Young plants are big business and you can buy plugs, mini plugs and young plants – lumped under the banner of bedding. I’m thankful to see ‘plug’ antirrhinums: raising these from seed was constantly hampered by damping off and the seedlings frequently disappeared before my very eyes. It also means that fuchsias are holding their own. Planting them small in early summer is the best way to raise them.

I’m relieved to see geraniums too, more correctly called pelargoniums, because I have been saved from the once-yearly challenge (or should it be misery) of trying to turn six super-expensive seeds into plants. Fellow Yorkshireman Mr Titchmarsh (bless ’im) may have found it easy. I failed year after year!

However the begonia is proving to be the runaway favourite for gardeners, giving non-stop colour, come rain or shine. Mr Fothergill’s list a very interesting one called ‘Fragrance Elfie’ bred at a nursery near Ghent in Belgium. It’s the main begonia breeding region of Europe owing to its fertile, alluvial soil and temperate heat.

It has taken three generations of the Raes family to breed ‘Fragrance Elfie’ and it’s named after the present owner’s daughter, Elfie. The starting point for this rose-scented, peachy double (pictured) was a fragrant yellow begonia discovered growing on the nursery in 1979. The family saw its potential and bred and selected seedlings every year. Their expertise and ability to pick out the very best was honed by 80 years experience of begonia growing.

The tumbling ‘Fragrance Elfie’ is perfect for a container or hanging basket and three plants will fill a 14-inch basket.

Place somewhere away from strong winds in a position that either gets afternoon sunshine, or in dappled shade. Begonia flowers can frazzle in very strong summer sunshine, although they are very drought tolerant. Feed with a potash-rich tomato food every two weeks. Carefully dry the tubers (if they have them) in late autumn and store for next year. Begonia ‘Fragrance Elfie’ is offered in Mr Fothergill’s Bedding and Container 2009 catalogue at £14.95 for three or £24.90 for six young plants for delivery in spring. Tel 0845 3710518, or go to www.mr-fothergills.co.uk Ball Colegrave Seeds, based at Adderbury, near Banbury, is open to the public every year in summer (tel 01295 814702/ www.ballcolegrave.co.uk). They ask every visitor to place a blue flag next to their favourite plant and then announce the Top Twenty.

Seven begonias featured in the list and the top four places all went to begonias! ‘Million Kisses Elegance’ was the outright winner. This semi-trailing variety bears pendant, single white flowers shadowed in pink. The similar single-red ‘Dragon Wing Red’ came third. ‘Non Stop Fire’, a warmly tinted rose-shaped double was fourth. ‘Million Kisses Devotion’ ( a single bright-red) was 15th and ‘Illumination Scarlet’ was 19th. The two others listed are on their way.

It all proves that we gardeners know a good thing when we see it.