Monty ruffles some feathers

Celebrity is blasted as ‘ignorant’ by the garden industry

MONTY Don has raised the wrath of the horticultural industry by suggesting that gardeners should only grow from seed and use plants raised in peat-free compost. The TV presenter and celebrity gardener has been labelled ‘ignorant’ after the publication of his comments in Gardeners’ World magazine.

While Monty’s idea is brilliantly environmentally conscious in principle, gardening industry figures say it doesn’t take into account millions of gardeners who don’t have room to grow from seed nor money to buy peat-free plants.

Actively choosing to do harm

Many plants bought in multi-packs have been grown in compost containing peat, which makes cultivation cheaper and opens the market to all.

The former jewellery designer says that while mass-market plants raise people’s spirits, gardeners should be growing them themselves and steering clear of ‘cheap, mass-produced disposable plants’.

Monty said: “Don’t buy plants grown in peat. No garden centre should stock these. If they do, they are actively choosing to do harm.”

His comments have outraged the industry, which is already reeling from the effects of lockdown. AG’s Peter Seabrook, who is regarded as one of the most knowledgeable figures in horticulture, was scathing.