ALAN Titchmarsh loves gardening. For him, there is no better way to spend a day than pottering about among his beloved flower-beds and borders.

That passion, his knowledge and that endearing easy-going manner have made him a very marketable product.

A star of several gardening-orientated TV shows, he is now the presenter of the BBC's most ambitious gardening project, the How To Be A Gardener series, on our screens on Wednesday evenings.

We have learnt to trust and admire the man, just like the culinary disciples of Delia Smith have come to rely on her skills.

But whereas Delia is all matter-of-fact Middle England, Alan is that nice bloke in a Lacoste polo shirt who likes having a "set to" with the weeds and getting his hands dirty. What they share and what has made them so successful in their respective spheres as TV experts is their passion for their subject. "I want you to get a feel for gardening, to use all your senses to make you a good gardener," enthuses Alan.

Remember when Delia's critics said it was ridiculous for her to bring out a book that included instructions on how to boil an egg? Well, Alan might attract similar brickbats for some of the content of this weighty hardback tome. But the basics are important.

Here Alan details the tools we need and tells us what plants and flowers are. Yes, real basics that the novice gardener needs to know.

The experienced gardener might skip these pages, but there is plenty among the beautiful colour photographs to interest those with more experience.

Among other things, Alan tackles pests and weeds, sows seeds, plants borders, lays lawns and shows how to prune.

It's a good book to potter around and is a handy reference. A second volume and TV series will follow next year.

Updated: 09:29 Wednesday, March 20, 2002