Frances Tophill urges UK gardeners to skip supermarket potted herbs

BBC Gardeners' World presenter Frances Tophill told the Gardeners' World Magazine podcast that most supermarket‑sold potted herb plants are poor value. She said seedlings are overcrowded and stressed, and recommended buying seed packets or small plugs from garden centres instead.

Later in September, the BBC’s Gardeners’ Question Time will record two live sessions at the RHS Wisley Flower Show in Surrey. The panels will include Tophill alongside other horticultural experts such as Matthew Pottage and Chris Beardshaw, offering practical advice to visitors and live‑audience participants.

Both pieces highlight cost‑effective gardening tips amid the broader cost‑of‑living pressure and showcase the upcoming live event for gardening enthusiasts across the UK.