‘Robot gardeners’ expected to take root within five years

 Self-watering gardens will be normal in the UK within five years, experts predict, amid a growing trend for home-grown fruit and vegetables.

Artificial intelligence garden systems are already on sale in the US, and are set to make their way to the UK before the end of the year.

Farmbot, a Silicon Valley firm which makes robot gardening systems, is planning to sell the devices here through Amazon.

From planting seeds, to turning the soil, weeding and watering, the robots are programmed to know how to care for plants. The devices cost £3,000 each, but the price is expected to drop to around £500.

Steve Tooze, from the retailer Stylus, said: “Within five years I think artificial intelligence will be a common feature in British gardens.”

Meanwhile, garden centre vegetable plant sales are soaring, with 43 per cent of gardeners under 40 and a third of over-60s growing their own vegetables, according to Wyevale.