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

Sarah Raven
  • 4.9 (183)
  • 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. 4d ago

    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 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 MayThe 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 colourProducts 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: 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

    Tom Stimpson: The best narcissi from our visit to the Netherlands - Episode 290

  2. Aug 27

    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 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 solutionsExactly how to use thorny stems as a simple, physical barrier over pots through autumn and winterWhich ornamental plants make the best pot toppers over bulbs, and where each works bestHow to use edible pot toppers such as hardy lettuces and salad leaves to both shield bulbs and provide generous harvests before tulips emergeProducts 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: 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

    Josie Lewis: Protect your bulbs with squirrel-proof pot toppers - Episode 289

  3. Aug 20

    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 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 boxesWhich small bulbs really earn their keep in containers – from Ipheion ‘Alberto Castillo’ and ‘Wisley Blue’ to favourite species tulips and dwarf narcissusSimple ways to plan a small-space bulb display, including easy paper layouts and colour planningA low-maintenance watering approach for bulbs in pots that relies on deep, occasional soaking rather than constant fussingPractical 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: 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

    Tom Stimpson: The magic of mini-bulbs for a pint-sized garden - Episode 288

  4. Aug 13

    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 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 replantingWhich 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 sappyProducts 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: 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

    Tom Stimpson: How to curate low-maintenance, long-lasting perennial pots - Episode 287

  5. Aug 6

    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 - 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 muscariSimple methods for planting, positioning and watering indoor bulbs so they flower reliablyThe importance of “mean” watering to avoid rot and keep flowers lasting longerEasy ways to move forced bulbs from house to garden so they go on to provide colour and cut stems for seasons to comeProducts 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: 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

    Tom Stimpson: Forcing bulbs for a wonderful winter indoors - Episode 286

  6. Jul 30

    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 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 supportWhy the design of a space can change how it feels to live with cancerWhat actually happens when someone walks from the hospital into a Maggie’s CentreHow Maggie’s supports not only patients but their families and friends through the processThe role of gardens and seasons as a gentle way to talk about hope, uncertainty, treatment, and even end of lifeSee 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

    Dame Laura Lee DBE: The emotive garden design behind Maggie’s centres - Episode 285

  7. Jul 23

    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 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 harvestsWhich 12 tried-and-tested crops Sarah relies on for winter and early spring eatingThe exact sowing window for late-summer and early-autumn sowings, and why timing is crucial if you want strong plants going into winterPractical ways to cook and enjoy your winter veg, including Sarah’s wilted kale salad, and how to use herbs to brighten cold-season saladsProducts mentioned: Lettuce ‘Merveille de Quatre Saisons’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lettuce-merveille-de-quatre-saisons Mustard ‘Red Frills’:  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: 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 winter veg to keep you harvesting until April - Episode 284

  8. Jul 16

    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 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 gardenWhich flowers and garden plants are most forgiving to draw as a beginner, and practical ways to get started with garden drawingWhere Matthew Rice finds inspiration, from historic watercolourists to everyday details in his own greenhouse and gardenProducts 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: 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

    Matthew Rice: How to look, draw and paint your garden - Episode 283
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4.9
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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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