grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends

Latest Episodes:

This month in your garden: April Apr 01, 2024

Show notes

Light levels are increasing and life in the garden is well and truly bustling, which makes this time of year such a joyful one for gardeners!
Returning to our ‘Monthly Jobs’ series, this month’s episode sees Sarah & Josie share which flowers and edibles are perfect for sowing at this stage of the year, as well as how to revitalise your whopper pots once the Tulips go over.

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Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Biodiversity Tips from Knepp Wilding with Charlie Harpur and Adam Nicolson - Episode 165 Mar 28, 2024

Show notes

Knepp plays host to one of the most breathtaking rewilding projects in Britain, and from it we can take such inspiration to channel into our own green spaces.
Sharing the evolution of the project from its initial thousand species and how you can encourage biodiversity in your garden is Charlie Harpur - Knepp’s Head Gardener joins Sarah this week alongside her husband, Adam Nicolson.
In this episode, discover:

How much or how little control you should impose on a garden that’s being rewilded
Charlie’s work with Tom Stuart-Smith, Jekka McVicar and James Hitchmough
Knepp’s work on balancing what each plant provides, not allowing dominant species to run rampant
Why we at home should focus on succession throughout the year

Follow Charlie: https://www.instagram.com/charlie.harpur/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-harpur/
Knepp Rewilding Project: https://knepp.co.uk/rewilding/
Order Sarah’s book - A Year Full of Flowers: https://bit.ly/2TWHJcz
Order Sarah’s new book - A Year Full of Veg:
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sarah-ravens-a-year-full-of-veg

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

The Beginner Gardener’s Dream Flowers to Sow with Jemima Bowker - Episode 164 Mar 21, 2024

Show notes

Our Events and Horti Marketing Manager, Jemima Bowker has been gardening for a few years now, and her perspective on the floral world is shared by many a beginner gardener.
That’s why this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ is dedicated to the 12 flowers that are absolutely essential for newcomers to gardening. From the fast growers to the fragrant showstoppers, this episode is brimming with simple, easy to grow and wholeheartedly rewarding varieties.
In this episode, discover:

The beauty of sowing Calendulas in gutters for prolific growth from a charming cut-and-come-again flower
Linaria Sweeties’ instant impact with their staggering rate of growth and fantastic vase life
Why Scabiosa Black Cat holds a special place in Jemima’s list, with its long flowering period and appeal for pollinators
How best to treat Icelandic Poppies for a sprinkling of saturation which will last all summer

Order Sarah’s book - A Year Full of Flowers: https://bit.ly/2TWHJcz
Order Sarah’s new book - A Year Full of Veg: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sarah-ravens-a-year-full-of-veg

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Q&A: Should I pinch out tall, leggy seedlings? What are your favourite spring plants? Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

Welcome back to the March Q&A podcast episodes, in which Sarah and Josie are once again answering your burning questions.
This time around, we’re looking at pinching out seedlings like cosmos, whether they should be pinched out when they’re tall and leggy, and if there are certain seedlings which shouldn’t be pinched.
Also in this episode, you’ll discover a short, sweet and stunning selection of Sarah & Josie’s favourite varieties for spring, from Sarah’s beloved amelanchiers to Josie’s must-have narcissi.

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Standout Seedlings to Sow and Grow This Year with Arthur Parkinson - Episode 163 Mar 14, 2024

Show notes

One of gardening’s great joys is sowing from seed, planting out and seeing those seeds thrive, and this year brings a lovely variety of new favourites to sow.

Arthur joins Sarah this week as we look at which new stunners and old favourites you’ll want to sow this year, and when to plant out each variety for them to deliver maximum glamour.

In this episode, discover:

A delicious selection of edibles, from a prolific climbing French Bean to the flavoursome Runner Bean Black Knight
The lingering charm of early-sown Cobaea Scandens on Arthur’s windowsill
How a charming combination of Zinnias and Seterias
The two new, exclusive Dahlias topping Sarah’s list for this spring

Order Sarah’s book - A Year Full of Flowers: https://bit.ly/2TWHJcz
Order Sarah’s new book - A Year Full of Veg:
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sarah-ravens-a-year-full-of-veg

Products mentioned:

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Celebrating the Wonderful Women of the Gardening World - Episode 162 Mar 07, 2024

Show notes

Over the course of the podcast, we’ve featured a huge number of remarkable women, inspiring the world in everything from natural-style textiles to award-winning garden design.

In this very special episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, we bring you a selection of our favourite clips from previous episodes, shining a light on the fabulous female horticulturalists and entrepreneurs leading the way in the gardening world.

In this episode, discover:

How a cocktail of herbs from the kitchen garden can transform any meal
The female florists that have given us a renewed appreciation for flowers off of their peak
Which varieties of flower are among the most beloved for scent, and easiest for newcomers to gardening
The stories of the hugely inspirational female entrepreneurs bringing new life to the natural world

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Q&A: What are the best potted plants? Are there dahlias you would recommend growing from seed? Which plants are ideal for shade? Mar 05, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the first of March’s Q&A podcast episodes, where Head Gardener Josie Lewis joins Sarah to directly answer questions from our listeners.

In this month’s episode, we look at the plant varieties best suited to pots with consideration for both small tabletop and larger floor pots, Sarah & Josie share the Dahlias that they’d most recommend growing from seed, and we discover the perfect plants for varying levels of shade.

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

This month in your garden: March Mar 01, 2024

Show notes

Whether you’re growing edibles or ornamentals, March is a busy month for getting into the garden. Building on our ‘Monthly Jobs’ series so far, Sarah & Josie return to share what you should focus on in March.

In this month’s episode, learn which of the edible crops are ready to sow out as soon as possible, from your chitted potatoes to your half-hardy veg, discover which flowers need planting and pruning with special care for frost, and much more to keep you busy!

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Highlights from Our Spring and Summer Range - Episode 161 Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

The spring and summer ahead of us is a glorious opportunity to let our gardens sing with colours anew, and in this week’s podcast, Sarah & Arthur share how to select the very best for your space.

The Spring & Summer Catalogue takes centre stage on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, as we hear about the best brand new collections, some of Arthur’s stalwart favourites, and which of this year’s floral highlights have brought Sarah the most joy.

In this episode, discover:

Standout flowers that Sarah’s loved last year, like the uniquely textured Dahlia Night Silence
A number of gorgeous collections perfect for combining colour palettes in pots and borders
The brand new Teucrium variety that’s earned attention for its stunning looks and drought-tolerance
A tip that Sarah learned from Sissinghurst which brings the best out of the Everlasting Lilies Collection as cut flowers

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Connecting with Nature Through Trees with Arit Anderson and Henrik Sjöman - Episode 160 Feb 22, 2024

Show notes

Trees hold a special place in our ecosystem not only for their environmental impact, but the emotional connection we all make with trees in our earliest years. It’s for exactly these reasons that choosing the right tree can enrich any garden, regardless of size.

Arit Anderson and Henrik Sjöman have combined their passions and expertise, culminating in ‘The Essential Tree Selection Guide’, and the pair join us on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to share the joys of finding the perfect tree, and why it matters now more than ever.

In this episode, discover:

How Arit and Henrik’s backgrounds brought them together on this fantastic project
The ethos of ‘right tree, right place’ and how to pick the perfect tree for a space
The ‘ecosystem services’ that trees give to us in urban and rural environments alike
Trees’ role in all our lives on an emotional level

See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com

Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest