Gardeners who indulge in grow-your-own are increasingly looking to the Mediterranean for further challenges.
According to Homebase, more consumers than ever before are buying olive and fig trees as well as grapevines to grow in their back gardens.

Sales of fig trees and grapevines are up by 28% whilst sales of olive trees have risen by 25% at the retailer over the last six months.

Homebase grow-your-own buyer Andrew Dyer commented: "We have seen a trend towards more exotic varieties of fruit growing, such as olives, figs and grapes. An increasing number of people are holidaying in Europe and choosing a Mediterranean diet. and they now want to have a go at growing their own. Our tastes are broader than ever and we like to mix our own favourite British foods with new ones we have discovered and enjoyed on our travels.

"Olives, figs and grapes can all grow well in Britain, even without a continental climate. Growers have had a lot of success with tasty olives, figs and grapes as fresh as they can possibly be because they have not been on a plane before ending up on the dinner plate."