Today on Sowalong, chef, gardener and formidable Bake Off judge Dame Prue Leith reveals her love for cosmos, a favourite flower in her Cotswolds garden. She shares her earliest memories of cosmos, dating back to her South African childhood when it was a plant her mother knew and grew. 
Prue continues to grow it for the colours it offers, from rich purples for a richly hued flower arrangement, to cool whites that she uses in a refreshing blue and white container display on her sun-drenched balcony. For brightening a border, packing out pots or using as a cut flower, this versatile plant is Prue’s go-to flower from seed.

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Sowalong: Cosmos with Dame Prue Leith

Discover gardening inspiration and advice from your favourite gardening experts with the BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team. Join Monty Don, Alan Titchmarsh, Adam Frost, Frances Tophill, Arit Anderson and others to garden for wildlife and wellness, sow and grow flourishing flowers, immerse in the benefits of nature, get the most from your vegetable plot, successfully use colour in the garden, enjoy the beauty of house plants and much, much more. With Sowalongs and Tea Break Tutorials too, we have your gardening needs covered.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or beginning your growing journey, step into the garden with us throughout the year for an enjoyable and informative garden-getaway in every episode.

Additionally, you can find advice, chat and information for allotment growing, grow your own flowers, outdoor living, garden design, organic and sustainable ways to tackle pests and solve problems, growing from seed, caring for plants, looking after roses, pruning tips, thrifty/money saving ideas, plant-based eating, preserving and pickling, spending time in nature, winter evergreens, greenhouse knowhow, favourite garden plants, container planting, raised beds, marking a garden look good year round, small garden and tiny spaces, patio gardening, window boxes, supporting urban birds and wildlife, lawn care, hedgerow help, green roofs, biodiversity, benefits of trees, compost and soil health, rewilding, window boxes, gardening with changing weather, gardening for climate resilience, gardens of the year, professional tips from head gardeners, balcony gardening, healthy plants, British woodlands, tasty crops, productive veg, gardening on a budget, forest school, gardening with children, spring plants, plants for shade, splendid summer colour, shed essentials, great British gardens, must-grow veg, pollinators, harvesting, summer flowers, wildflowers, wildflower meadows, eating homegrown food, gardening for mental health and wellbeing, gardening for health and fitness, hospital gardens, gardens for healing, green spaces for reflection, plants and trees to aid poor air pollution, taking cuttings, propagating, pruning, plants for free, succeeding with roses, growing soft fruit, tackling weeds organically, growing herbs, planting shrubs, taking hardwood cuttings, caring for houseplants, plants for all seasons, trees for spring blossom, fruit trees, climbing roses, flowering shrubs, coastal gardens, making a show garden, behind the scenes at Chelsea, gardening for time-poor gardeners, allotment life, decoding nature’s secrets, companion planting, the healing ppwer of gardens, gardening with trees, gardening with cancer, downsizing a garden, making a new garden, battling slugs and snails, no mow May, spring bulbs, growing sweet peas, sunflowers, cosmos, nasturtiums, tomatoes, beetroot, dahlias, foxgloves, carrots, parsley, onions, shallots, garlic, cucumbers, chillies, potatoes, beans, French beans and runner beans, cabbage, kale, broccoli, pumpkins, squash, courgettes, spinach, chard, leafy veg, parsnips, strawflowers, Verbascum, basil, echium, rocket, zinnia, camellia, tasty soft fruit, successful wisteria, superfoods, tropical gardens, community gardens, Great Dixter, Knepp.

With James Alexander Sinclair, Nick Bailey, Errol Reuben Fernandes, Terry Walton, Rachel de Thame, David Hurrion, Sheila Das, Caroline Quentin, Deliciously Ella, Tristan Gooley, Plant Kween, Nancy Birtwhistle, Matt Biggs, Tom Allen, Ashely Edwards, Joe Lycett, Spicy Moustache, Patrick Gale, Georgina Yates, Griff Rhys Jones, Kate Bradbury, Rekha Mistry, Rich Heathcote, Marchelle Farrell, Tayshan Hayden-Smith, Advolly Richmond, Fergus Garrett, Alistair Griffiths, David Hedges-Gower, John Little, Cel Robertson, Ken Thompson, Charlie Harper, Suzi Turner, Moly Fierheller, Rukmini Iyer, Jamie Johnson, Ingrid Chiu, Ray Mears, Sarah Gerrard-Jones, Jason Williams, Sue Kent, Tom Brown, Sarah Price, Liz Schofield, Kevin Smith, Cat Mansley, Adam Duxbury, Emma Crawforth.

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Save a fortune on supermarket fruit, with Alan Titchmarsh's guide to the most productive fruit to grow.
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Bursting with fresh flavour and health benefits, parsley will give you months of tasty pickings. Discover more in this short podcast. Plus get free seeds with our March, April and May issues. May also includes our 2 for 1 Gardens guide. Buy the magazine here: https://bit.ly/BuyGWMagSowalong
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Sowalong: Cosmos with Dame Prue Leith

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