I wish the gardening media would tell it how it is

The gardening fraternity is now in danger of losing identity at a time when gardening's popularity must surely be at an all time high.

The problem? Television, garden shows, websites and the blogging media who are now publishing and broadcasting to increase profits, page rank and personal careers. It's got to stop before the industry descends into farce.

Claudia's opinion on Gardeners' World Live on Landscape Juice today saddened me. The Chelsea Flower Show in May seemed more about the personalities rather than their talents - it seems that little thought is going into what a consumer wants.

Now we are seeing newspapers and television companies employing bloggers in a bid to up readers and ratings. The problem is they are being chosen from close circles in what is clearly an 'old boys' act rather than looking for real gardeners with talent.

Many bloggers and garden journalists who are paid to write have very little experience of day to day knowledge of how a garden ticks. There is often very little evidence that they are practising what they preach and I would not be surprised if many of their posts are the result of reading a book some twenty minutes before they thumped it out on their keyboard.

Before anyone says this is just sour grapes for being overlooked - forget it. I have always been keen on writing and presenting the right story or news and I would rather not prostitute myself just to better my career.

I was contacted recently by Radio Two to discuss sunflowers. Yes, I was disappointed that I didn't get the email in time because the advice given by the RHS was a farce in my opinion.

Would you really plant three seeds in one 9cm pot and then cut the other two down when the leader had been established? It was poor advice in my book.

I have also noticed the amount of wannabe bloggers and writers who cling on to their heroes in a hope that they get added to their blog roll or get a comment reciprocated or perhaps a mention.

I want to see writing and broadcasting about the subject matter and not about the personality or writer trying to impress to further their career.

The web especially is bringing us an opportunity to open up the market in a way that has never before happened. I can now pop in and read a post written by a blogger on the Isle of Wight revealing a tip on growing tomatoes and equally visit a passionate blog in New Zealand revealing the wild flora and fauna of South Island.

This is the real market and it is time to be honest and cater properly to the needs of information and experience hungry viewers and readers.

I would like to see bloggers and media start to challenge themselves a bit and write with honesty about their life and passion for their profession rather than who they had lunch at which show or how many gold medals they have.

Am I being harsh or am I seeing it really how it is?

Please fell free to leave your honest opinion.