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

Narcissi are such rewarding plants to grow, tolerant of almost any site and situation. At Perch Hill in particular, it’s shaping up to be a stellar spring for the humble daffodil and its more diminutive narcissus relatives.Whether it’s perenniality, perfume or punchy colours that you’re after in your own garden, in this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ Sarah shares her personal edit of the longest-flowering and most fragrant narcissi varieties to grow.In this episode, discover:Why planting narcissi in your garden can be a viable alternative to tulips as the climate continues to changeTop varieties for long, light flowering patterns (flowering a little over a long period of time), fabulous fragrance, and superb perennialityHow best to plant your narcissi so that they stand out in a successional bulb lasagneProducts mentioned:Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus ('Old Pheasant's Eye'): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-pheasants-eyeNarcissus 'Avalanche': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-avalancheNarcissus 'Cragford' (Forcing): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-cragford-for-forcingNarcissus 'Starlight Sensation': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-starlight-sensationNarcissus 'Moonlight Sensation': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-moonlight-sensationNarcissus bulbocodium 'White Petticoat': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-bulbocodium-white-petticoatNarcissus 'Pipit': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-pipitNarcissus 'Minnow': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-minnowNarcissus 'Actaea': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-actaeaDutch Iris Mix: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dutch-iris-mixAllium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-hollandicum-purple-sensationFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Alfie Nickerson, a biodynamic flower farmer at Burnt Fen Flowers, shares his journey from a jobbing gardener in London to cultivating a 3,500-dahlia field in Norfolk. He discusses the importance of biodiversity in farming and how his practices enhance the ecosystem. Alfie also reveals his favorite annuals and dahlias, and the challenges of growing in sandy soil. His passion for sustainable flower farming shines through as he navigates the balance between aesthetics and nature's beauty.

Bea Andrews, the former head gardener at Perch Hill and owner of Botanika Floral, shares her journey from her family's gardening traditions in Hungary to her role at Perch Hill. She reflects on her nostalgic memories and the inspiration from the Sussex countryside that fuels her floral designs. Bea discusses the importance of seasonal blooms, her impeccable eye for color, and humorous anecdotes from her time in the garden. Listeners get insights into her floral arrangement techniques and her passion for horticulture.

The Eden Project and The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall are two of the most important horticultural projects of recent times, both helmed by the brilliant mind of Sir Tim Smit – Sarah’s guest on the podcast this week.Tim’s work on pioneering projects like Eden is guided by three pillars that also resonate for Sarah – education, entrepreneurialism, and the environment. In this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, we gain a rare insight into how Tim brings these values to life in projects that help reconnect people with the land and explore the potential of their own relationships with the natural environment.In this episode, learn more about:Tim’s entrepreneurial streak, and how his Dutch and English heritage has informed his remarkable journey with nature and the environmentHow innovative thinking on sustainability and the environment underpins Tim’s current and future projects, including the new Eden Project in Morecambe BayThe huge importance both Tim and Sarah place on improving education for the future of our natural world and the next generation of environmental entrepreneursFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Eden Project Morecambe: https://www.edenproject.com/new-edens/eden-project-morecambe-ukThe Lost Gardens of Heligan: https://www.heligan.com/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

If you're looking to support wild birds in your garden, the RSPB’s upcoming Big Garden Birdwatch is an essential event for us all.Adam Nicolson and Emma Marsh, Executive Director of the RSPB, join Sarah in this week’s bird-focused episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to discuss how to get involved in this weekend’s annual bird count, how it came to be, and the many ways that gardeners can actively support and encourage more wild birds in our gardens and green spaces.In this episode, discover:The role that gardens and gardeners play in restoring a bustling wild bird population.What we all can do to provide natural sustenance, shelter and safety for birds with our choice of planting.How the Big Garden Birdwatch came to be, and how you can get involved this coming weekend.Verbena bonariensishttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-bonariensisLupinus ‘Masterpiece’ (Westcountry series)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lupinus-masterpieceEnglish Yew (Taxus baccata)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/english-yewRosa ‘Rambling Rector’https://www.sarahraven.com/products/rose-rambling-rectorFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Join the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch: https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatchGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Savannah Miller’s newfound passion for growing cut flowers, in particular dahlias, feeds fantastically into her contemporary bridal designs.In this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah and Savannah discuss her successful career in fashion, an unexpected foray into bridal design, and her newfound joy in growing cut flowers and vegetables. Plus, discover Savannah’s top picks for the easiest and best performing flowers in her Gloucestershire garden.In this episode, discover:How Savannah began her fashion journey, and the motive behind her unexpected move into the bridal worldThe standout dahlia varieties that have captured a newfound passion for growing ornamental flowersMore about the creative intersection of gardening and bridal fashion in Savannah’s latest collection Products mentioned:Savannah’s Wedding Dahlia Collectionhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/savannah-miller-dahlia-collectionAnemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/anemone-honorine-jobertDigitalis purpurea 'Sutton's Apricot'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-suttons-apricotFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Be it a fully fledged kitchen garden, or a few window boxes outside your back door, It’s never too early to start planning which edibles you want to grow for the season ahead.Following last week’s flower-focused episode, this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ continues the sowing theme to highlight Sarah’s top pick of outstanding edibles to grow from seed from the beginning of the year, through to the end of March.In this episode, discover:How to embrace winter growing, sowing some of the hardiest crops for tasty salads and nutritious greens to liven up winter dishesWhich varieties offer the most transformative, flavoursome plants – from the punchy flavour of mustard wasabi to the ‘Sungold’ tomato’s unbeatable sweetnessTips on sowing direct into gutter pipes or outdoors with protectionProducts mentioned:Salad Rocket 'Serrata'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salad-rocket-serrataMizuna 'Red Knight' F1 https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mizuna-red-knight-f1Chervil 'Vertissimo' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chervil-vertissimoSpinach 'Medania' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/spinach-medaniaSpinach 'Rubino' F1 https://www.sarahraven.com/products/spinach-rubino-f1Mustard 'Red Frills' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mustard-red-frillsMustard wasabi https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mustard-wasabiLettuce 'Merveille de Quatre Saisons' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lettuce-merveille-de-quatre-saisonsFlat Leaf Parsley 'Gigante di Napoli' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/parsley-gigante-di-napoliCoriander 'Leisure' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/coriander-leaf-form-leisureTomato 'Sungold' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-sungoldTomato 'Black Russian' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-black-russianPea 'Nairobi' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pea-nairobiCourgette 'Bianca di Trieste' https://www.sarahraven.com/products/courgette-bianca-di-triesteFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Dive into the meditative joy of seed sowing as the hosts share their passion for creating vibrant spring gardens. Discover the top-performing flowers to plant, like fragrant sweet peas and easy-growing cerinthe. There's even a unique tip to fend off pesky mice from your seeds! Explore essential sowing techniques and timelines, while gaining insights on delightful varieties such as Cobaea Scandens and snapdragons. Perfect for gardening enthusiasts eager to bloom their cut flower gardens!

For those who garden, whether on a windowsill or on a grander scale, it soon becomes a source of inspiration, passion and peace. A way to ground and find solace and, increasingly, a test of resilience and adaptability too.In a reversal of the usual ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ format, journalist and broadcaster Alex Clark turns guest question master to steer the conversation on Sarah’s journey into horticulture, what they both get from gardening, and the sensory delights that growing, plants and wildlife can bring into our lives.In this episode, discover:How Alex came to gardening as a newfound passionIncredible tips for newcomers from Sarah’s 30+ years’ of growing experience at Perch HillSarah’s original career path, and how she found the love of flowers that she now shares with us allWhy pot gardening is ‘the great equaliser’ and a fantastic way for everyone to garden wherever they are Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Tara Wigley, recipe writer for Ottolenghi, and Verena Lochmuller, the head of product development at Ottolenghi, join for a delightful journey into the world of comfort food. They share innovative recipes that could redefine your holiday menu, including a nostalgic chocolate mousse and a versatile curry leaf dukkah. The duo discusses their diverse culinary backgrounds and tips for transforming traditional holiday dishes. Plus, don’t miss their scrumptious tahini crinkle brownie cookies, perfect for pairing with festive drinks!