London - They could probably teach their parents a thing or two about computers and consoles.
But when it comes to gardens, children just don’t know their onions.
Almost a third think cucumbers grow in the ground like potatoes, half can’t recognise lavender and eight out of ten don’t know what a foxglove is, a study has revealed.
Half have no idea how broccoli grows, while 20 percent think sweetcorn is a root vegetable and 4 percent believe pumpkins grow on trees.
The poll, commissioned by the Royal Horticultural Society, also found that more than half of children were unable to recognise a lily and 17 percent could not identify a daffodil.
The RHS said the shocking results of the survey indicate that many children are spending too much time in front of computer games consoles, the internet or television.
While previous generations may have got to grips with nature by making mud pies and having conker fights, the poll of 1,000 children aged six to 16 found that although 82 percent had access to a garden, just 40 percent used it more than once a week.
Around 30 percent only spent time in their garden once or twice a month, and 20 percent rarely played in it.
But sunflowers and roses were recognised by around nine out of ten children.
Alan Titchmarsh, RHS Vice President, said: ‘Some of the survey results were really positive, with around 90 percent of children knowing where onions, strawberries, potatoes and bananas grow and almost 100 percent recognising a rose, but the results also show that more vital work needs to be done to help children discover and learn about plants.’
Sue Biggs, RHS director general, added: ‘Around 85 percent of us live in towns and cities, without easy access to the countryside.
‘Because of this it is even more important that we encourage children to be outside, enjoying gardening, reconnecting with nature and being aware of the changing seasons and their environment.
‘If we’re going to safeguard the future of our environment it is absolutely vital we encourage children to have an understanding and love of plants.’ - Daily Mail