Alan Titchmarsh claims one festive gardening chore 'takes a toll' on his marriage

Former Gardeners' World presenter Alan Titchmarsh has claimed that one of his festive gardening habits could have potential ramifications for his marriage.

In one of his most recent columns for the Gardeners' World magazine, the 75-year-old claimed that his wife, Alison, is not best pleased about one of his usual Boxing Day traditions, as he wrote: "I have avoided sowing my onions on Boxing Day (a keen exhibitor's habit), not because I am fearful of the toll on my marriage that such dedication would inflict, but because I prefer to grow onions from sets, and they can wait until March."

But, just nine-years-ago, in December 2015 the gardening expert spoke candidly to Classic FM about his love of sowing onions on Boxing Day, a habit he has since curbed, reports the Express.

He said: “Do you know what you're meant to do on Boxing Day? You're meant to sow your prize-winning onions. So off you pop, if you can find somewhere open, and they will be on Boxing Day. Buy a packet of onion seeds and sow them to win prizes during the summer."

He added: "'There'd be divorce in the house if you go out and sow your onions' , but that is what you're meant to do, this is the traditional sowing day for them."

Despite not seeing eye to eye over one thing this Christmas, the horticulturist is set to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary this year, and recently spoke to Gyles Brandreth on his Rosebud podcast about when he first met his wife: "I remember coming back on a train journey from back home down to London.

"I thought: 'I think I'll always be with her.' It wasn't the big bells and whistles and all that. It was just kind of: 'I really rather like being with you.' And 50 years on, 50 years next year."

He even joked as he said that the pair have a special decoration in their home in recognition of how 'tolerant' his wife is of him: "She's very tolerant. We have a little cushion in our bathroom which hangs on a window thing. It says 'behind every successful man lies an exhausted woman'."

Alan appears on James Martin's Saturday Morning today (Saturday, November 23) at 9.30am on ITV.

Also catch him on Love Your Weekend tomorrow (Sunday, November 24) at 9.30am also on ITV.