Annual Which? Gardening report reveals some leading flower and vegetable seed brands are still 'not up to scratch'.
In one packet of pepper seeds on test, all nine seeds were dead, while a packet of parsnip seeds contained 80% dead seed.

The magazine found that 57& of a leading brand's delphinium seeds, and 80% of its parsnip seeds were unviable.

Another market leader scored badly for the second year running with only 62% of its seed producing healthy seedlings in Which? Gardening tests.

On a more positive note, 87% of Johnsons' flower seeds produced healthy seedlings and Plants of Distinction was awarded Overall Best Buy with 85% of its seed producing healthy plants.

Johnsons and Chiltern Seeds were awarded Best Buys for flower seeds and eight companies were named Best Buys for vegetable seeds, including Edwin Tucker and Sons.

This is a vast improvement on last year when only 47% of Edwin Tucker and Sons vegetable seed produced healthy seeds and 99% of its delphinium Pacific Giant seeds were found to be dead.