Young gardeners spend more money on gardening products and are more enthusiastic about growing their own fruit and veg.
That's according to a study carried about by Stewart Garden. The company found that gardeners in the 25-34 year old age bracket also grow more of their own fruit and vegetables at home, with nearly 30% of their expenditure going towards seeds, propagation, pots and hanging baskets.

The study was carried out among a sample of 390 UK gardeners, dividing them into the 25-34, 35-54 and 55+ groups, and measuring their levels of involvement and average annual spend on all things gardening. Respondents were categorised as keen, occasional or rare, depending on the amount of time they spend gardening.

The research found that across all age groups, nearly half of those who took part would welcome more gardening advice and help in store.

Gardeners aged 25-34 spend an average of £300 a year per head, according to the study, compared with £240 per annum by 35-54 year olds and £200 by the 55 and overs. 88% of people in the young gardeners category are actively growing fruit and vegetables from seeds and bulbs, whereas just 23% of those aged 55+ said they do the same.

The Stewart's study comes after the HTA urged garden centres to target young people. It showed that the increased use of pots and propagators among keen gardeners under 35 is due to limited outdoor space and the inclusion of children in their grow-at-home activities. It was found that the same people also use the internet the most to get inspiration for their gardens and to research products so they are familiar with what they need before they visit garden centres.

Gardeners in the 35-54 age group were the biggest users of compost and it was suggested this may be due to many having bigger gardens and growing produce in the ground rather than in pots and baskets. The 55+ category accounted for nearly 30% of respondents to grow-your-own products, suggesting retailers and manufacturers should consider this when producing and marketing gardening products.