grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends
- Episódios
- 359
- Publicação
- semanal
- Último episódio
- 17 set 2026
Sobre o podcast
Welcome to grow, cook, eat, arrange, the weekly podcast from gardener, writer, teacher,and cook, Sarah Raven. Over the last two decades, Sarah has led the way by introducing a new kind of productive gardening which places emphasis on intense colour, sophistication, and achievability. Recorded at the beautiful Perch Hill Farm in Sussex, Sarah talks with special guests from across garden design, floristry, food, ecology, conservation, and more. Brimming with top tips and helpful hints, listen and learn how to create your most productive garden ever. You can find out more about the products discussed in each episode or get in touch by visiting the website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Participantes
- Sarah RavenApresentação
- Josie LewisCoapresentação
- Tom StimpsonCoapresentação
Episódios 359
Andy Monaghan: Why Perennials are the star performers in every garden - Episode 292
Andy Monaghan is a wonderfully creative soul both in the garden and beyond it, sharing his talents as a professional dancer and spending his “off season” knee‑deep in tulips, zinnias and prairie perennials. In …
Notas do episódio
Andy Monaghan is a wonderfully creative soul both in the garden and beyond it, sharing his talents as a professional dancer and spending his “off season” knee‑deep in tulips, zinnias and prairie perennials.
In this episode, Sarah is joined by Andy, a florist, flower grower and dancer, to choose the finest tulips for a collection that will come back year after year. They talk perennial tulips, resilient planting for hot dry summers, and the quiet joy of designing gardens that can cope with a changing climate.
In this episode, discover:
- How Andy built a three‑tulip collection around perennial performers like ‘Artist’, ‘Don Pedro’ and the ‘Sarah Raven’ tulip
- Practical ways to choose tulips and perennials that cope better with heat, drought and changing weather
- The reality of juggling two creative careers across seasons of the year
- Which plants thrived in a hot summer, from zinnias and prairie perennials to dahlias and phlox
- Ideas for designing both larger flower plots and small town gardens
Products mentioned:
Tulip ‘Artist’:
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-artist
Tulip ‘Dom Pedro’ (Tulipa ‘Don Pedro’):
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-dom-pedro
Tulip ‘Sarah Raven’:
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-sarah-raven
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’:
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-limelight
Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’:
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-arborescens-annabelle
Acanthus mollis ‘Rue Ledan’:
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/acanthus-mollis-rue-ledan
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Revisiting key jobs in the garden for September - Episode 291
September is a turning point in the gardening calendar, a month in which we’re preparing our plants - as we are ourselves - for the colder months.Sarah and Josie join forces this week to share the key jobs you …
Notas do episódio
September is a turning point in the gardening calendar, a month in which we’re preparing our plants - as we are ourselves - for the colder months.
Sarah and Josie join forces this week to share the key jobs you should prioritise at this point in the year - from focusing on your edibles to deadheading your dahlias. September is also the time to plant out your biennials before the cold sets in, start forcing bulbs, and take cuttings of your tender perennials.
Products mentioned:
Mustards (Hardy Mustard Mix): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hardy-mustard-mix
Salad Rocket (‘Serrata’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salad-rocket-serrata
Mizuna: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mizuna
Winter Purslane: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/winter-purslane
Coriander (‘Leisure’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/coriander-leaf-form-leisure
Flat-leaf Parsley ‘Giant of Napoli’ (Listed as ‘Gigante di Napoli’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/parsley-gigante-di-napoli
Chard (‘Bright Lights’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chard-bright-lights
Spinach (‘Giant Winter’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/spinach-giant-winter
Ammi majus: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majus
Ammi visnaga: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-visnaga
Salvia viridis ‘Blue’ (‘Blue Monday’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-viridis-blue
Black Scabious – Scabiosa atropurpurea (‘Black Cat’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/scabiosa-atropurpurea-black-cat
Honesty (Lunaria annua ‘Chedglow’): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lunaria-annua-chedglow
Sweet Rocket (Hesperis matronalis var. albiflora): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hesperis-matronalis-white
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Tom Stimpson: The best narcissi from our visit to the Netherlands - Episode 290
From the first November blooms to the last flowers in May, narcissus can quietly carry your garden through the whole of spring. In this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Tom Stimpson joins Sarah as they unpack …
Notas do episódio
From the first November blooms to the last flowers in May, narcissus can quietly carry your garden through the whole of spring.
In this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Tom Stimpson joins Sarah as they unpack what they found on a whirlwind narcissus trip to the Netherlands – from finely bred, climate‑resilient varieties to pots that brim with scent on the coldest days.
They share their favourite tried‑and‑tested daffodils for pots, borders and cutting, and the key characteristics they now look for.
In this episode, discover:
- How to plan a simple narcissus succession so you have daffodils in flower from November through to May
- The named varieties Sarah and Tom rate for pots, borders and cutting, such as ‘Avalanche’, ‘February Gold’ and ‘Starlight Sensation’
- Practical ideas for making your space work harder, including interplanting narcissus with dahlias for almost seamless colour
Products mentioned:
Narcissus ‘Actaea’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-actaea
Narcissus ‘Avalanche’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-avalanche
Narcissus ‘February Gold’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-february-gold
Narcissus ‘Tête‑à‑tête’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-tete-a-tete
Narcissus ‘Rip Van Winkle’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-rip-van-winkle
Narcissus ‘Silver Chimes’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-silver-chimes
Narcissus ‘Starlight Sensation’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-starlight-sensation
Narcissus ‘Pheasant’s Eye’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-pheasants-eye
Narcissus ‘Snipe’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-snipe
Narcissus ‘Sailboat’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-sailboat
Narcissus ‘Polar Hunter’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-polar-hunter
Fritillaria meleagris (Snakeshead Fritillary): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/fritillaria-meleagris-plum-white-mixed
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Josie Lewis: Protect your bulbs with squirrel-proof pot toppers - Episode 289
If grey squirrels have ever stripped your pots overnight or raided a carefully planted bulb lasagne, there are ways to protect your perfectly composed pots.Sarah is joined by Josie Lewis this week to share …
Notas do episódio
If grey squirrels have ever stripped your pots overnight or raided a carefully planted bulb lasagne, there are ways to protect your perfectly composed pots.
Sarah is joined by Josie Lewis this week to share what’s actually worked at Perch Hill after years of trials – from cleverly laid thorny rose prunings to beautiful pot toppers that protect bulbs and earn their keep.
In this episode, discover:
- How Sarah and Josie protect freshly planted bulbs from grey squirrels and other pests without relying on ugly or ineffective solutions
- Exactly how to use thorny stems as a simple, physical barrier over pots through autumn and winter
- Which ornamental plants make the best pot toppers over bulbs, and where each works best
- How to use edible pot toppers such as hardy lettuces and salad leaves to both shield bulbs and provide generous harvests before tulips emerge
Products mentioned:
Ammi visnaga: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-visnaga
Ammi majus: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majus
Heuchera ‘Black Taffeta’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/heuchera-black-taffeta
Erysimum ‘Bowles Mauve’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/erysimum-bowless-mauve
Wallflower ‘Sugar Rush Purple’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/wallflower-sugar-rush-purple-bicolour-f1
Cerinthe (Honeywort): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-purpurascens
Cerinthe 'Kiwi Blue': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-kiwi-blue
Mizuna ‘Red Knight’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mizuna-red-knight-f1
Salad Rocket: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salad-rocket-serrata
‘Red Frills’ Mustard: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mustard-red-frills
Sea Holly (Eryngium): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/eryngium-x-zabelii-big-blue
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Tom Stimpson: The magic of mini-bulbs for a pint-sized garden - Episode 288
We’re stepping once more into Tom Stimpson’s tiny town garden to see how he coaxes months of colour from the smallest of spaces. In this episode, Tom shares the mini bulbs that have truly earned their keep in …
Notas do episódio
We’re stepping once more into Tom Stimpson’s tiny town garden to see how he coaxes months of colour from the smallest of spaces.
In this episode, Tom shares the mini bulbs that have truly earned their keep in pots and window boxes – from long-flowering iris and species tulips to cheerful muscari and dwarf narcissus.
Together we explore simple planting “recipes”, clever table‑top displays, and a low‑maintenance watering approach that lets the weather do most of the work.
In this episode, discover:
- How Tom turns a tiny town garden into months of spring colour using mini bulbs in pots, tabletops and window boxes
- Which small bulbs really earn their keep in containers – from Ipheion ‘Alberto Castillo’ and ‘Wisley Blue’ to favourite species tulips and dwarf narcissus
- Simple ways to plan a small-space bulb display, including easy paper layouts and colour planning
- A low-maintenance watering approach for bulbs in pots that relies on deep, occasional soaking rather than constant fussing
- Practical tricks for protecting bulbs from squirrels and how to give narcissi, muscari and Iris reticulata a second life in borders.
Products mentioned:
Ipheion ‘Alberto Castillo’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ipheion-alberto-castillo
Tulipa sylvestris: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulipa-sylvestris
Anemone blanda ‘Blue Shades’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/anemone-blanda-blue-shades
Muscari ‘Blue Magic’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/muscari-blue-magic
Muscari ‘Valerie Finnis’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/muscari-armeniacum-valerie-finnis
Narcissus ‘Minnow’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-minnow
Narcissus ‘Sailboat’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-sailboat
Scilla / Squills (Siberian Squill): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/scilla-siberica
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Tom Stimpson: How to curate low-maintenance, long-lasting perennial pots - Episode 287
If you love the idea of beautiful pots that don’t need replanting every five minutes, perennials in a container can be the perfect solution, and just as stunning as a bed or a border.Tom Stimpson returns to …
Notas do episódio
If you love the idea of beautiful pots that don’t need replanting every five minutes, perennials in a container can be the perfect solution, and just as stunning as a bed or a border.
Tom Stimpson returns to discuss trusted “banker” perennials for containers – from long-flowering hellebores and acers underplanted with geraniums, to hydrangeas, heucheras and beloved agapanthus.
You’ll hear exactly which combinations have stood the test of time in Tom’s garden as well as at Perch Hill, and how to get colour from winter through to late autumn.
In this episode, discover:
- How to design perennial pots that give you colour and structure from winter through to late autumn, without constant replanting
- Which plants Sarah and Tom rely on most strongly for containers
- Practical planting combinations for small gardens, such as Pittosporum with hellebores and scabious, or an acer underplanted with Geranium ‘Rozanne’
- A realistic regime for watering, feeding and deadheading perennial pots so they stay sturdy rather than sappy
Products mentioned:
Helleborus niger: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-niger
Helleborus orientalis: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-orientalis-pretty-ellen-spotted
Helleborus ‘Ice n’ Roses Red’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-x-glandorfensis-ice-n-roses-red
Pittosporum ‘Bannow Bay’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pittosporum-tenuifolium-bannow-bay
Scabiosa atropurpurea ‘Black Cat’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/scabiosa-atropurpurea-black-cat
Scabiosa ‘Kudo Pink’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/scabiosa-incisa-kudo-pink
Geranium ‘Rozanne’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/geranium-rozanne
Geranium ‘Dreamland’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/geranium-dreamland
Hydrangea ‘Madame Emile Mouillère’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-macrophylla-madame-emile-mouillere
Hydrangea ‘Little Lime’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-little-lime
Hydrangea ‘Limelight’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-limelight
Hydrangea ‘Little Fresco’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-little-fresco
Heuchera ‘Black Taffeta’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/heuchera-black-taffeta
Gaura ‘The Bride’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/gaura-lindheimeri-the-bride
Gaura ‘Flamingo’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/gaura-collection-for-pots
Salvia nemorosa ‘Caradonna’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-nemorosa-caradonna
Salvia ‘Peach Melba’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-peach-melba
Verbena rigida: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-rigida
Linaria ‘Peachy’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/linaria-x-purpurea-peachy
Agapanthus ‘Midnight Blue’ / ‘Navy Blue’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/agapanthus-navy-blue
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Tom Stimpson: Forcing bulbs for a wonderful winter indoors - Episode 286
We’re approaching the perfect moment for bulb planting, and if you’re looking to force bulbs for a lovely indoor winter, then look no further than the sage advice of Tom Stimpson.In this episode, Sarah and Tom …
Notas do episódio
We’re approaching the perfect moment for bulb planting, and if you’re looking to force bulbs for a lovely indoor winter, then look no further than the sage advice of Tom Stimpson.
In this episode, Sarah and Tom - our Head of Horticulture - share their favourite bulbs to force indoors, and how to pot and water them, plus a few simple tricks to keep them flowering for weeks on end.
In this episode, discover:
- The best bulbs to force indoors, from dramatic amaryllis and classic paperwhites to scented narcissus, hyacinths and tiny muscari
- Simple methods for planting, positioning and watering indoor bulbs so they flower reliably
- The importance of “mean” watering to avoid rot and keep flowers lasting longer
- Easy ways to move forced bulbs from house to garden so they go on to provide colour and cut stems for seasons to come
Products mentioned:
Amaryllis ‘Papillio’ (Papilio): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaryllis-papillio
Amaryllis ‘Green Magic’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaryllis-green-magic
Amaryllis ‘Nymph’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaryllis-nymph
Paperwhite Narcissus ‘Ziva’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-papyraceus-ziva-for-forcing
Narcissus ‘Polar Hunter’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-polar-hunter
Hyacinth ‘China Pink’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hyacinth-china-pink
Hyacinth ‘Delft Blue’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hyacinthus-orientalis-delft-blue-forcing
Muscari ‘Blue Magic’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/muscari-blue-magic
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Dame Laura Lee DBE: The emotive garden design behind Maggie’s centres - Episode 285
When cancer enters a life, it carries a profound impact on the places in which you seek comfort, which is why the human-centred gardens at Maggie’s centres are so unbelievably important.In this powerful episode …
Notas do episódio
When cancer enters a life, it carries a profound impact on the places in which you seek comfort, which is why the human-centred gardens at Maggie’s centres are so unbelievably important.
In this powerful episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah talks to Dame Laura Lee from Maggie’s, about how beautifully designed, garden-centred spaces are changing the experience of cancer care for patients and their families.
In this episode, discover:
- How one simple question sparked the creation of Maggie’s Centres and a new idea of cancer support
- Why the design of a space can change how it feels to live with cancer
- What actually happens when someone walks from the hospital into a Maggie’s Centre
- How Maggie’s supports not only patients but their families and friends through the process
- The role of gardens and seasons as a gentle way to talk about hope, uncertainty, treatment, and even end of life
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
12 winter veg to keep you harvesting until April - Episode 284
If you’ve ever let your vegetable garden wind down after summer, there’s a whole season you’re missing out on. This week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah breaks the year into two simple seasons and shows …
Notas do episódio
If you’ve ever let your vegetable garden wind down after summer, there’s a whole season you’re missing out on.
This week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah breaks the year into two simple seasons and shows you exactly what to sow now so you can keep picking right through the grey months.
From hardy salads and herbs to kales and chards, she shares 12 tried-and-tested crops that genuinely thrive in a UK winter.
In this episode, discover:
- How to divide the gardening year into two simple seasons so you can plan for year-round harvests
- Which 12 tried-and-tested crops Sarah relies on for winter and early spring eating
- The exact sowing window for late-summer and early-autumn sowings, and why timing is crucial if you want strong plants going into winter
- Practical ways to cook and enjoy your winter veg, including Sarah’s wilted kale salad, and how to use herbs to brighten cold-season salads
Products mentioned:
Lettuce ‘Merveille de Quatre Saisons’:
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lettuce-merveille-de-quatre-saisons
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mustard-red-frills
Flat-leaf Parsley ‘Giant of Napoli’:
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/parsley-gigante-di-napoli
Spinach ‘Medania’:
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/spinach-medania
Chard:
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chard-lucullus
Florence Fennel / Bulb Fennel (‘Romanesco’):
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/florence-fennel-romanesco
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Matthew Rice: How to look, draw and paint your garden - Episode 283
Stepping out into the garden with a sketchbook in hand is a novel, powerful practice which, given time, can transform the way we look at plants we think that we know like the back of our hand.In this week’s …
Notas do episódio
Stepping out into the garden with a sketchbook in hand is a novel, powerful practice which, given time, can transform the way we look at plants we think that we know like the back of our hand.
In this week’s podcast episode, Sarah is joined by artist and gardener Matthew Rice to explore how drawing becomes a kind of “recorded looking” that deepens our relationship with flowers and gardens - from choosing the right subjects and materials to capturing the feeling of a border in full swing.
In this episode, discover:
- How drawing functions as “recorded looking”, helping deepen your relationship with your garden
- Which flowers and garden plants are most forgiving to draw as a beginner, and practical ways to get started with garden drawing
- Where Matthew Rice finds inspiration, from historic watercolourists to everyday details in his own greenhouse and garden
Products mentioned:
Snakeshead Fritillaries: sarahraven.com/products/fritillaria-meleagris
Iris reticulata: sarahraven.com/products/iris-reticulata-blue-note
Courgettes: sarahraven.com/products/courgette-soleil-f1
Mint: sarahraven.com/products/mint-moroccan
Matthew Rice: https://www.instagram.com/matthewricewatercolours/
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Richard Claxton: How the NGS transforms health & green spaces - Episode 282
The National Garden Scheme is a national treasure, raising millions for charities and giving access to gorgeous gardens for those who need them most.It’s a joy this week to be joined by former GP and National …
Notas do episódio
The National Garden Scheme is a national treasure, raising millions for charities and giving access to gorgeous gardens for those who need them most.
It’s a joy this week to be joined by former GP and National Garden Scheme CEO Dr Richard Claxton to explore how 3,200 gardens – from stately homes to hospital rooftops and new-build backyards – are transforming health and access to green space across the UK.
In this episode, discover:
- How the National Garden Scheme quietly turns open gardens, tea and cake into £3.9 million a year for nursing and healthcare charities
- Why Richard Claxton believes gardening is one of the most powerful tools we have for long-term wellbeing
- How the NGS has evolved from stately homes and rectories to include community gardens, and small, relatable plot
- The story behind transformative projects like the intensive care roof garden at King’s College Hospital
- How balconies, new-build gardens and shared plots can play a vital role in our health and connection to nature
Richard Claxton:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardclaxtongardens/
The National Garden Scheme: https://www.instagram.com/nationalgardenscheme/See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Josie Lewis: 10 climate-resilient plants for unpredictable weather - Episode 281
We’ve learned from years of unpredictable weather patterns that the climate is demanding more of our plants than ever before, and while some struggle, others quietly thrive throughout it all.In this episode …
Notas do episódio
We’ve learned from years of unpredictable weather patterns that the climate is demanding more of our plants than ever before, and while some struggle, others quietly thrive throughout it all.
In this episode, Sarah is joined by Josie Lewis to explore which plants are quietly thriving through late frosts, heatwaves and torrential rain with a practical, down-to-earth shortlist of resilient perennials, shrubs, grasses and ground covers to help your garden cope with an increasingly unpredictable climate.
In this episode, discover:
- How long-observed changes in weather are reshaping which plants can thrive in the garden
- Which resilient perennials, shrubs and grasses are coping best with “swivelly” weather, and why traits like tap roots and silver, hairy foliage matter
- Which much-loved plants are starting to struggle with mildew, black spot and stress
- Practical, down-to-earth techniques for helping your garden weather extremes conditions
Products mentioned:
Bluebells (Native British): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hyacinthoides-non-scripta-bluebells
Eryngiums (Sea Hollies): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/eryngium-alpinum?srsltid=AfmBOopO4Ifg4rzCW2YkMWRcqgDXIRlXUqsM8bCbvKl2l68rTKaBJU4l
Lavender: sarahraven.com/products/lavender-munstead
Rosemary ‘Tuscan Blue’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/rosemary-tuscan-blue?srsltid=AfmBOoqw1cACNvCEpOmZsANIbxqDCLnJbnUK2yiqwuVl2Cvfo8ZtYvMy
Origanum vulgare (Oregano): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/wild-marjoram?srsltid=AfmBOopv0ainVpy6LtMUQZNXz7j2uk0S8_o0MhkfGzThC64AF9eaF1l-
Lychnis coronaria (Magenta): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lychnis-coronaria
Stipa gigantea: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/stipa-gigantea
Quaking Grasses (Briza species): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/briza-maxima-greater-quaking-grass?srsltid=AfmBOorNYwPg5Ia0BbbQNr1nHeMdY4zpd_RelqlM_oWx8Ukfkg6qb-Yp
Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/leucanthemum-vulgaris?srsltid=AfmBOoqICKKwsHKsI_Az1IDEef6FTGyX2985v8xOzJWJz6vK2m39rH80
Salvia ‘Cerro Potosi’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-microphylla-cerro-potosi
Salvia ‘Jezebel’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-jezebel?srsltid=AfmBOoo9zChqz4ORp4p1PjjxPn-FE0S9HtVs0nqaEzWg3SHc0sPNNdRE
Salvia ‘Royal Bumble’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-x-jamensis-royal-bumble?srsltid=AfmBOorDeIIZi7sAEHWbPIlPsgg6Nvy-c1HUTkEyZNvgfHTKvBI0VLH5
Phlox ‘David’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-paniculata-david
Phlox ‘Blue Paradise’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-paniculata-blue-paradise
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Pam Corbin: The fun, modern take on making your own preserves - Episode 280
What Pam Corbin doesn’t know about preserves, isn’t worth knowing. She’s an oracle on all things jam - hence her apt nickname, ‘Pam the Jam’.For the home cook, and for those with a kitchen garden worthy of …
Notas do episódio
What Pam Corbin doesn’t know about preserves, isn’t worth knowing. She’s an oracle on all things jam - hence her apt nickname, ‘Pam the Jam’.
For the home cook, and for those with a kitchen garden worthy of capturing its fruity goodness, this week’s episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ with Pam is a perfect entry point to creating your own jams.
She and Sarah share the secrets behind turning seasonal fruit and veg into beautiful jars of low‑sugar jams, compotes and chutneys that actually taste of the fruit, not just the sugar!
In this episode, discover:
- How Pam moved from a tiny jam business in a converted pig unit to writing modern classics on preserves
- Why traditional jam recipes were so heavy on sugar, and how to safely make lower‑sugar, soft‑set jams today
- Practical, step‑by‑step tips for tricky fruits like strawberries and raspberries – including staging your jam, managing foam, and avoiding overcooked, rock‑hard results
- Simple ways to make more than just jam from your harvest, from apricot compotes and bottled cherries to clever uses for rhubarb, courgettes and runner beans
- How to choose and use basic preserving kit so you can confidently turn garden gluts into jars on your shelf
Order ‘Pam the Jam: The Book of Preserves’:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pam-Jam-Book-Preserves-Corbin/dp/1408884496
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Josie Lewis: Choosing roses for perfume and performance - Episode 279
There are few flowers more quintessential than the rose, and it’s safe to say that there’s a perfect rose for everyone’s tastes. This week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ delves into the world of roses, with …
Notas do episódio
There are few flowers more quintessential than the rose, and it’s safe to say that there’s a perfect rose for everyone’s tastes.
This week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ delves into the world of roses, with someone whose love for a great rose knows no bounds: Josie Lewis.
Whether you’re looking for a rose with a particular colour to combine with the beauty of your existing garden, or you’re more pressed by scent and structure, we hear which are the absolute best roses to grow, and how best to tend to them for healthy, reliable growth.
In this episode, discover:
- Which varieties of Roses are the standout performers for each colour group
- The best ramblers, bloomers and climbers, from the huge, creamy white Wedding Day to the beautiful copper-brown Hot Chocolate
- How to make your roses last in water for maximum vase life
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Enjoying the brilliance of alliums all year round - Episode 278
This Christmas might feel a while away, but if there’s one way to prepare right now for a more stunning and sustainable tree, it’s with alliums.Sarah’s love of alliums is well-documented on the podcast, but …
Notas do episódio
This Christmas might feel a while away, but if there’s one way to prepare right now for a more stunning and sustainable tree, it’s with alliums.
Sarah’s love of alliums is well-documented on the podcast, but this week she’s recalling some of the most show-stopping varieties with which to decorate this Christmas, and the joys that they’ll bring as ‘colour baton-carriers’ in spring.
In this episode, discover:
- Which alliums are perfect for bridging the gap between tulips going over and sweet peas emerging
- Some extravagant, statement-making varieties like the remarkably tall ‘Summer Drummer’ or sculptural shapes of ‘Magic’
- Tips for preparing your alliums to sustainably decorate your tree this Christmas
Products mentioned:
Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-hollandicum-purple-sensation
Allium cristophii
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-cristophii
Allium nigrum
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-nigrum
Allium stipitatum 'Summer Drummer'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-stipitatum-summer-drummer
Allium schubertii 'Magic'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-schubertii-magic
Allium jesdianum 'Purple Rain'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-purple-rain
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
The brilliant biennials perfect for scent and versatility - Episode 277
Biennials – plants which flower in their second year – may often be overlooked by us gardeners, but between their value for money, wonderful scent, and versatility they’re among the best plants to sow and grow …
Notas do episódio
Biennials – plants which flower in their second year – may often be overlooked by us gardeners, but between their value for money, wonderful scent, and versatility they’re among the best plants to sow and grow in any garden.
Sarah makes the case for brilliant biennials in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, exploring how she came to appreciate their beauty, and which varieties are best for all aspects of your space.
In this episode, discover:
- How the right mix of biennials can fill the awkward May gap with prolific blooms, all for the price of a seed packet
- The best early-flowering biennials, from fragrant wallflowers to the scented sweet rocket, Hesperis matronalis
- Moth-pollinated varieties with rich fragrance and velvety textures to create a pollinator paradise
Products mentioned:
Digitalis purpurea 'Sutton's Apricot'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-suttons-apricot
Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-alba
Malope trifida 'Vulcan'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/malope-trifida-vulcan
Lunaria annua
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lunaria-annua
Iceland poppy (Papaver nudicaule)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-nudicaule-champagne-bubbles-mix-f1
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Pollyanna Wilkinson: Simple tips for a spectacularly designed garden - Episode 276
Every garden space deserves a chance to be transformed into a beautiful space which breathes, rather than constricts, and Pollyanna Wilkinson is a master of such designs.Polly joins Sarah this week to share her …
Notas do episódio
Every garden space deserves a chance to be transformed into a beautiful space which breathes, rather than constricts, and Pollyanna Wilkinson is a master of such designs.
Polly joins Sarah this week to share her no‑nonsense methods for transforming everything from boxy new‑build plots to tired, inherited gardens into layered, soulful spaces.
In this episode, discover:
- How to think like a garden designer, surveying, shaping and structuring spaces before you plant
- Practical ways to transform new‑build and small gardens, or refresh an existing garden
- Guidance on choosing materials and finishes that feel good underfoot, are easy to maintain, and will age beautifully over time.
- How to use colour and planting layers to create a soulful, wildlife‑friendly garden with interest through the seasons
Products mentioned:
Amelanchier lamarckii:
sarahraven.com/products/amelanchier-lamarckii
Lavender ‘Munstead’:
sarahraven.com/products/lavender-munstead
Nepeta x faassenii 'Kit Kat':
sarahraven.com/products/nepeta-x-faassenii-kit-kat
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Arit Anderson: An RHS Chelsea Flower Show garden for every Parkinson’s journey - Episode 275
Chelsea is upon us, and among the beauty of all the show gardens lies a very special offering from Arit Anderson and Parkinson’s UK.She’s planting with purpose in a garden which promises to reflect every …
Notas do episódio
Chelsea is upon us, and among the beauty of all the show gardens lies a very special offering from Arit Anderson and Parkinson’s UK.
She’s planting with purpose in a garden which promises to reflect every Parkinson’s journey in a beautifully poignant way, and on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, she walks us through the planting ethos and careful design behind one of Main Avenue’s great sights for 2026.
In this episode, discover:
- How Arit is reflecting her sister Julie’s Parkinson’s journey in a meaningful Chelsea Flower Show garden for Parkinson’s UK
- What Parkinson’s really is beyond the stereotypes, and why it’s so often misunderstood
- How thoughtful garden design can respond to real medical challenges
- Practical ideas for making any garden more accessible, sensory and restorative, whether or not you’re living with Parkinson’s
- The garden’s relocation to the John Radcliffe Hospital, and how it will serve the Parkinson’s community long after Chelsea
Products mentioned:
Digitalis purpurea ‘Alba’ (White Foxglove): sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-alba
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Tom Stuart-Smith: The blueprint of a Chelsea Flower Show garden - Episode 274
In this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah Raven welcomes renowned garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith to uncover his visionary new garden for Tate Britain and how he’s reimagining it for the RHS Chelsea …
Notas do episódio
In this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah Raven welcomes renowned garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith to uncover his visionary new garden for Tate Britain and how he’s reimagining it for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
They explore his bold, foliage-rich planting, ingenious water features, and a remarkable new memorial garden at Badminton that promises to be one of the RHS’s most ambitious show gardens yet.
In this episode, discover:
- How Tom Stuart-Smith is transforming a neglected, concrete-dominated acre at Tate Britain into a biodiverse, exotic garden
- The creative and practical challenge of turning that large-scale design into a Chelsea Flower Show garden where every element is destined to be reused at Tate
- The bold, foliage-led planting palette Tom has chosen – from cycads and Persian lilac to euphorbias, aspidistras and shade-loving exotics
- How water, sculpture and planting come together, including a finely engineered water feature and a Barbara Hepworth sculpture from a national collection
Episode Cover Photo Credit: Eva Nemeth.
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Dame Mary Berry: The charm and inspiration behind ‘My Gardening Life’ - Episode 273
Watch the full video episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/_T97COq6blMThroughout Mary Berry's life, the garden has played a charming role, from her wartime childhood plot to a brand-new garden started in …
Notas do episódio
Watch the full video episode on YouTube! https://youtu.be/_T97COq6blM
Throughout Mary Berry's life, the garden has played a charming role, from her wartime childhood plot to a brand-new garden started in her 80s - it’s an essential ingredient in her life.
This week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ Mary kindly joins us to explore a lifetime of gardening, how it’s inspired her new book, and how gardening can bring joy, structure and wellbeing at every stage of life.
In this episode, discover:
- How Mary’s lifelong love of gardening began in her childhood and continues to shape her daily life
- Practical, gentle tips for spring gardening and successional planting
- How Mary approaches designing and maintaining a garden later in life, using evergreens, hedges and topiary for structure
- Everyday good habits in the garden, such as watering, deadheading, and keeping lawns neat
Order Mary’s Book:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/My-Gardening-Life-Mary-Berry/dp/0241726654
Products mentioned:
Narcissus ‘Rijnveld’s Early Sensation’: sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-rijnvelds-early-sensation
Narcissus ‘Silver Chimes’: sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-silver-chimes
Narcissus ‘February Gold’: sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-february-gold
Phlox drummondii ‘Blushing Bride’: sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-blushing-bride
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Adam Nicolson: The secret history of Sissinghurst - Episode 272
Sissinghurst is one of the country’s crowning gems of National Trust gardens, and a place in which Adam was brought up, around the beauty curated by his grandparents.This week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ …
Notas do episódio
Sissinghurst is one of the country’s crowning gems of National Trust gardens, and a place in which Adam was brought up, around the beauty curated by his grandparents.
This week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, we’re delving into the centuries of legacy which led to a spot perfect for Vita Sackville-West and Harold Nicolson to create the poetic space we know and adore today, and how their vision is being revived today for generations to come.
In this episode, discover:
- The remarkable story of how Vita Sackville-West turned a ruined Elizabethan courtyard house into one of the world’s most celebrated gardens
- How Sissinghurst evolved through centuries – from Renaissance palace to poetic family home and garden, and all in between
- The creative partnership between Vita and Harold Nicolson
- What makes the white garden so magical, from its glowing night-time palette to its scented, moth-pollinated plants
- How the newly reimagined Delos garden brings a Greek hillside to Kent, blending historical inspiration with modern design
Products mentioned:
Ammi majus:
sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majus
Ammi visnaga:
sarahraven.com/products/ammi-visnaga
Agrostemma githago 'Milas Snow Queen':
sarahraven.com/products/agrostemma-githago-milas-snow-queen
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Huw Richards: Smart veg growing tips for busy gardeners - Episode 271
The magic of growing your own food is hard to overstate, and while some lament the labour necessary, it takes far less time and space than many imagine.This week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ once again features …
Notas do episódio
The magic of growing your own food is hard to overstate, and while some lament the labour necessary, it takes far less time and space than many imagine.
This week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ once again features the remarkable Huw Richards, fresh from the release of ‘How to Grow Food’ - his new book which dives into the detail of how anyone can grow a kitchen garden in real spaces, with a planting schedule that fits around busy lives.
In this episode, discover:
- How Huw plans and plants to grow enough veg for a family of four on a half allotment in just a few hours a week
- Simple permaculture-inspired tricks for better germination
- What causes common problems like courgette fruits rotting and dropping off, and how you can fix them
- How to choose between longer crops and cut-and-come-again with limited space
- Huw’s must-sow crops for April, including squash, runner beans, cucumbers, and courgettes
Episode Cover Photo Credit: Dorling Kindersley: Jason Ingram
Products mentioned:
Runner Bean 'Black Knight'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/runner-bean-black-knight
Runner Bean 'White Lady'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/runner-bean-white-lady
Nasturtium 'Tip Top Mix' (Tropaeolum majus)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nasturtium-tip-top-mix
Nasturtium 'Ladybird Rose' (Tropaeolum minus)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nasturtium-ladybird-rose
Borago officinalis (Borage)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/borago-officinalis
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Josie Lewis: Planting tips for April seed sowing - Episode 270
The sunnier months in April present a fresh opportunity for gardeners to sow some of the fastest-germinating seedlings, bringing a productive garden closer than you might think.We return to Josie Lewis this …
Notas do episódio
The sunnier months in April present a fresh opportunity for gardeners to sow some of the fastest-germinating seedlings, bringing a productive garden closer than you might think.
We return to Josie Lewis this week for an episode all about what she’s sowing in mid-April, how to prick out and pot on seedlings, and the simple tricks they use to keep plants growing hard and healthy at this most promising time of year.
In this episode, discover:
- How to prick out seedlings confidently, and when to do it for promoting strong growth
- Practical ways to get more from your dahlias, such as turning pinched tips into new plants with simple cuttings
- Why mid‑April is the ideal time to sow cosmos and zinnias, and how to avoid the common mistake of starting them too early
- Step‑by‑step tips for taking cuttings of pelargoniums, salvias and other favourites
- Two slightly different but complementary approaches to hardening off plants, and how to choose a method that works for your own garden
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
The Colour Guide Mini Series #7: The washed palette - Episode 269
There’s something uniquely calming about a garden washed in cool pastels – soft tones that feel like frosty mornings and freshly laundered linen. Moving us onto the 4th and final palette in Sarah’s colour …
Notas do episódio
There’s something uniquely calming about a garden washed in cool pastels – soft tones that feel like frosty mornings and freshly laundered linen.
Moving us onto the 4th and final palette in Sarah’s colour system, we explore the washed palette in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’. She takes you through the colour combinations, productive plant families, and tips for crafting a soothing, contemplative feeling in your garden.
In this episode, discover:
- How to use Sarah’s washed colour palette of cool pastels to create a calm, clean and harmonious garden
- Which plant families and specific varieties reliably deliver this palette from late winter to autumn
- How to plan colour through the year in two‑month blocks, ensuring there’s always something in flower without breaking the palette
- Simple design techniques to avoid jarring colour clashes
- Why sticking to a coherent palette can make your garden feel both deeply restful and quietly bold
Products mentioned:
Narcissus ‘Polar Hunter’:
sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-polar-hunter
Narcissus ‘Avalanche’:
sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-avalanche
Narcissus ‘Thalia’:
sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-thalia
Narcissus ‘Actaea’:
sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-actaea
Tulip ‘White Triumphator’:
sarahraven.com/products/tulip-white-triumphator
Tulip ‘Purissima’:
sarahraven.com/products/tulip-purissima
Fritillaria acmopetala (likely "Green Eyes"):
sarahraven.com/products/fritillaria-acmopetala
Sweet Pea ‘Nimbus’:
sarahraven.com/products/sweet-pea-nimbus
Nicotiana sylvestris:
sarahraven.com/products/nicotiana-sylvestris
Nicotiana alata ‘Grandiflora’:
sarahraven.com/products/nicotiana-alata-grandiflora
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
The Colour Guide Mini Series #6: The comforting palette - Episode 268
A comforting garden can feel as soft and familiar as your favourite cashmere jumper, and in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah shares a palette which achieves exactly this feeling.In the latest …
Notas do episódio
A comforting garden can feel as soft and familiar as your favourite cashmere jumper, and in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah shares a palette which achieves exactly this feeling.
In the latest of the Colour Guide Mini Series episodes, Sarah shares how to create a mood using the comforting palette, the key plant families and varieties, plus how to sequence them through the seasons, so your borders feel gentle and soothing from early spring to late autumn.
In this episode, discover:
- How to create a warm, comforting colour palette in your garden using soft pastels like café au lait, peach, putty pink and ivory
- Specific plant families and varieties that deliver these soothing tones
- A clear, season-by-season planting framework so your comforting palette runs from early spring right through to late autumn
Products mentioned:
Narcissus ‘Precocious’: sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-precocious
Antirrhinum ‘Appleblossom’: sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-majus-appleblossom
Cosmos ‘Apricotta’: sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-apricotta
Calendula ‘Sunset Buff’: sarahraven.com/products/calendula-officinalis-sunset-buff
Phlox drummondii ‘Cherry Caramel’: sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-cherry-caramel
Zinnia ‘Queeny Lime Orange’: sarahraven.com/products/zinnia-elegans-queeny-lime-orange
Dahlia ‘Break Out’: sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-break-out
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
The Colour Guide Mini Series #5: The velvet palette - Episode 267
For many, the garden should be a peaceful place where its colours invite you in and envelop you in their earthy tones, and that’s the role of Sarah Raven’s velvet palette.In this episode of the Colour Guide …
Notas do episódio
For many, the garden should be a peaceful place where its colours invite you in and envelop you in their earthy tones, and that’s the role of Sarah Raven’s velvet palette.
In this episode of the Colour Guide Mini Series, Sarah moves us to her next, and perhaps favourite palette of the four. She talks through their calming colours, and the flower families that help keep that tranquility in your garden through a reliable planting succession.
In this episode, discover:
- How to create a velvet colour palette in your garden using deep crimsons, golds, bronzes and inky purples that feel cosy and enveloping
- Which reliable plant families and standout varieties deliver these rich, velvety tones
- How to plan succession planting so the velvet palette runs from late winter and early spring right through to autumn
- Practical ideas from Sarah’s own garden on combining colour and texture to create a sense of haven, enclosure and warmth outdoors
Products mentioned:
Tulip ‘Palmyra’:
sarahraven.com/products/tulip-palmyra
Tulip ‘Ridgedale’:
sarahraven.com/products/tulip-ridgedale
Tulip ‘Hermitage’:
sarahraven.com/products/tulip-hermitage
Tulip ‘Cairo’ (Copex Cairo):
sarahraven.com/products/tulip-copex-cairo
Tulip ‘Belleville’ (Bellville):
sarahraven.com/products/tulip-bellville
Tulip ‘Dom Pedro’:
sarahraven.com/products/tulip-dom-pedro
Amaranthus ‘Coral Fountain’: sarahraven.com/products/amaranthus-caudatus-coral-fountain
Dahlia ‘Verrone's Obsidian’ (Veronese Obsidian): sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-verrones-obsidian
Dahlia ‘Rip City’:
sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-rip-city
Dahlia ‘Sarah Raven’:
sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-sarah-raven
Dahlia ‘Molly Raven’:
sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-molly-raven
Dahlia ‘Schipper's Bronze’:
sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-schippers-bronze
Antirrhinum ‘Liberty Classic Crimson’: sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-f1-liberty-classic-crimson
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Josie Lewis: 12 outstanding seeds to sow in March for containers and cutting gardens - Episode 266
Seeds sown in March are the great givers of colour and fragrance in a cutting garden or container, from spring right through to autumn.This week, Sarah is joined by Josie Lewis to walk through 12 of the most …
Notas do episódio
Seeds sown in March are the great givers of colour and fragrance in a cutting garden or container, from spring right through to autumn.
This week, Sarah is joined by Josie Lewis to walk through 12 of the most trusted plants to sow now, how to fill your beds, pots and vases, and feed the birds from a single month’s sowing.
In this episode, discover:
- Practical techniques for handling both big and dust-fine seeds, including when to sow in trays and when to direct sow
- Specific tips for making the most of tricky or easily-flopped favourites like cerinthe, amaranth and poppies, so they thrive both in the garden and in the vase
- How to get more from each plant – from cut-and-come-again grasses to edible flowers and home-made calendula remedies
- How to plan your March sowing so it supports wildlife, with seed heads that feed birds well into winter
Products mentioned:
Cerinthe major 'Kiwi Blue' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-kiwi-blue
Amaranthus ‘Hot Biscuits’ https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaranthus-hot-biscuits
Amaranthus ‘Coral Fountain’ https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaranthus-caudatus-coral-fountain
Moluccella / Bells of Ireland https://www.sarahraven.com/products/moluccella-laevis
Antirrhinum ‘Giant White’ https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-giant-white
Antirrhinum ‘Liberty Crimson’ (Liberty Classic Crimson F1) https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-f1-liberty-classic-crimson
Antirrhinum ‘Apple Blossom’ https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-majus-appleblossom
Antirrhinum majus 'Sonnet Burgundy' F1
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-sonnet-burgundy
Antirrhinum majus 'Sonnet Orange Scarlet' F1
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-sonnet-orange-scarlet
Antirrhinum majus 'Sonnet Carmine' F1
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-sonnet-carmine
Cobaea (Cup-and-saucer vine) https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cobaea-scandens-purple
Poppy ‘Amazing Grey’ https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-rhoeas-amazing-grey
Poppy ‘Mother of Pearl’ https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-rhoeas-mother-of-pearl
Black Single Papaver somniferum (Opium Poppy) https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-somniferum-black-single
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
Milli Proust: The family gardening charm that inspired ‘How Does Your Garden Grow’ - Episode 265
The garden is a welcoming place for all, particularly for newcomers when guided by the gentle eye of Milli Proust, and under the instruction of her calming new book.Milli joins us once again, this time to share …
Notas do episódio
The garden is a welcoming place for all, particularly for newcomers when guided by the gentle eye of Milli Proust, and under the instruction of her calming new book.
Milli joins us once again, this time to share the inspiring journey that’s led up to her most approachable book to date, and some of the easy-to-understand frameworks to create an effortlessly beautiful garden.
In this episode, discover:
- How Milli Proust found floristry, and began creating a deeply loved, biodiverse garden in West Sussex
- A gentle but practical way to think about why we garden focused around connection, memory, and belonging to nature
- Milli’s “plant pyramid” and other simple frameworks for beginner gardeners planning borders
- Ideas for low-maintenance but beautiful gardens, including orchards underplanted with bulbs, and using local materials
Milli’s taster course at Perch Hill on Wednesday 6th May 2026:
Order Milli’s Book, ‘How Does Your Garden Grow?’:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Does-Your-Garden-Grow/dp/1837832250
Products mentioned:
Aquilegia Vulgaris 'Hensol Harebell'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aquilegia-hensol-harebell
Galanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrop)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/galanthus-nivalis
Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/wild-marjoram
Syringa meyeri 'Flowerfesta Pink'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/syringa-meyeri-flowerfesta-pink
Viburnum tinus
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/viburnum-tinus
Daphne 'Perfume Princess'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/daphne-perfume-princess
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
The Colour Guide Mini Series #4: The luminous palette - Episode 264
The luminous palette - a rich, stained glass collection of citrus, scarlet and pinky-purples - is the first of Sarah’s colour combinations that we’ll walk through in depth for this episode of the Colour Guide …
Notas do episódio
The luminous palette - a rich, stained glass collection of citrus, scarlet and pinky-purples - is the first of Sarah’s colour combinations that we’ll walk through in depth for this episode of the Colour Guide Mini Series.
Sarah explains the six key colours, which ones to use together throughout the year, and the flower families which she considers the most prominent and productive as they pass the colour baton through the year.
In this episode, discover:
- How to use Sarah’s luminous palette without overwhelming your garden
- The key plant families and varieties that reliably deliver bold, stained‑glass colour
- Sarah’s favourite colour combinations and how to place ‘shouty’ colours so they look intentional
- A simple season‑by‑season planning method using two‑month blocks and the ‘bride, bridesmaid, gatecrasher’ idea to keep colour going from March to October
Products mentioned:
Euphorbia ceratocarpa
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/euphorbia-ceratocarpa
Tulip 'Ballerina'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-ballerina
Tulip 'Black Parrot'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-black-parrot
Tulip 'Rococo'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-rococo
Tulip 'Go Go Red'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-go-go-red
Tulip 'Mariette'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-mariette
Tulip 'Purple Heart'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-purple-heart
Lunaria annua
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lunaria-annua
Crocosmia 'Lucifer'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/crocosmia-lucifer
Phlox paniculata 'Blue Paradise'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-paniculata-blue-paradise
Dahlia 'Thomas A. Edison'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-thomas-a-edison
Sweet Pea 'Blue Velvet'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sweet-pea-blue-velvet
Sweet Pea 'King Edward VII'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lathyrus-odoratus-king-edward-vii
Sweet Pea 'Matucana'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lathyrus-odoratus-matucana
Salvia 'Jezebel'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-jezebel
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
The Colour Guide Mini Series #3: Turning a palette into a planting plan - Episode 263
Colour is best when it’s tangible, and if you’re planning a patch in your garden then this episode of the Mini Series is perfect to help you bring your plans to life.In this episode of the Colour Guide Mini …
Notas do episódio
Colour is best when it’s tangible, and if you’re planning a patch in your garden then this episode of the Mini Series is perfect to help you bring your plans to life.
In this episode of the Colour Guide Mini Series, Sarah dives into the practical side of using colour as the backbone of your garden design - from using candles to visualise colour combinations, to the ‘bride, bridesmaid, gate crasher’ structure that’ll help guide you towards an ensemble that works in harmony.
In this episode, discover:
- How to choose a garden colour palette based on the feeling you want to create (washed, velvet, comforting or luminous)
- A simple “bride, bridesmaid, gate crasher” recipe for combining plants in harmonious yet lively colour schemes
- Practical ways to test and refine palettes using coloured candles, mood boards and real flowers in your hand or in a vase
- How to plan colour in succession by breaking the year into seasonal chunks and identifying plants that “carry the baton” across months
- Real planting examples and border ideas drawn from Sarah’s own garden, including her vase-to-border comforting palette scheme
Products mentioned:
Nepeta x faassenii 'Kit Kat'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nepeta-x-faassenii-kit-kat
Alchemilla mollis
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/alchemilla-mollis
Clematis viticella 'Etoile Violette'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/clematis-viticella-etoile-violette
Cosmos bipinnatus 'Sonata Carmine'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-sonata-carmine
Salvia viridis 'Blue Monday'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-viridis-blue
Dahlia 'Peaches'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-peaches
Campsis x tagliabuana 'Indian Summer'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/campsis-x-tagliabuana-indian-summer
Phlox drummondii 'Blushing Bride'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-blushing-bride
Abelia x grandiflora
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/abelia-x-grandiflora
Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' AGM
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-limelight
Stipa gigantea
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/stipa-gigantea
See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events
Get in touch: [email protected]
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest
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