Ideas for winter/spring colour

I love marigolds on the plot. They look fabulous alongside red cabbage!!!!  A marriage made in heaven. They self-seed too. I like calendula Neon and c. Nova.  Limnanthes is a lovely little flowering plant for the front of a border and is much-loved by bees.  Think about using open flowers rather than doubles, as bees can really only benefit from those as they can't get into the doubles.  Dahlias are cheap as chips to grow from seed as are nasturtiums and escholzia, but will brighten up the plot no end as they are so colourful.  Nasturtiums attract cabbage whites and they will lay their eggs on them. Better there than on your brassicas.  I have borage on my plot too, and that self-seeds around but again is much-loved by bees and the flowers can be added to your cold drink 

Think about using hardy overwintering veg that have colour such as leeks like Musselburgh which take on a purple as the temperature drops, and red kale      I have a fab book by Joy Larkcom, which you can borrow from the library, the Creative Veg Garden (or something similar) Great book, stuffed with ideas for the plot and garden