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

Sarah Raven
  • 4.9 (178)
  • HOME & GARDEN
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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/

  1. Adam Nicolson: The secret history of Sissinghurst - Episode 272

    5D AGO

    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’, 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 gardensHow Sissinghurst evolved through centuries – from Renaissance palace to poetic family home and garden, and all in betweenThe creative partnership between Vita and Harold NicolsonWhat makes the white garden so magical, from its glowing night-time palette to its scented, moth-pollinated plantsHow the newly reimagined Delos garden brings a Greek hillside to Kent, blending historical inspiration with modern designProducts 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: info@sarahraven.com 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

    29 min
  2. Huw Richards: Smart veg growing tips for busy gardeners - Episode 271

    APR 23

    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 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 weekSimple permaculture-inspired tricks for better germinationWhat causes common problems like courgette fruits rotting and dropping off, and how you can fix themHow to choose between longer crops and cut-and-come-again with limited spaceHuw’s must-sow crops for April, including squash, runner beans, cucumbers, and courgettesEpisode 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: info@sarahraven.com 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

    25 min
  3. Josie Lewis: Planting tips for April seed sowing - Episode 270

    APR 16

    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 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 growthPractical ways to get more from your dahlias, such as turning pinched tips into new plants with simple cuttingsWhy mid‑April is the ideal time to sow cosmos and zinnias, and how to avoid the common mistake of starting them too earlyStep‑by‑step tips for taking cuttings of pelargoniums, salvias and other favouritesTwo slightly different but complementary approaches to hardening off plants, and how to choose a method that works for your own gardenSee our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/ Follow 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

    23 min
  4. The Colour Guide Mini Series #7: The washed palette - Episode 269

    APR 9

    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 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 gardenWhich plant families and specific varieties reliably deliver this palette from late winter to autumnHow to plan colour through the year in two‑month blocks, ensuring there’s always something in flower without breaking the paletteSimple design techniques to avoid jarring colour clashesWhy sticking to a coherent palette can make your garden feel both deeply restful and quietly boldProducts 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: info@sarahraven.com 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

    15 min
  5. The Colour Guide Mini Series #6: The comforting palette - Episode 268

    APR 2

    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 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 ivorySpecific plant families and varieties that deliver these soothing tonesA clear, season-by-season planting framework so your comforting palette runs from early spring right through to late autumnProducts 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: info@sarahraven.com 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 min
  6. The Colour Guide Mini Series #5: The velvet palette - Episode 267

    MAR 26

    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 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 envelopingWhich reliable plant families and standout varieties deliver these rich, velvety tonesHow to plan succession planting so the velvet palette runs from late winter and early spring right through to autumnPractical ideas from Sarah’s own garden on combining colour and texture to create a sense of haven, enclosure and warmth outdoorsProducts 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: info@sarahraven.com 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

    15 min
  7. Josie Lewis: 12 outstanding seeds to sow in March for containers and cutting gardens - Episode 266

    MAR 19

    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 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 sowSpecific 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 vaseHow to get more from each plant – from cut-and-come-again grasses to edible flowers and home-made calendula remediesHow to plan your March sowing so it supports wildlife, with seed heads that feed birds well into winterProducts 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:// See our events: https://www.sarahraven.com/courses-events Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: https://www.sarahraven.com/ Follow 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

    31 min
  8. Milli Proust: The family gardening charm that inspired ‘How Does Your Garden Grow’ - Episode 265

    MAR 12

    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 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 SussexA gentle but practical way to think about why we garden focused around connection, memory, and belonging to natureMilli’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 materialsMilli’s taster course at Perch Hill on Wednesday 6th May 2026: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/milli-proust-taster-course-beginner-gardeners?srsltid=AfmBOopaQgpAKlaAx724RwtbLXGrmm_NkyOCTWu2N42YnAOUzRlu--wl 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: info@sarahraven.com 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

    39 min
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About

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/

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