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

Horticulturist Arthur Parkinson and Sarah discuss the upcoming RHS Chelsea Flower Show, sharing the design process for their stand inspired by a potting shed, tips for those with small urban spaces, and the preparation needed for stunning flower varieties. They also explore cultivating and showcasing blooms like clematis and petunia, emphasizing optimal plant growth strategies and the care needed for a successful garden showcase.

Welcome to May’s monthly Q&A podcast, where once again Sarah & Josie chime in with answers to listeners’ burning questions.This time round, Josie shares the key to propagating the stunning Dianthus ‘Green Wicky’, and we explain what you should do with spring bulbs now that they’ve gone over - and it’s not to throw them away!Also in this month’s episode, it’s dahlia planting time and Josie explains how best to plant them in terms of depth and distance apart, and Sarah gives us the comprehensive rundown on what’s being harvested to eat right now.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

The Victorian era gave the horticultural world one of the most charming designs for the cloche, or cold frame - a charm that’s being renewed by the wonderful Beth Gregg.Arthur Parkinson hails Beth as the ‘Goddess of Cloches’ through her faithful revival of those original designs with Claverton Cloches. In this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, learn what earns the cloche its spot in any garden, and how Beth breathes new life into an oft-overlooked apparatus.In this episode, discover:Beth’s embrace of Victorian cloche design, and how Claverton Cloches channelled the charm of that eraWhy cloches are wonderful for protecting seedlings from not only harsh temperatures, but brisk windsThe inspiration for Claverton’s different designs, and exciting future with their new garden hoseBeth’s appearance at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show, sharing the joys of her handiworkOrder Sarah’s book - A Year Full of Flowers: https://bit.ly/2TWHJczOrder Sarah’s new book - A Year Full of Veg: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sarah-ravens-a-year-full-of-vegClaverton Cloches: https://www.clavertoncloches.com/https://www.instagram.com/clavertoncloches/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

The 4th of May marks a very special day at Perch Hill, particularly this year - it’s 30 years since Sarah and Adam first arrived and started making history here.Perch Hill looks so vastly different to how it began in 1994, as it’s taken shape over the decades, and in this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ Sarah & Adam share stories from their time here so far, the many phases that Perch Hill has seen, and how the garden in particular has developed.In this episode, learn:How Sarah discovered Perch Hill, and the charming experiences that endeared Adam to itThe state in which Sarah & Adam found the garden, and first steps towards bringing it to life in the way that we all know and love todayBalancing abundance with structure, and chaos with tidiness through a lens of biodiversityOrder Sarah’s book - A Year Full of Flowers: https://bit.ly/2TWHJczOrder Sarah’s new book - A Year Full of Veg: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sarah-ravens-a-year-full-of-vegGet 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

With overnight frosts receding, the opportunities in your garden throughout May are among the most exciting all year.For May’s ‘Monthly Jobs’ episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, join Sarah and Josie for a run through the month’s most exciting errands, from planting out half-hardy dahlias and tomatoes, to preparing your pots, and how to handle the influx of slugs and snails..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

With spring racing onwards, the window in which to plant out your half-hardy seeds is upon us, and it’s a time that should spark joy in the imaginations of veg gardeners.This week on grow, cook, eat, arrange, half-hardy vegetables take centre stage - Sarah takes us through the 6 must-have categories of veg, and shares an array of mouth-watering recipes perfect for the avid kitchen gardener.In this episode, discover:Why this time of year perfectly suits the sowing of your half-hardy seedsThree stellar tomatoes, with a surprise favourite emerging from our most recent taste trialsRecipes for all of Sarah’s top half-hardy veg, from the surprisingly savoury to the deliciously healthyWhich edible flowers wonderfully complement courgettes in a fritto mistoOrder Sarah’s book - A Year Full of Flowers: https://bit.ly/2TWHJczOrder Sarah’s new book - A Year Full of Veg: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sarah-ravens-a-year-full-of-vegProducts mentioned:Tomato 'Black Russian': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-black-russianTomato 'Sungold': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-sungoldTomato 'Garnet': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-garnetCucumber 'La Diva': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cucumber-la-divaPea 'Nairobi': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pea-nairobiSweet Basil: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/basil-sweetCourgette 'Romanesco': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/courgette-romanescoCourgette 'Soleil' F1: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/courgette-soleil-f1Courgette 'Bianca di Trieste': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/courgette-bianca-di-triesteTulip 'White Valley' syn 'Exotic Emperor': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-white-valleyCarrot 'Nantes 5': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/carrot-nantes-5Get 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

Early May is on its way, bringing a fresh bloom of fragrant and fabulous flowers. It’s this abundance of impact and perfume on which Simon Lycett thrives.His style of floristry is so striking, and one from which we cannot fail but to learn - Simon joins us to share his highlights of the spring season and how you can choose the perfect varieties to create your own stunning arrangements.In this episode, discover:Simon’s recent endeavours with BBC Maestro, creating wonderful guides to decorating with flowersOur favourite garden & cut flowers for early May, with special mention for the absolute must-have Lily of the ValleyA unique irrigation tip if your garden is overly abundant with slugsSimon’s top tips for home-grown floristry, and the standout performers he’s been drawn to in recent yearsConnect with Simon: https://www.instagram.com/simonlycettGet 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

Welcome back to our monthly Q&A podcast episodes for April, where Sarah and Josie answer questions from you, our lovely listeners.In this month’s episode, Sarah turns her attention to sweet peas as she shares how deep to sow seeds, and how far apart to sow them based on our trials at Perch Hill. Also this month, we hear which plants are ideal for planting out in April, particularly those that bring instant impact. Sarah takes us through what seeds should be sown now, from the ornamental garden featuring erigeron to the kitchen garden with kales and flat leaf parsley.Josie also shares a wonderful selection of seeds that are ideal for growing cut flowers in containers, with a lovely mention for the likes of the cosmos sonata series.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

Expert organic gardener Arthur Parkinson joins Sarah Raven to discuss the importance of companion planting. They highlight using tagetes for pest control, pairing salvias with roses, and using basil as a companion plant for tomatoes. The episode delves into the benefits of hoverflies, planting mustard for soil detoxification, and maximizing plant growth in vegetable gardens.

For those with a vegetable garden, The Pig’s offering is a source of inspiration and envy among many, all of which thrives under the watchful eye of Group Head Gardener, Ollie Hutson.This week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ brings us a fantastic array of tips and recipes to take from Ollie’s expertise and bring into our own growing and cooking, drawing on a love of the natural world that’s spanned his entire life.In this episode, discover:The Pig’s humble beginnings and the exciting expansion of its gorgeous hotelsHow Ollie, as Group Head Gardener, approaches the natural world and focuses on creating a ‘25 mile menu’What to sow in March and April to fill the ‘hungry gap’ in the kitchen gardenSome of Ollie’s favourite recipes, taking inspiration from The Pig’s luxury menuOllie Huston: https://twitter.com/olliehutson85The Pig: https://www.thepighotel.com/Order Sarah’s book - A Year Full of Flowers: https://bit.ly/2TWHJczOrder Sarah’s new book - A Year Full of Veg: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sarah-ravens-a-year-full-of-vegGet 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