BBC Worldwide Press Releases

Roses have always stirred deep human emotions, and have now been revealed as the nation’s most loved... and most hated plant, according to the first Gardeners' World Awards. Over 7,500 gardeners voted in the comprehensive gardening poll, announced today, Thursday 18th June, with gardeners revealing their views on all aspects of gardening from favourite and most hated plants to vegetables, garden centres, mail order suppliers, tools and media.

Roses were the most loved plant, ahead of sweet pea and fuchsia, but also topped the 'most hated' category, for the susceptibility to disease and thorns, with invasive ivy creeping into second place and hostas coming third. Strawberries aroused similarly strong emotions, topping the list of favourite fruit for their delicious reward, but they were second most hated for the ability to attract unwanted pests, such as slugs. Strawberries were pipped for most hated top spot by that perennial party pooper, the gooseberry. Despite the rise of trendy greens, old-fashioned runner beans sprinted to the top of the favourite vegetable list attracting 20 per cent of all votes.

Other findings include:

• Pest-prone carrots topped the list of most hated vegetables.
• Wyevale named best garden centre, with Scottish retailer Dobbies coming second and B&Q third.
• Slugs and snails were voted the most hated garden pests.
• Thompson & Morgan receiving the most votes for the best online retailer.
• Gardeners' Question Time was overall favourite gardening radio programme.
• BBC Radio Leeds' 'Weekend in the Garden' was the most popular regional radio programme, followed by Radio Kent's 'Sunday Gardening' Radio.
• 22 per cent of all gardeners voted secateurs as their top tool.
  

According to Gardeners' World presenter Toby Buckland: "Roses are quintessentially English and it’s fascinating to see the strong emotions this bloom conjures up. While many including myself love their beauty and scent, some are put off because they think they are hard to grow – but with many new disease resistant varieties this is not necessarily the case."

He continued: "The huge response we got from the public shows that gardening is becoming more popular in our nation's gardens, back yards and balconies. This passion is spreading from the tradition of growing flowers to the recent boom in growing veg in the most unconventional places... even Buckingham palace."

The voting took place on the Gardenersworld.com website between February and May.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

TOP FIVES
Favourite fruit to grow

1. STRAWBERRIES
2. RASPBERRIES
3. APPLES
4. PLUMS
5. BLUEBERRIES

Most-hated fruit to grow

1. GOOSEBERRIES
2. STRAWBERRIES
3. APPLES
4. RASPBERRIES
5. CHERRIES

Favourite veg to grow

1. RUNNER BEANS
2. TOMATOES
3. POTATOES
4. PEAS (INC SUGAR SNAPS & MANGETOUTS)
5. CARROTS

Most-hated veg to grow

1. CARROTS
2. CABBAGES
3. CAULIFLOWER
4. LETTUCE/SALADS
5. TOMATOES

Favourite garden plant

1. ROSE
2. SWEET PEA
3. FUCHSIA
4. CLEMATIS
5. DAFFODIL

Most-hated garden plant

1. ROSE
2. IVY
3. HOSTA
4. MARIGOLDS
5. LEYLANDII

Worst garden problem

1. WEEDS
2. PESTS
3. SOIL
4. ANIMALS
5. SPACE

Most-hated weed

1. BINDWEED
2. DANDELIONS
3. GROUND ELDER
4. COUCH GRASS
5. HORSE/MARE'S TAIL

Most-hated garden pest

1. SLUGS & SNAILS
2. VINE WEEVIL
3. APHIDS
4. LILY BEETLE
5. CATERPILLARS

Best mail-order online retailer (overall performance)

1. THOMPSON & MORGAN
2. CROCUS
3. SUTTONS
4. J PARKER
5. DOBIES
   

Best nursery/garden centre (overall performance)

1. WYEVALE
2. DOBBIES
3. B&Q
4. LADYBIRD NURSERIES (SUFFOLK)
5. HILLIERS

What tool couldn't you live without

1. SECATEURS
2. TROWEL
3. FORK
4. SPADE
5. LAWN MOWER

Which has been your top Gardeners' World garden?

1. BARLEYWOOD
2. BARNSDALE
3. BERRYFIELDS
4. THE MAGNOLIAS
5. CLACK'S FARM

What is your favourite gardening programme?

1. GARDENERS’ QUESTION TIME
2. BBC RADIO LEEDS with Tim Crowther and and Joe Maiden
3. BBC RADIO KENT with Andy Garland
4. BBC RADIO SCOTLAND Beechgrove Potting Shed
5. THE JEREMY VINE SHOW with allotment doctor Terry Walton
   

NOTES TO EDITORS
About the Awards
The inaugural Gardeners' World awards gave members of the public a chance to vote for all their gardening loves and hates, including their favourite fruit to grow, most-loved garden plant and much more. The vote launched in the March issue of Gardeners' World Magazine (on-sale 25 Feb) and closed on 15 May 09. The results will be published in the July issue of Gardeners' World Magazine, on sale from 26 June and will be revealed online at www.gardenersworld.com/awards on 18 June.

About Gardeners' World magazine
Gardeners' World is the UK's market leading-gardening magazine that provides readers with key practical advice and tips on gardening. The title has an ABC (Jul-Dec 08) of 221,180.

Toby Hicks