Alan Titchmarsh: Ground Force legend’s top tips for juicy strawberries revealed

With millions of Britons stuck indoors due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the public’s attention has turned to how to best utilise gardens and to what produce they can grow in them. The 70-year-old is one of Britain’s most recognisable faces after rising to fame in the early Nineties on BBC talk show ‘Pebble Mill at One’. He would go on to secure his legacy by appearing on shows such as ‘Gardener’s World’ and other makeover shows. 

But it was his work engaging the public in getting green fingered while on the iconic BBC show ‘Ground Force’.

Such was the show’s significance, he and ‘Ground Force’ costars Charlie Dimmock and Tommy Walsh would be invited to transform ex-South African president Nelson Mandela’s garden.

His chatty manner and smart quips made the public squirm with delight and take on all the advice he would share.

And one delight that the Wimbledon aficionados will no doubt be missing this year is strawberries, which Mr Titchmarsh has an array of tips on.

According to Real Homes, he said last month the best way to get the most success from growing your own red, juicy delights.

He said that if you are planting your strawberries straight into the ground, gardeners must “allow about a foot between your strawberry plants”.

The legend explained the soil must be “well drained and nutrient rich, so you may need to replace the top layer of your garden soil”. 

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He added: “Strawberries need to be watered regularly, but don’t allow them to be soaking wet or stand in water, or they will rot.“

The gardener’s success continued during the late Noughties as his ‘Alan Titchmarsh Show’ on ITV charmed viewers every day.

He also presented reality show ‘Popstar to Operastar’ alongside former Hear’Say singer Myleene Klass.