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

Latest Episodes:

The 12 Best All-Time Vegetables - Episode 108 Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

Beside the visual splendour of a thriving vegetable garden, there’s such joy to be had from picking your own delicious ingredients.

At a perfect time to coincide with Sarah’s new book, she takes this solo episode to share a fantastic list of the 12 absolute best vegetables, from flavoursome essentials to the simplest, most cut-and-come-again veg for all seasons.

In this episode, discover:

Several of the most prolific, cut and come again veg from Mizuna and Rocket to the versatile Swiss Chard
Varieties of Kale for the patient gardener or those looking for a quick grower
A duo of tomatoes befitting of any garden alongside what Sarah dubs ‘the perfect cucumber’

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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

The 12 Most Resilient, Low-Maintenance Plants with Gary Newell - Episode 107 Feb 16, 2023

Show notes

Gardening is for everyone, even the busiest among us. That’s why we’re focusing on the very best plants that’ll not only look after themselves, but truly thrive by doing so.

Sarah is once again joined on the podcast by Gary Newell, our Senior Horticultural Buyer, this time to discuss the lowest maintenance plants, from the ground cover of Geranium Rozanne to the pot-worthy Hydrangea ‘Little Lime’.

In this episode, discover:

How the marvellous Lonicera 'Rhubarb and Custard' looks after itself and stays both fresh and scented
A splendid Hydrangea which has repaid Gary each year without fail since he first planted it
The constant productivity of Rosemary, and how it’s a perfect plant for culinary use, hedging and screening alike

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 Healthier Gardens by Companion Planting with Josie Lewis - Episode 106 Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

There’s nothing quite like finding a perfect companion, and in the plant world, companion planting could be the difference between aphid-affliction and the healthiest horticulture.

Our Head Gardener at Perch Hill, Josie Lewis, joins Sarah once again on the podcast to share the essential flowers to underplant for thriving Roses, a garden full of pollinators, and wonderful performing Tomatoes.

In this episode, discover:

Which of the Salvias are perfect for keeping Roses looking their Sunday best
How the likes of Tagetes Minuta and Burning Embers are ideal to combat Whitefly issues in your greenhouse
The best, aromatic Basil to pull the pollinators into your garden
How to create Comfrey Tea Sodium Bicarbonate spray and Garlic spray for preventing mildew

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

Reimagining Your Flower Philosophy with Anna Potter - Episode 105 Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

The beauty of floristry is its ever-moving, transient nature, and that makes your philosophy around flower growing and arranging all the more impactful.

As Anna Potter knows better than anyone, that philosophy can evolve, expand, and lead you to some fantastical floral discoveries. Returning to the podcast this week, Anna shares some of the projects within her new book that can spark inspiration in your own gardening endeavours.

In this episode, discover:

The shift in Anna’s philosophy around plants since she last joined us for episode 11
How to create a gorgeous wreath which, while fleeting, brings such bold and beautiful joy
Why we should embrace the moving, flowing nature of Peonies rather than attempt to constrain them
Tapping into the childlike charm of creating a Mandala

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

12 Best Edible Crops to Sow and Grow with Jane Scotter - Episode 104 Jan 26, 2023

Show notes

Returning to the podcast this week is the wonderful Jane Scotter from Fern Verrow, as we set our sights on the turn of spring and which edibles you can sow soon to bring incredible taste into your garden.

Whether it’s the reliable flavours of Tomatoes like Gardener’s Delight, or rich taste of Cima di Rapa, you’re bound to be inspired with edible plants perfect to start planting right now.

In this episode, discover:

Jane’s history with Skye Gyngell, and how she’s so innovative with the use of veg in her recipes
Varieties of salad leaves and rocket for all temperatures
How to fill the cut flower gap with lovely Stocks like Apple Blossom

Create Academy is offering Sarah Raven listeners 15% off across all gardening courses, including Jane Scotter's new course 'How To Grow Exceptional Produce'. To redeem visit www.createacademy.com and enter code 'SARAHRAVEN15' at checkout. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

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

Hard Frost: Preparing Beds for the Harsh, Cold Winter Months #BONUS Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

The first hard frost of the year signals a time to prepare for the winter ahead, and there are a few essential steps you can take to protect your bulbs and encourage tender perennials to become hardy.

From spotting which varieties need to be brought inside first, to using bubble wrap, burlap or fleece to wrap larger pots, Sarah brings us a step by step guide to beating the hard frost in this bonus episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’.

In this episode, discover:

The least frost-hardy flowers which will need to be brought inside first
When to mulch for effective insulation against frost
How to protect larger, immovable pots by wrapping them with bubble wrap or fleece

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

Fill Your Garden with A Year Full of Veg - Episode 103 Jan 19, 2023

Show notes

With a new year comes boundless possibilities for your veg garden, and there are so many vegetables that truly thrive in cold, wet conditions which are often overlooked.

We’re just a few weeks away from the release of Sarah’s new book, aptly named ‘A Year Full of Veg’, which makes this an ideal point to look at the inspiration behind the book, and of course share some essential edibles for the year ahead.

In this episode, discover:

The inspiration for Sarah’s latest book, and how it came together
Sarah's adoration for easy, productive, cut and come again veg
Companion planting flowers which keep the garden healthy and thriving
How to create a gorgeous, sculptural veg garden without the use of bamboo cane supports

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 12 Best Plant Design Tips for Small Gardens with Butter Wakefield - Episode 102 Jan 12, 2023

Show notes

The size of a garden need not limit its impact, and in this week’s podcast we hear from award-winning garden designer Butter Wakefield as she shares how to bring a spark of inspiration to small spaces.

Whether you’re looking to rethink scale, scent, lighting or layout, Butter brings us a dizzying array of tips for bringing a garden to life.

In this episode, discover:

Marvellous ideas to bring scale, privacy and structure to a garden
How warm lighting and well-placed mirrors can make even small spaces feel grandiose
Tips for vertical emphasis, patterns, and borrowing from your surroundings to extend your garden’s impact beyond its walls

Follow Butter: https://www.instagram.com/butterwakefield/
Order Sarah’s book: https://bit.ly/2TWHJcz

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 Best Plants for Small Gardens with Gary Newell - Episode 101 Jan 05, 2023

Show notes

Not all of us are afforded the space to plant everything our heart desires, so we’ve brought our wonderful Head Horticultural Buyer, Gary Newell, onto the podcast to share the best flowers for compact spaces.

There’s a choice in this episode for everything one might need, whether it’s to bathe your space in scent, long-flowering bee magnets, or simply the most extravagant standout Dahlia for its size.

In this episode, discover:

The guiding principles behind Gary’s scintillating small garden designs
How to build layers with year-round interest from tree cover, sub-shrubs and dazzling potted plants
Dahlia Waltzing Mathilda’s bold beauty and why Sarah always pairs it with the regal red Petunia Tidal Wave Red Velour
Gary’s absolute favourite flower families for gorgeous ground cover

Follow Gary: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-jay-newell-14019137/

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

Our New Year’s Resolutions at Perch Hill with Adam Nicolson - Episode 100 Dec 29, 2022

Show notes

2022 is finally drawing to a close, and as many begin their list of new year’s resolutions we’re making our own commitments at Perch Hill, especially around our exciting carbon and biodiversity research.

Sarah Raven & Adam Nicolson share the findings, bring us some enlightening tips on how we can all reduce carbon emissions in our own gardens, pick out top garden-worthy plants to provide seeds for birds, and chat about how we’re preparing for the exciting year ahead.

In this episode, discover:

Sarah’s top plants to provide for pollinators & birds, and bring an uplifting buzz to your garden
The eclectic agricultural mix that Adam scatters to encourage biodiversity among wildlife
New thinking around the effects of methane in the atmosphere
The surprisingly drastic impact on reducing carbon that we can create in our own gardens
Why ill-kept bird feeders might actually be surprisingly harmful

Order Sarah’s book: https://bit.ly/2TWHJcz
Order Arthur’s book: https://bit.ly/3xOov7H

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