you’re one of the lucky gardeners who isn’t troubled by tomato blight, then you might prefer Aviditas, claimed as a world exclusive by Suttons (www.suttons.co.uk; tel (0844) 922-0606). Last year Suttons trialled 206 varieties of tomato, and say this one, a mini-plum type, had the best flavour of the lot.

A large pot is all you need to grow Sibley’s Patio Victoria, a plum tree sold by Pomona Fruits (www.pomonafruits.co.uk; tel (01255) 440-410). It’ll take 10 years to reach its maximum height of just four feet, and is described as giving “a wonderful display” of blossom in spring followed by “heavy yields of delicious plums” in late summer.

A number of companies, including Tuckers (www.tuckers-seeds.com; (01364) 652-233), are listing a broad bean named De Monica, which is being hailed as the earliest to crop from a late winter or early spring sowing. Mr Fothergill’s (www.mr-fothergills.co.uk; tel (0845) 371-0518) is introducing a “completely self-fertile runner bean,” Firelight, which could be handy in gardens that suffer a lack of pollinating insects.

DT Brown’s seed catalogue (www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk; tel (0845) 371-0532) makes much of its “New And Exclusive” garlic, Topinky Wight. Actually a heritage variety from the Czech Republic, but new to growers in this country, it’s clearly been chosen primarily for its taste: “The strongest and spiciest flavour of any garlic we know,” say Brown’s.

If strong and spicy is your thing, then you might fancy Wasabi Rocket, launched by Thompson & Morgan (www.thompson-morgan.com; tel (0844) 573-1818). The name says it all, really: it’s a salad rocket that tastes of the fashionable Japanese condiment, wasabi. It can be harvested for baby leaves within weeks of sowing, or left to grow larger for use as a cut-and-come-again salad ingredient.

The same catalogue is strongly promoting its new potato, Imagine, as having a good profile of disease resistance as well as high yields — and most importantly “excellent flavour” served hot or cold, and a waxy texture making it ideal for salads.