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| What is growing in Britain's gardens? | What is growing in Britain's gardens? |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| If you have a garden it's likely you'll be picking up a trowel or a watering can this bank holiday weekend. But what does the typical British garden look like? It largely depends on where you live so we've taken a look at what you might find in gardens across Britain. | If you have a garden it's likely you'll be picking up a trowel or a watering can this bank holiday weekend. But what does the typical British garden look like? It largely depends on where you live so we've taken a look at what you might find in gardens across Britain. |
| Vegetables have become more popular than flowers in British gardens, according to figures of seed sales. | Vegetables have become more popular than flowers in British gardens, according to figures of seed sales. |
| In 2005, 60% of seed packets sold were for flowers, but since 2007 sales of vegetable seeds have soared, according to seed supplier Suttons. Last year 70% of seed packets sold were for vegetables. | |
| According to Guy Barter, head of horticulture advice at the Royal Horticultural Society, this trend cannot be explained by climate: "In my opinion this is entirely down to attitudes and interests. | According to Guy Barter, head of horticulture advice at the Royal Horticultural Society, this trend cannot be explained by climate: "In my opinion this is entirely down to attitudes and interests. |
| "I suspect that it is not to do with the recession, but I expect you will see that feeding through, although in practice, growing your own is not that much cheaper." | "I suspect that it is not to do with the recession, but I expect you will see that feeding through, although in practice, growing your own is not that much cheaper." |
| Flowers it seems are loved equally throughout the nation, with little variation between the regions. Scotland has the lowest proportion of gardens with flowers at 76% and the South West has the highest proportion with 86% of gardens containing flowers. | Flowers it seems are loved equally throughout the nation, with little variation between the regions. Scotland has the lowest proportion of gardens with flowers at 76% and the South West has the highest proportion with 86% of gardens containing flowers. |
| But a different picture can be seen when it comes to edible crops - the Midlands and the South of England have a higher proportion of gardens with vegetables. London is the exception with only 21% of gardens in the capital growing vegetables. | But a different picture can be seen when it comes to edible crops - the Midlands and the South of England have a higher proportion of gardens with vegetables. London is the exception with only 21% of gardens in the capital growing vegetables. |
| Scotland, Wales and Northern England have a below-average proportion of gardens with vegetables in them - only 13% of gardens in Scotland grow vegetables. | Scotland, Wales and Northern England have a below-average proportion of gardens with vegetables in them - only 13% of gardens in Scotland grow vegetables. |
| When it comes to fruit, Scotland has the lowest proportion of gardens growing fruit at 17% and the South West once again tops the table with a proportion of 34% of gardens growing fruit. | When it comes to fruit, Scotland has the lowest proportion of gardens growing fruit at 17% and the South West once again tops the table with a proportion of 34% of gardens growing fruit. |
| So is there a reason why those who live further north don't grow fruit and veg? | So is there a reason why those who live further north don't grow fruit and veg? |
| According to Mr Barter, the variation between North and South is potentially down to the harsher climate in Scotland and northern England: "On the whole, the climate in Scotland is not as good for fruit and vegetables, it's more challenging than in the South to grow things like tomatoes or plums, for example." | According to Mr Barter, the variation between North and South is potentially down to the harsher climate in Scotland and northern England: "On the whole, the climate in Scotland is not as good for fruit and vegetables, it's more challenging than in the South to grow things like tomatoes or plums, for example." |