Gardeners' World host Monty Don announces show 'first' minutes into episode

BBC Gardeners' World fans who tuned into the latest episode on Friday evening saw Monty Don announce a show "first." The 70-year-old informed viewers that the dry conditions have caused some of his garden plants and vegetables to suffer. He said that when it comes to vegetables, "water is essential," and added, "what you water and when is key." On one hand, his outdoor tomatoes were in perfect condition despite the dry weather. Monty explained that he's watered them once a week and added that the tomatoes "like the heat and they're not suffering."

Meanwhile, his broad beans were a different story. Monty explained that he's never needed to water them in his life, and yet they've suffered in the summer conditions.

Monty explained: "This is the first time this has happened to me. We have very small pods with large beans, and the pods are half the size. As far as broad beans go, this is not what you want. I love the young broad beans. These are dry, but broad beans are one of the worst years I've ever had."

One person reacted by posting on X: "Sir Monty sharing his gardening woes/disasters this evening is making me feel better about my own. Thanks #GardenersWorld."

Later on in the episode, Monty visited his greenhouse and said that he had been away for a few weeks. Whilst he was absent, he said someone had kindly watered his greenhouse vegetables for him.

He then explained that one side of the tomatoes was watered "every day" and said that it was "too much." The result has been that the tomato fruits have become "horribly blackened."

The discolouration is at the bottom of the fruit, where the flower was. Monty explained that it was called "blossom end rot" and that it was really common.

He laughed as he pointed at the tomatoes: "This is very dramatic. This is the worst example I have ever seen! It's caused by a lack of calcium."

One person reacted on X: "Someone's getting fired... #GardenersWorld." A second also commented: "I wouldn't want to water Monty's garden. The pressure would be too much."