Red tape and a labour shortage leave retailers and millions of lockdown gardeners with scant pickings.

Most popular house plants cost eight per cent more than before Brexit, while garden centres have cut back options.

Brexit is predictably causing delays and shortages. Phytosanitary regulations for the rest of the world are now imposed on seeds and plants from the EU. Products that were harmonised with UK standards till December 2020 may no longer be acceptable.

Horticulture businesses are experiencing "incredible frustration" at the new Irish Sea border arrangements, a trade body has said.

NFU warns blanket import checks from April could fuel long delays and damage future crops. / The UK’s fruit and flower growers face an “existential threat” from new post-Brexit border checks that could damage business and affect next year’s crops, the country’s biggest farming body has said.

The new charges are set to come into force at the end of the month and will mean higher food prices will be passed on to consumers, suppliers warn.