grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends
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...
Sarah’s favourite scented varieties for spring - Episode 222
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 tulipsWhich bulbs are Sarah’s longest-flowering, most resilient garden heroesHow to create a sensory sensation with fragrant climbers that transform your outdoor spaceProducts...
Growing in pots on a London balcony with Jemima Bowker - Episode 221
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 plantersPerfect plants...Species tulips and why you should grow them with Josie Lewis - Episode 220
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...Enter the secret world of bees and their honey with Rachel de Thample - Episode 219
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-WhittingstallThe incred...Why garden birds have so much to teach us with Adam Nicolson - Episode 218
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 timingWhat inspired Adam to immerse himself in the world of...What to sow and plant this spring with some of Sarah’s greatest guests - Episode 217
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...
A guide to compost making for no dig gardening with Charles Dowding - Episode 216
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 eth...The rewards of growing your own delicious fruit and veg varieties with Joe Clark - Episode 215
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 cropHardy veg pe...Seasonal picks for successional colour and boosting biodiversity with Arthur Parkinson - Episode 214
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...Our role in supporting wild and solitary bees as gardeners with Richard Rickitt - Episode 213
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 e...
