For the lifestyles that many of us lead, low-maintenance and high performing plants are the perfect combination, for which pelargoniums are an absolute must-have.Sarah Raven & Arthur Parkinson delve into the very best pelargoniums, highlighting some irresistibly scented varieties too, and share the best tips for propagating them in either your pots or your borders.In this episode, discover:Sarah & Arthur’s standout pelargonium varieties, with picks for scent like ‘Attar of Roses’ to more eye-catching plants like ‘Kewensis’Tips from Chatsworth on how best to propagate pelargoniums, particularly en masseA stunning recipe for using pelargoniums in a lovely cordialOrder Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newestProducts mentioned:Pelargonium 'Attar of Roses' (Scented): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pelargonium-attar-of-rosesPelargonium 'Prince of Orange' (Scented): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pelargonium-prince-of-orangeGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

Arthur Parkinson’s urban garden is, like many in more built up areas,  somewhat overlooked by neighbours, and perhaps the most natural solution to this is with the help of some gorgeous climbers.In this podcast episode, Sarah & Arthur focus on the varieties of clematis, honeysuckle, and other climbers which look stunning combined with the likes of hazel, corten, or even rebar.In this episode, discover:How Arthur almost-accidentally discovered the way to use coppiced hazel to train clematis upwardsA number of favourite varieties as better alternatives to hornbeams for creating privacy and separationSarah & Arthur’s selection of climbers beyond the beloved clematis, namely the likes of thunbergias and Ipomoea lobataOrder Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newestProducts mentioned:Clematis viticella 'Etoile Violette': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/clematis-viticella-etoile-violetteClematis 'Madame Julia Correvon': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/clematis-viticella-madame-julia-correvonClematis ‘Blue River’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/clematis-blue-riverLonicera periclymenum 'Rhubarb and Custard'®: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lonicera-periclymenum-rhubarb-and-custardAkebia quinata (Chocolate Vine): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/akebia-quinataThunbergia alata 'African Sunset': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/thunbergia-african-sunsetIpomoea lobata: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ipomoea-lobata-mina-lobataDahlia 'Night Silence': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-night-silenceDahlia 'Adam's Choice': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-adams-choiceGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

Welcome to the Q&A episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ for July, where we put your questions directly to Sarah & Josie in this special monthly episode.This month, we’ve some timely questions on the best edibles that it’s not too late to sow, and what we’re harvesting at Perch Hill right now.Josie also gives us a comprehensive look at growing lavender to look its very best, we hear Sarah’s advice on growing sweet peas to have the longest stems they possibly can, and Josie has some fantastic advice on how to keep containers alive, even when you’re away on holiday.Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

The UK’s bird population are dearly beloved for their song, as much as their service in keeping slugs and snails at bay, so how can we best provide safe havens for them in our gardens?Adam Nicolson’s next book, Bird School, sees him immersed in what’s best for birds and their important role in our gardens, so joins us on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to share in his knowledge and journey so far.In this episode, discover:How to cater to different bird species’ needs by picking the right range of food for themAbsolute cardinal sins for helping birds, from unhygienic feeders to unprotected bird bathsOrder Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newestGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

While Andy Murray’s tennis career is well documented, and the Cromlix hotel has brought years of joy for he and wife Kim Murray, the home-grown haven of the garden plays such a huge role in Kim’s life.It’s a delight to host Kim on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ this week as she shares her experience discovering gardening, what she grows to indulge her artistic creativity, and the local, sustainable roots behind the hotel project.In this episode, discover:Kim’s discovery of gardening, and how it grew into a passionate part of her lifeHow Kim’s creativity means that she uses flowers in different, unique waysThe garden’s role in life for Kim, Andy and the familyOrder Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newestGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

Summer is emerging, and with July upon us comes a lovely time to be tending to our gardens, so what needs the most care and attention this month?In this month’s episode, Sarah and Josie prompt you to sow what’s about to go out of season, think about thinning your biennials, take perennial cuttings from the likes of your salvias and pelargoniums, and continue your staking for the inevitable windy days.Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

This Christmas might feel a while away, but if there’s one way to prepare right now for a more stunning and sustainable tree, it’s with alliums.Sarah’s love of alliums is well-documented on the podcast, but this week she’s recalling some of the most show-stopping varieties with which to decorate this Christmas, and the joys that they’ll bring as ‘colour baton-carriers’ in spring.In this episode, discover:Which alliums are perfect for bridging the gap between tulips going over and sweet peas emergingSome extravagant, statement-making varieties like the remarkably tall ‘Summer Drummer’ or sculptural shapes of ‘Magic’Tips for preparing your alliums to sustainably decorate your tree this ChristmasOrder 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:Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-hollandicum-purple-sensationAllium cristophii: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-cristophiiAllium nigrum: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-nigrumAllium stipitatum 'Summer Drummer': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-stipitatum-summer-drummerAllium schubertii 'Magic': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-schubertii-magicAllium jesdianum 'Purple Rain': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-purple-rainGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

Being busy doesn’t bar you from growing vegetables and herbs to bring a homemade joy to your cooking, and there’s few people better-placed to share how than Jess Gough.This week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ episode centres around Jess’ journey into vegetable gardening, how she balances full time work with her thriving smallholding, and tips for keeping snails and slugs away from your seeds.In this episode, discover:Jess’ journey into growing, and how new gardeners can follow her lead in discovering the joys of gardeningThe absolute stalwarts in Jess’ garden at this time of yearA number of delicious recipes, from an exciting frittata to a refreshing rhubarb iced teaHow to best prevent this year’s particularly challenging population of slugs and snails from eating your seedsFollow Jess: https://www.instagram.com/happy_smallholding/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-vegProducts mentioned:Pea 'Hurst Green Shaft': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/peas-hurst-green-shaftBroad Bean 'Stereo': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/broad-bean-stereoGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

As spring rolls into summer, the kitchen garden offers a bounty of opportunities to use your vegetables and herbs in an exciting variety of ways.This week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ shines a spotlight on six of Sarah’s favourite edibles at this time of the year, as she shares a huge array of recipes, and growing tips to make your edibles taste better for longer.In this episode, discover:Why globe artichokes are such a simple crop to grow, given how prolific and delicious they areThe glorious combination of broad beans and parsley in Sarah’s recipe that marries the two alongside nutmeg and bechamel sauceExciting ways to use some lesser-known herbs with lovage, often used in Ukrainian cooking, and sorrelOrder 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:Artichoke 'Violet de Provence': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/artichoke-violet-de-provenceBroad Bean 'Stereo': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/broad-bean-stereoParsley 'Gigante di Napoli': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/parsley-gigante-di-napoliWild Rocket: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/wild-rocketGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

Welcome to the Q&A episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ for June, where Sarah & Josie answer listeners’ burning questions.In June’s episode, it’s the month of roses so we hear from our resident ‘Rose Queen’ how best to maintain them and whether or not they need deadheading. Sarah also shares the harvesting highlights of the edible garden, and we look at how best to maintain all your plants at their peak as we enter the scintillating start of the summer season.Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

The careful composition of colour is a particularly joyful part of designing any garden, and choosing the right combination of palettes is among Sarah’s gardening pillars.Whether you’re a new listener to ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ or simply need a refresher, this episode is a fantastic foray into Sarah’s four palettes, and how best to combine the standout flowers from each.In this episode, discover:What first drew Sarah’s eye to the dark and rich palette in planting her ‘rebellious’ Oust GardenThe qualities that make the ‘boiled sweet’ palette such a joyful injection of colour in even the smallest of spacesA generous selection of favourites from each palette which complement each other beautifullyOrder 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:Digitalis purpurea f. albiflora: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-albaNicotiana sylvestris 'Only the Lonely': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nicotiana-sylvestrisAcanthus mollis 'Rue Ledan' (Latifolius Group):https://www.sarahraven.com/products/acanthus-mollis-rue-ledanTulip 'La Belle Epoque': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-la-belle-epoqueTulip 'Apricot Foxx': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-apricot-foxxTulip 'Sarah Raven': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-sarah-ravenGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

June brings us the weather that we’ve been waiting so long to indulge in, so what should we focus on in the garden to help it thrive in the sunlit warmth?In this monthly episode, Josie Lewis shares the biennials you should be sowing to plug next year’s May gap, and Sarah lauds the appearance of rhubarb with a lovely cordial recipe.We also look at a new way that we’ve developed for picking sweet peas at this time of year, how to know when your pots need watering, and what makes this the month of hardy annuals.Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

Since we’re still in the joyous wake of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, it’s a perfect time to see the show through the eyes of a newcomer to gardening and explore its greatest lessons.As the leader of our new range aimed at beginner gardeners, and a huge part in our presence at the show this year, Jemima Bowker returns to the podcast this week to share her RHS Chelsea Flower Show experience, and what novice gardeners can learn to brighten up their own spaces this summer.In this episode, discover:Jemima’s perspective as a newer gardener on the RHS Chelsea Flower Show’s most inspiring highlightsThe main caveat with nasturtiums which sometimes catches out those sowing them for their easy-to-grow natureWhat’s perfect for beginners to sow right now for a delightful summer seasonOrder 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:Nasturtium 'Purple Emperor' (Tropaeolum majus): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nasturtium-purple-emperorPetunia 'Tidal Wave Red Velour' F1: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/petunia-tidal-wave-f1-red-velourNasturtium 'Ladybird Rose' (Tropaeolum minus): https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nasturtium-ladybird-roseSweet Pea 'Painted Lady': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lathyrus-odoratus-painted-ladyRunner Bean 'Hestia': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/runner-bean-hestiaRunner Bean 'Polestar': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/runner-bean-polestarZinnia haageana 'Jazzy Mixture': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/zinnia-haageana-jazzy-mixtureRunner Bean 'White Lady': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/runner-bean-white-ladyRunner Bean 'Aurora': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/runner-bean-auroraGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

This year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show has been an extraordinary display of floral beauty, and it’s been a pleasure for our hut to have been a part of the show.Fresh from the show, Sarah & Arthur take this week’s special podcast episode to bring you Chelsea’s highlights, and the months-long and years-long stories behind them.In this episode, discover:The joys of the Sarah Raven stand, from balancing practicality and beauty to star-studded visitors like Joanna Lumley and Mel GiedroycSarah’s pick of the sights on the main avenue, with gorgeous displays courtesy of Project Giving BackStandout showings from the marquee which particularly caught Arthur’s eyeOrder 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:Geum 'Totally Tangerine': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/geum-totally-tangerineGladiolus communis subsp. byzantinus: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/gladiolus-communis-subsp-byzantinusGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

May is all about the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and we’ll be bringing the abundant beauty of Perch Hill’s cutting garden to our trade stand.That’s why in this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah and Arthur are taking an exciting look forward to our spot at the show, the hard work it’s taken to prepare, and highlights of what you can expect to see across the week-long spectacle.In this episode, discover:How Adam Nicolson’s magical design is being brought to life at our stand, inspired by our renowned potting shed from 2017Some of the most stunning varieties we’ll be bringing with us, and the preparation it’s taken to have them readyGardening tips for those with a small urban space, with particular attention for early-flowering plantsOrder 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:Calendula officinalis 'Indian Prince': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/calendula-officinalis-indian-princeCalendula officinalis 'Sunset Buff': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/calendula-officinalis-sunset-buffSalvia viridis 'Blue Monday': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-viridis-bluePetunia 'Tidal Wave Red Velour' F1: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/petunia-tidal-wave-f1-red-velourGet in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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 Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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 Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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 Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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 Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/

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 Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/