As May turns to June the weather can often be blustery at Perch Hill, so it’s the perfect moment to get supports and stakes in place to avoid plants being damaged in high winds.

Inspired by the sustainable materials that grow plentifully in this particular part of East Sussex, this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ is a masterclass on sustainable staking as Sarah unpacks the most suitable materials, where to source them, and most importantly, the best methods to ensure they won’t budge in a storm.

In this episode, discover:

• How to embrace sustainable staking materials, from long-lasting chestnut stakes to stately silver birch teepees
• The secret sailor's knot that'll keep your plants secure even in the wildest gales
• Why leaving your dahlias in the ground and creating a cat's cradle support system is the ultimate low-effort trick for stunning, upright plants
• The art of creating natural plant supports that will disappear into your garden, making your borders look effortlessly elegant 

Products mentioned:

Cynara cardunculus

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cynara-cardunculus

Delphinium border collection

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/delphinium-border-collection

Willow flower stakes

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/willow-flower-stakes

Heritage chunky twine

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/heritage-chunky-twine

Chestnut hurdles

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chestnut-hurdles

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show was yet another terrific exhibition of horticultural beauty, to which Arthur Parkinson had a fabulous front-row seat. 

Arthur takes the mic on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ this week, once again bringing you the best in show, from the headlines of royal roses to the lesser-known stories from incredible stands and gardens at the show.

In this episode, discover:

• A rose fit for a King, with David Austin’s announcement of a new variety
• The Great Pavillion’s most grand displays, and what made it Arthur’s favourite part of the show
• Some of the incredible stands run by organisations with purpose, such as the Songbird Survival Trust and Women of the Glasshouse

Products mentioned:

Crabapple

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/crabapple

Cosmos bipinnatus 'Rubenza'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-rubenza

Digitalis purpurea 'Sutton's Apricot'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-suttons-apricot

Papaver somniferum 'Black Beauty'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-somniferum-black-beauty

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

While we all love a trip to the garden centre for short-term inspiration, a more measured approach to buying the right kind of plants for your plot can help you achieve a beautiful and sustainable garden, with year-round interest and resilience.

This week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ Sarah is joined by Gary Newell, Senior Horticultural Buyer, who advises us to ditch the impulse plant purchases and instead, follow his simple rules for matrix planting – a method he’s used to great effect in his own garden at home.

In this episode, discover:

• The art of matrix planting – a nature-led, strategic method used in landscape design
• Which plants are best-suited to create a stunning, low-maintenance garden
• The four essential layers of matrix planting – from the ground-hugging base layer, to show-stopping structural shrubs

Products mentioned:

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' AGM

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-limelight

Hydrangea arborescens 'Incrediball' (Strong Annabelle)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-incrediball

Hydrangea paniculata 'Wim's Red'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-wims-red

Baptisia australis

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/baptisia-australis

Salvia nemorosa 'Caradonna'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-nemarosa-caradonna

Amelanchier lamarckii

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amelanchier-lamarckii

Cotinus x dummeri 'Grace'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cotinus-grace

Cornus kousa var. chinensis

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cornus-kousa-var-chinensis

Pelargonium 'Attar of Roses' (Scented)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pelargonium-attar-of-roses

Ammi majus

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majus

Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Purity’

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-purity

Helenium ‘Moerheim Beauty’

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helenium-moerheim-beauty

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

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:

Rosa x odorata 'Mutabilis' (China)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/rosa-x-oderata-mutabilis

Rosa × odorata 'Bengal Crimson' (China)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/rosa-x-odorata-bengal-crimson

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

Wild Sweet William (Saponaria officinalis)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/wild-sweet-william

Matthiola incana 'Vintage Antique Mix'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/matthiola-incana-vintage-antique-mix

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

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Tom Stimpson’s pint-sized garden is an inspiration for anyone with a small urban plot, and it’s packed with showstopping varieties that will flower for months on end providing colour, scent, and food for pollinators in a compact space.

In this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Tom, our Head of Horticulture, tells Sarah how he’s brought his small town garden to life, including the irresistible combinations of dahlias and salvias that he’s planting in his whopper pots for the season to come.  

In this episode, discover:

• Tom's ingenious approach to small-space gardening
• New plant varieties to transform pots, with an eye on an upcoming dahlia called 'Tom's Choice' 
• The art of colour-layering in garden design, choosing from palettes to co-ordinate your borders

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Gardens are a multisensory experience, and while we primarily think of aesthetics, it’s the scent of spring plants which is absolutely second to none.

Sarah’s flying solo this week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to share her pick of favourite scented spring bulbs and other perfumed plants to envelop your senses and uplift your spirits.

In this episode, discover:

• Spring's most wonderfully scented bulbs, from delicate narcissus to room-filling tulips
• Which bulbs are Sarah’s longest-flowering, most resilient garden heroes
• How to create a sensory sensation with fragrant climbers that transform your outdoor space

Products mentioned:

Hyacinth 'Peter Stuyvesant' for Forcing

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hyacinth-peter-stuyvesant-for-forcing

Hyacinthus orientalis 'Woodstock' (Forcing)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hyacinth-woodstock-for-forcing

Narcissus 'Moonlight Sensation'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-moonlight-sensation

Narcissus 'Starlight Sensation'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-starlight-sensation

Narcissus 'Actaea'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-actaea

Narcissus 'Geranium'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-geranium

Narcissus 'Avalanche'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-avalanche

Narcissus 'Cragford' (Forcing)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-cragford-for-forcing

Narcissus cordubensis

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-cordubensis

Narcissus 'Pipit'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-pipit

Tulip 'Ballerina'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-ballerina

Geum 'Totally Tangerine'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/geum-totally-tangerine

Tulip sylvestris

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulipa-sylvestris

Tulip 'Request'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-request

Akebia quinata (Chocolate Vine)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/akebia-quinata

Tulip 'Sarah Raven'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-sarah-raven

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Urban gardeners who rent will be familiar with the need to transport their portable gardens frequently, so which plants are ideal for pots and containers that are often on the move?

Jemima Bowker is our beginner and balcony gardening expert with a relocation on the horizon. This week, she joins Sarah to chat about the ideal varieties for all sizes and types of container, and ways to protect and transport them during her upcoming move.

In this episode, discover:

• The art of creating a portable garden paradise in zinc tubs and windowsill planters
• Perfect plants for smaller spaces, from bush basil to Texas Wild tomatoes 
• How to layer compost, feeding your plants and keeping containers looking pristine from May right through to autumn

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

There's been some exciting breeding and hybridising using species tulips - those closely related to wild tulips - in recent years, which has made them perfect plants for withstanding tulip fire.

Species tulips are a newfound favourite for Josie and Sarah at Perch Hill, and in this episode we’ll hear why they’re a must-have for pots in particular, and which incredible varieties have captured their attention.

In this episode, discover:

• The remarkable resilience of species tulips to wetter springs and fungal disease 
• A vibrant world of unique tulip varieties, from the flame-like Tulip acuminata, to Cretan natives like Hilde
• Tips for naturalising species tulips in grass and growing in pots for decades of stunning blooms
• How species tulips are the ultimate breakfast buffet for early pollinators and emerging bumblebee queens

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Bees are an absolute passion for us at Perch Hill, not just for their pollination and presence in the garden, but for their delicious and nutritious produce too.

The same can be said for award-winning author and fermentation expert, Rachel de Thample, who joins Sarah this week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to share delicious honey-inspired recipes from her new book, her pick of the best bee-friendly plants, and much more besides.

In this episode, discover:

• Rachel’s journey to writing her latest book, working at River Cottage and being introduced to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
• The incredible and industrious world of bees, and how it takes 12 bees a lifetime to create a single teaspoon of honey 
• Bee-friendly herbs that are not just beautiful, but useful to bees and humans alike
• A reimagined view of honey in cooking with Rachel's spectacular recipes

Products mentioned:

Common Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/thyme-common

Summer Savory (Satureja hortensis)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/summer-savory

Oregano 'Hot and Spicy'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/oregano-hot-and-spicy

Artichoke 'Violet de Provence'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/artichoke-violet-de-provence

Borago officinalis (Borage)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/borago-officinalis

Allium siculum (syn. Nectaroscordum)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nectaroscordum-siculum

Discover Rachel’s new book: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/bees--honey-9781526625465/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

There’s a rich, complex, and utterly rewarding natural world that co-exists alongside ours, and relies on our gardens for food and safety – the often surprising world of small garden birds.

This week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Adam Nicolson shares insights from his new book, Bird School, which explores the secret life of these tiny avian visitors, so often unfurling right under our noses in our gardens and green spaces.

In this episode, discover:

• The true reasons behind the dawn chorus, its unique sound and timing
• What inspired Adam to immerse himself in the world of small birds
• How birds perceive the world so intricately, in a way that we’re yet to fully understand
• What we as gardeners can do to help protect our British bird species

Order Adam’s new book, Bird School:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bird-School-Beginner-Adam-Nicolson/dp/000849083X

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Salix gracilistyla ‘Mount Aso’

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salix-gracilistyla-mount-aso

Goat willow hedging

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/goat-willow-hedging

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Spring is here in all its glory, and with it comes the perfect moment to plant and sow. This week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ we’ve compiled our top tips and growing inspiration from not one, but seven of Sarah’s all-time favourite guests.

From Knepp’s Charlie Harpur on his favourite plants for pollinators, to the veg varieties Jess Gough is growing at home, revisit some of Sarah’s greatest guests and their timely recommendations for gardens large and small. Sarah also shares five fresh ideas for what to plant into your garden right now.

In this episode, discover:

• Top growing tips from seven of Sarah’s most illustrious gardening guests
• Inspiration on plants for perfume, pollinators and punchy colour combinations in your garden
• Sarah’s top five flowers to plant now with springtime in mind

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Charles Dowding is world-renowned as a pioneer of no dig growing, and while it’s great for saving time and effort, it’s also proven to be more productive and better for the environment, and the soil, too.

Who better to hear from on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ than the pioneer himself, as Charles joins Sarah and Josie to share his decades of experience with no dig, tips on creating your own fertile garden compost at home, and inspiring ideas for what to sow in late-March.

In this episode, discover:

• Charles’ experience with the no dig ethos in different soil types around the world
• How switching to no dig has made his crops consistently more productive across many years
• How to convert your own organic waste into fertile compost for successful growing and improve the long-term health of your soil

Discover Charles Dowding’s latest book:

https://shop.charlesdowding.co.uk/products/compost-transform-waste-into-new-life

Products mentioned:

Chervil 'Vertissimo'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chervil-vertissimo

Coriander 'Leisure'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/coriander-leaf-form-leisure

Mustard 'Red Frills'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mustard-red-frills

Winter purslane (Claytonia)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/winter-purslane

Wild Rocket

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/wild-rocket

Salad Rocket 'Serrata'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salad-rocket-serrata

Mustard 'Red Frills'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mustard-red-frills

Broad Bean 'Superaguadulce'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/broad-bean-superaguadulce

Lettuce Oak Leaf Collection

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/organic-lettuce-seed-collection

Pea ‘Hurst Green Shaft’ 

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/peas-hurst-green-shaft

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Like many gardeners, Joe Clark was captivated by the magic of growing his own food at a young age, and now inspires millions more to be enthralled by the same fascinating process via his popular social media channels.

Joe is an advocate for planting fruit, veg and flowers that you may not ordinarily encounter in the supermarket, and on this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ he shares his favourite varieties for every taste, space, and type of garden.

In this episode, discover:

• Joe’s favourite varieties to grow for a simple, rewarding crop
• Hardy veg perfect for growing without a greenhouse
• A number of tasty varieties of lesser-known fruit and veg rarely found in the shops 

Order Joe’s book ‘Garden To Save The World’:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Garden-Save-World-Feel-Good-Yourself/dp/1035032317/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Products mentioned:

Tomato 'Costoluto Fiorentino'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-costoluto-fiorentino

Dill (Anethum graveolens)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/anethum-graveolens-dill

Pea ‘Blauwschokker’

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pea-blauwschokker

Pea ‘Nairobi’

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pea-nairobi

Kohlrabi 'Kolibri' F1 (Gongylodes Group)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/kohlrabi-kolibri-f1

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Lighter, longer days signal the start of a joyous season for gardeners, and March is the perfect month to plan for the highlights of your spring and summer garden.

Arthur Parkinson returns to ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ this week to share the plants that brought him the most joy last year, the trials he’ll be undertaking in his own compact garden at home, and his personal pick of long-flowering varieties for successional colour and pollinator appeal, no matter the size of your plot. 

In this episode, discover:

• How to care for Arthur’s favourite China rose ‘Mutabilis’ so that it flowers for longer in your garden
• Standout geums for a spectacle that lasts from May right through to October
• The narcissi varieties that Arthur looks forward to trialling this year
• Standout dahlia varieties for summer pots, from last year’s favourite ‘Tartan’ to classics like ‘Blue Bayou’

Products mentioned:

Liriope muscari

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/liriope-muscari

Rosa x odorata 'Mutabilis'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/rosa-x-oderata-mutabilis

Rosa × odorata 'Bengal Crimson' (China)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/rosa-x-odorata-bengal-crimson

Geum 'Totally Tangerine'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/geum-totally-tangerine

Narcissus 'Cragford' (Forcing)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-cragford-for-forcing

Dahlia 'Tartan'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-tartan

Dahlia 'Waltzing Mathilda'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-waltzing-mathilda

Dahlia 'Blue Bayou'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-blue-bayou

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Bees are one of the most essential species in our ecosystem, and all of our gardens play a vital role in providing food and shelter for them to thrive.

Beekeeper, gardener and writer Richard Rickitt’s passion for these particular pollinators is utterly infectious. In this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Richard shares what inspired him to start keeping bees at an early age, his fascination with the many species of wild bees in the UK, and the small but important changes we as gardeners can make to help protect their dwindling populations.

In this episode, discover:

• The best bee-friendly flowers and shrubs to provide early pollen and nectar
• How to create habitat for wild bees in your borders and lawn
• Ways to make your own fantastic, affordable bee hotel
• The dangers of chemicals for pollinators in modern agriculture

Products mentioned:

Eryngium bourgatii ‘Picos Blue’

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/eryngium-bourgatii

Galanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrop)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/galanthus-nivalis

Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non scripta)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hyacinthoides-non-scripta-bluebells

Salix gracilistyla ‘Mount Aso’

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salix-gracilistyla-mount-aso

Order Beekeeping for Gardeners:

https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/beekeeping-for-gardeners-9781399404846/

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

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 change
• Top varieties for long, light flowering patterns (flowering a little over a long period of time), fabulous fragrance, and superb perenniality
• How best to plant your narcissi so that they stand out in a successional bulb lasagne

Products mentioned:

Narcissus poeticus var. recurvus ('Old Pheasant's Eye'): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-pheasants-eye

Narcissus 'Avalanche': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-avalanche

Narcissus 'Cragford' (Forcing): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-cragford-for-forcing

Narcissus 'Starlight Sensation': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-starlight-sensation

Narcissus 'Moonlight Sensation': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-moonlight-sensation

Narcissus bulbocodium 'White Petticoat': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-bulbocodium-white-petticoat

Narcissus 'Pipit': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-pipit

Narcissus 'Minnow': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-minnow

Narcissus 'Actaea': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/narcissus-actaea

Dutch Iris Mix: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dutch-iris-mix

Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-hollandicum-purple-sensation

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Alfie Nickerson is a biodynamic flower farmer making his mark in British horticulture, and his 3,500-strong dahlia field, buzzing with wildlife, is testament to that.

After working for 6 years as a jobbing gardener in London, and then volunteering at Fern Verrow – the biodynamic farm of previous guest Jane Scotter – Alfie describes his journey in creating the biodiverse haven that is Burnt Fen Flowers, as well as sharing his favourite annuals and dahlias, on this week’s episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’.

In this episode, discover:

• Alfie’s early gardening experiences in London, and what drew him to the Norfolk countryside
• The incredible work behind Burnt Fen’s biodynamic flower crop
• How they prioritise biodiversity in their practices, and what that biodiversity gives back to the land
• Alfie’s absolute favourite varieties of annuals and dahlias for cutting

Visit Burnt Fen Flowers: https://burntfenflowers.com/

Products mentioned:

Ammi majus
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majus
Helichrysum bracteatum 'White' (Sunflower)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helichrysum-bracteatum-white
Zinnia elegans 'Giant Purple Prince'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/zinnia-elegans-giant-purple-prince
Papaver somniferum 'Black Swan'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-somniferum-black-swan
Dahlia 'Jowey Winnie'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-jowey-winnie

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Bea Andrews is no stranger to Perch Hill - she was head gardener for many years, and is now back in a new guise as our visiting florist, aka Botanika Flora.

It's a joy to welcome Bea back for this nostalgic episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ with Sarah as she shares her fascinating background and route into horticulture in her native Hungary, the story of how she came to Perch Hill, and the inspiration she draws from the garden and the Sussex countryside in her stunning floral designs.

In this episode, discover:

• The early inspirations behind Bea’s journey into gardening, horticulture and floristry
• Fond memories of Perch Hill, her impeccable eye for colour, and humorous anecdotes from her time as head gardener
• What Bea looks for in seasonal cutting, and how she combines these flowers and foliage in her unique arrangements

Products mentioned:

Bea’s Summer Dahlia Collection: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/beas-summer-dahlia-collection

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Botanika Floral: https://www.botanikafloral.co.uk

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

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 environment
• How innovative thinking on sustainability and the environment underpins Tim’s current and future projects, including the new Eden Project in Morecambe Bay
• The huge importance both Tim and Sarah place on improving education for the future of our natural world and the next generation of environmental entrepreneurs

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Eden Project Morecambe: https://www.edenproject.com/new-edens/eden-project-morecambe-uk

The Lost Gardens of Heligan: https://www.heligan.com/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow 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 bonariensis
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-bonariensis
Lupinus ‘Masterpiece’ (Westcountry series)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lupinus-masterpiece
English Yew (Taxus baccata)
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/english-yew
Rosa ‘Rambling Rector’
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/rose-rambling-rector

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Join the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch: https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow 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 world
• The standout dahlia varieties that have captured a newfound passion for growing ornamental flowers
• More about the creative intersection of gardening and bridal fashion in Savannah’s latest collection 

Products mentioned:

Savannah’s Wedding Dahlia Collection
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/savannah-miller-dahlia-collection
Anemone x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/anemone-honorine-jobert
Digitalis purpurea 'Sutton's Apricot'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-suttons-apricot

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow 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 dishes
• Which varieties offer the most transformative, flavoursome plants – from the punchy flavour of mustard wasabi to the ‘Sungold’ tomato’s unbeatable sweetness
• Tips on sowing direct into gutter pipes or outdoors with protection

Products mentioned:
Salad Rocket 'Serrata'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salad-rocket-serrata
Mizuna 'Red Knight' F1
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mizuna-red-knight-f1
Chervil 'Vertissimo'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chervil-vertissimo
Spinach 'Medania'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/spinach-medania
Spinach 'Rubino' F1
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/spinach-rubino-f1
Mustard 'Red Frills'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mustard-red-frills
Mustard wasabi
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mustard-wasabi
Lettuce 'Merveille de Quatre Saisons'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lettuce-merveille-de-quatre-saisons
Flat Leaf Parsley 'Gigante di Napoli'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/parsley-gigante-di-napoli
Coriander 'Leisure'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/coriander-leaf-form-leisure
Tomato 'Sungold'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-sungold
Tomato 'Black Russian'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-black-russian
Pea 'Nairobi'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pea-nairobi
Courgette 'Bianca di Trieste'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/courgette-bianca-di-trieste

Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

There are few more therapeutic jobs in the potting shed or polytunnel than sowing seeds, and if you’re looking to fill your spring garden with colourful cut flowers, now is the time to start sowing your standout varieties.

In the first of two back-to-back episodes of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah turns her attention to the cut flowers she’ll be sowing from early January onwards, working week by week to create an invaluable sowing calendar you can easily follow at home.

In this episode, discover:

• Sarah's love of seed sowing, and the meditative quality it brings
• Top performing seeds for the start of the year, from fragrant sweet peas to easy growers like cerinthe
• A unique tip to prevent mice from spoiling your sweet pea seeds

Products mentioned:

Sweet Pea 'Erewhon'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sweet-pea-erewhon

Sweet Pea 'Matucana'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lathyrus-odoratus-matucana

Cobaea scandens
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cobaea-scandens-purple

Cerinthe major 'Purpurascens'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-purpurascens

Antirrhinum majus 'Liberty Classic Crimson' F1
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-f1-liberty-classic-crimson

Antirrhinum majus 'White Giant' F1
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/antirrhinum-giant-white

Linaria maroccana 'Sweeties'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/linaria-maroccana-sweeties

Ammi majus
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majus

Salvia viridis 'Blue Monday'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-viridis-blue

Centaurea cyanus 'Polka Dot Mixed'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/centaurea-cyanus-polka-dot-mixed

Malope trifida 'Alba'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/malope-trifida-alba

Scabiosa atropurpurea 'Black Cat'
https://www.sarahraven.com/products/scabiosa-atropurpurea-black-cat

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

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 passion
• Incredible tips for newcomers from Sarah’s 30+ years’ of growing experience at Perch Hill
• Sarah’s original career path, and how she found the love of flowers that she now shares with us all
• Why pot gardening is ‘the great equaliser’ and a fantastic way for everyone to garden wherever they are 

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Every Ottolenghi book is a gift, filled with a treasure trove of unique recipes and the latest, Comfort – perfectly timed for Christmas feasting – is no exception. In fact, by the end of this week’s episode you may well be rethinking your own festive menu…

A self-confessed Ottolenghi fan, Sarah is joined Verena Lochmuller and Tara Wigley – two of the co-authors of Comfort, the latest Ottolenghi cook book – to share some of their favourite comfort food recipes including a delicious chocolate mousse inspired by the nostalgia of Terry’s Chocolate Orange, and a curry leaf dukkah guaranteed to jazz up any vegetable side dish.

In this episode, discover:

• The diverse culinary backgrounds of the Ottolenghi team, and how they've brought together the best comfort food recipes from around the world
• How to transform traditional Christmas veg like Brussels sprouts into a slow-cooked flavour sensation
• Nostalgic and novel dessert recipes for puddings to top off a delightful Christmas or New Year’s feast

Ottolenghi Comfort:
https://ottolenghi.co.uk/blogs/stories/ottolenghi-comfort

Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/
Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest