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

Latest Episodes:

Veracious New Varieties & Mildew-Beating Mixtures: Sarah Raven & Arthur Parkinson’s Top Gardening Discoveries of 2023 - Episode 127 Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

While the lovely Arthur Parkinson has been away writing and illustrating, both he and Sarah Raven have had a number of green-fingered revelations that are just too good not to share.

From a newfound love for the fern Metallicum (best seen at sunrise or sunset), to a new, pollinator-friendly concoction that keeps mildew at bay, this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ is an absolute grab bag of ideas and inspiration.

In this episode, discover:

New standout perennials, shrubs and roses, like the reliable Timeless Purple and velvet glamour of James Mason
How to learn lessons from Chelsea, and design your own wildflower garden to look more welcoming than wayward
A fantastic new solution which we’ve trialled on Ranunculus here, perfect for preventing mildew
The unexpected beauty that bookends Arthur’s days: the silver fern ‘Metallicum’

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

3 Million Downloads of grow, cook, eat, arrange - Thank you! Jul 06, 2023

Show notes

A big thank you all of the listeners of the grow, cook, eat, arrange podcast, which has just hit the incredible milestone of 3 million downloads!

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

Grow Your Own Party: The 12 Best Flowers and Edibles with Jessie and Con Booth - Episode 126 Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

Hosting a party is made magnitudes more rewarding when you grow the food and decorations yourself, and the Booth sisters joining us this week on the podcast have mastered that art.

Jessie and Con Booth share, between their specialities of decorative floral plants and delicious edibles respectively, their 12 top additions to any garden, such that you can grow your own party.

In this episode, discover:

How the duo combined their complementary gifts into a business of floral decorating and growing
Jessie’ favourite floral additions, from the theatrics of Sunflowers to the aromatic joys of Bearded Iris
Con’s top edibles, whether they be the juiciest Tomatoes like ‘Costoluto Fiorentino’ or a climbing Courgette like ‘Tromboncino’

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 Comfort and Connection of Incredible Ukrainian Cuisine with Olia Hercules - Episode 125 Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

In Olia Hercules’ book title, she describes the power of food to comfort and connect, and nobody exhibits it in such a captivating way as Olia does.

Be inspired by the wonders of world food as one of Ukraine’s most moving and emotive cooks and writers joins Sarah on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, sharing the delights of Ukrainian recipes.

In this episode, discover:

Olia’s background and journey to discovering the joys of cookery
Heartwarming tales of family recipes perfect for you to try at home
Recipes to take advantage of bountiful wild garlic from foraging
The profound connection you form when you cook with what you grow

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 Stunning Science of Dahlia Breeding with Josie Lewis - Episode 124 Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

Behind every Dahlia’s watercolour beauty is a mind-boggling scientific world of floral possibility - who better to share the joys of Dahlia breeding than our very own Josie Lewis.

This week we break down the biology behind the beauty, how to germinate your own seeds, and breeding for the perfect Dahlia with stunning colour and fantastic vase life.

In this episode, discover:

The startling science behind these beautiful plants, like their numerous chromosomes and fascinating transposons
How to use the expert knowledge on Dahlia breeding to germinate your own special seeds
What to look for in an ideal plant, from height and form to colour and vase life

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 12 Top Beginner-Friendly Herbs with Jekka McVicar - Episode 123 Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

With names like Jamie Oliver under tutorship, Jekka McVicar’s word is gospel when it comes to growing herbs for your own culinary masterpieces.

For those of us looking for the simplest start to a herb garden, even in the smallest of spaces, Jekka is a font of knowledge, sharing her 12 best beginner-friendly herbs in this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’.

In this episode, discover:

How to combine herbs together, just as one would ingredients in a cocktail
The flavours of herb for a zing that permeates your cooking, an aniseed kick, and much more
Why one shouldn’t use hands when planting out Basil seeds among other lovely herbs

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

Sarah’s Essential Food & Flower Harvesting Tips - Episode 122 Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

Almost every day of Sarah Raven’s life involves harvesting, so over the last 30 years or so, she’s worked out the most efficient way to harvest plants and edibles for extraordinary results.

Join us on this solo episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ as Sarah shares how to pick salads for remarkably productive edibles, her flower conditioning advice for a long-lasting harvest, and why you should avoid the ‘pick-plonk’ approach at all costs.

In this episode, discover:

A perfect picking approach for salads, using scissors to cut around the heart
Conditioning your pickings for lasting beauty from your cut flowers
How bathing your flowers can breathe new life into even the most dire of cut Peonies

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

Perennializing Your Bulbs for Sustainable Spring Splendour - Episode 121 May 25, 2023

Show notes

Sustainable gardening is an essential endeavour in modern horticulture, as we learned with Arit Anderson in episode 119, and one of the easiest ways to create a sustainable garden is through perennializing your bulbs.

Sarah Raven takes this week’s solo episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to dive into the beautiful bulbs that can be made perennial, with a particular passion for the high glamour of perennial Tulips.

In this episode, discover:

Why Tulips are among the greatest flowers to grow sustainably as perennial bulbs
A natural recipe to treat your bulbs that’ll help combat mildew
How to identify a naturalised bulb
Bold, dazzling Tulip varieties from the emotive colours of ‘Artists’ to the standout sculpture of ‘turkestanica’
Tips on how to plant bulbs and surround them for protection from the appetite of squirrels and mice

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

Creating a Bee-Friendly Garden All Year Round with Arthur Parkinson - Episode 120 May 18, 2023

Show notes

Few people are more passionate about the plight of our precious pollinators than the marvellous Arthur Parkinson, and National Bee Day poses a perfect time to consider how we can all care for them.

In this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, we’re taking you through the entire year and which are the finest, nectar-rich flowers to bring a lively buzz to the garden throughout every season.

In this episode, discover:

The perennial beauty of Iris Reticulata, with its silky, suave blues
Early summer Roses to lift the mood and attract the buzz of pollinators in their masses
Hardier flowers ideal for the later months, like Arthur’s oft-mentioned Cardoons
A sneak peek at what to expect from Arthur’s next book, The Flower Yard 2

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 Chelsea Flower Show 2023 with Arit Anderson - Episode 119 May 11, 2023

Show notes

Arit Anderson is an award winning garden designer, TV presenter, and an unrelenting wave of joy who shares Sarah Raven’s love of Chelsea Flower Show.

With the show next week, who better to join us on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ for a Chelsea special than a woman whose history of design in fashion and gardening has drawn from the gorgeous annual displays of chromatic wonder.

In this episode, discover:

Arit’s illustrious history in flowers, fashion, events management, and how they led into the gardening world
Growing into television and garden design through Gardeners World and other wonderful media appearances
The charming collaborative nature of Chelsea Flower Show and all who share their talents at the event
Chelsea’s cultural impact on horticulture and world-leading sustainability initiatives

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