This time on Sowalong, BBC Gardeners’ World magazine Reviews Editor, Kay Maguire, shares her favourite flower to grow from seed. In a frilly mix of pinks, yellows, oranges and reds, Kay talks you through planting Zinnia.

Find out where Kay first discovered these bright annuals and how she likes to sow them in rows in the veg plot, amongst other crops, ready for picking. With vivid colours that instantly lift a room, Zinnias last well in the vase as cut flowers. They’re brilliant border fillers, a great addition to containers and by picking them regularly through the season, you’ll encourage more and more of those daisy-like flowers.

Listen now, as Kay runs through her growing tips, whether sowing straight into drills in the ground, or earlier indoors. Plus, advice on staking, watering and harvesting, too. Best of all, how to leave the last flowers on the plant at the end of the season, ready for seed saving and preparing for next year’s blooms.

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Sowalong: Zinnia with Kay Maguire