A green-fingered centenarian said to be Britain’s oldest gardener is taking to Twitter to share his horticultural tips. Ralph Hoare from Gloucestershire still enjoys his passion for growing vegetables and cultivating flowers at the age of 104.
The keeper of around 200 rose bushes said he compensates for his weak knees by using a hoe for weeding and a grabbing tool for picking up items from the ground. He also has the help of his great-grandchildren, aged six and four, who he says are already proficient in deadheading his roses.
Hoare took up gardening in 1914 when he himself was six and has now decided to share almost a century of experience with the Twitter generation. The former bank worker and RAF veteran, who cites gardening as the key to his long life, will answer questions posted with the hashtag #askralph over the coming months, in between tending to his garden and planning for his 105th birthday party in July.
Hoare said: “I have just sent off my order for my annuals.
“The seed potatoes are sprouting in the spare bedroom and I am waiting for some dry weather for the onion sets.
“The thought of my garden in bloom gives me the willpower to continue through the winter.
“Gardening keeps me on the move and my mind active.”
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