The first Bank holiday weekend of the month saw garden trade holding up well, according to research by the Garden Centre Association (GCA).

The members who contacted us said no records were broken but trade had continued at good levels," said chief executive Iain Wylie.

"For perfect shopping weather it could have been warmer, they said, but overall no rain, with sun for much of the weekend across the country, meant it was a relatively positive one, giving a solid Bank holiday weekend performance."

David Little, managing director of Poplars Garden Centre in Bedfordshire, commented: "The first May Bank holiday in 2014 was a real gardeners' weekend. While not a record breaker, we are very satisfied with the sales we recorded.

"It was fantastic to see trolleys full of plants going through our tills. Just about everyone must be growing veg this year - judging by the number of tomato plants we sold!"

Plants were selling well in other parts of the country too. General manger for the Trelawney@Wadebridge and Trelawney@Ashford garden centres, Peter Burks, said: "Very few holidaymakers were around in either Devon or Cornwall as Easter and this Bank holiday were so close together. The good weather Saturday and Sunday sent everyone off to other events, but on Monday all our regulars were out and in a gardening mood as the weather wasn't as nice. Plants and the restaurants did well."

Meanwhile, Haskins Garden Centres in Dorset, Southampton and West Sussex found gardeners still holding back.

According to chief executive Julian Winfield: "Bedding plant sales were poor and furniture sales have also been poor during the last week, with availability hitting sales."