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Sarah Raven


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/


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

Whether you're nurturing a bustling city plot or a country border, there’s a spot in everyone’s gardens, pots and borders for beautiful, productive perennials throughout the year.

Following on from last week’s episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Arthur is with us again to focus this time on perennials that are light-touch and bountiful for those of us putting together a low-maintenance garden.

In this episode, discover:

 • Perennials, shrubs, and self-seeding annuals that provide long-lasting beauty with minimal care
 • Personal stories, hands-on tips, and garden-tested wisdom to help you with your plant selection and garden upkeep
 • New and improved varieties bred for reduced invasiveness, greater disease resistance, and extended flowering seasons
 • Plants that attract bees and other wildlife, showcasing how low-fuss gardens can support biodiversity too

Products mentioned:

Aster x frikartii ‘Mönch’

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aster-x-frikartii-monch

Salvia x jamensis 'Nachtvlinder'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-x-jamensis-nachtvlinder

Phlox paniculata 'David'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-paniculata-david

Geranium 'Rozanne'

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

Geranium wallichianum 'Bloom Me Away'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/geranium-wallichianum-bloom-me-away

Pennisetum macrourum

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pennisetum-macrourum

Chasmanthium latifolium

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chasmanthium-latifolium

Stipa gigantea

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/stipa-gigantea

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

Arthur Parkinson: The 12 best low-maintenance perennials for easy garden impact - Episode 253

The ideal garden for our busy daily lives has a border bursting with colour, without the need for hours spent toiling to achieve it.

This week’s episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ is the perfect antidote to fussy flowers - Arthur Parkinson returns to laud the best self-seeding perennials for a low-maintenance garden brimming with lasting impact and scent.

You’ll hear inspiring ornamentals and edibles to sow, how best to maintain their beauty with minimal effort, and which varieties are most tolerant of tricky soil.

In this episode, discover:

 • The beauty and resilience of self-seeding, low-maintenance perennials in creating effortless gardens
 • How personal stories and childhood memories shape our gardening choices and appreciation for certain plants
 • Practical tips for encouraging thriving gardens with minimal intervention, including soil, watering, and deadheading advice
 • Enhancing gardens for wildlife by choosing plants that support pollinators through every stage of their life cycle

Order Arthur’s new book - Hen Party: 

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/459749/hen-party-by-parkinson-arthur/9780241674703

Products mentioned:

Alcea rosea 'Giant Single Mixed'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hollyhock-giant-single-mixed

Euphorbia oblongata

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/euphorbia-oblongata

Helleborus argutifolius

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-argutifolius

Papaver rupifragum 'Orange Feathers'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/papaver-rupifragum-orange-feathers

Red Valerian (Centranthus ruber)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/centranthus-ruber-coccinea

Alchemilla mollis

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/alchemilla-mollis

Verbena bonariensis

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-bonariensis

Verbena officinalis var. grandiflora 'Bampton'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-officinalis-var-grandiflora-bampton

Aubrieta deltoidea 'Cascade Mix'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aubrieta-deltoidea-cascade-mix

Lychnis coronaria (Rose campion)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lychnis-coronaria

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

Arthur Parkinson: The 12 top self-seeding perennials for an effortless garden - Episode 252

Following on from last week’s wintry themed episode on containers, this week we’re setting our sights on the summer ahead, on what’ll bring colour to your pots at the season’s peak.

Josie’s absolute burning passion is containers, and this week she gives her plant picks for pots taking us through summer and autumn.

Join us on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ as we delve into the ‘thriller, filler, pillar, spiller’ method for arranging containers, which combinations have stood out in their trials, and how to gently treat your flowers for maximum impact.

In this episode, discover:

 • The “thriller, filler, pillar, spiller” secret to building showstopping containers that brim with colour and texture right through summer to autumn
 • Sarah and Josie’s favourite plants that promise to lift your pots from simple to spectacular
 • How to keep blooms coming with gentle, tried-and-true maintenance tips, from deadheading tricks to overwintering 
 • Plant pairings and playful combinations, perfect for either grand displays or tiny terraces

Products mentioned:

Pelargonium 'Designer White' (Zonal)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pelargonium-designer-white

Abelia x grandiflora

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/abelia-x-grandiflora

Thunbergia alata 'African Sunset'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/thunbergia-african-sunset

Ipomoea lobata

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/ipomoea-lobata-mina-lobata

Salvia 'Peach Melba'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-peach-melba

Nemesia 'Lady Ruby'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nemesia-lady-ruby

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

Josie Lewis: The 12 best container plants for a showstopping summer display - Episode 251

The garden’s magic needn’t be seasonal - containers can be the heroes of hue in even the coldest months.

It’s time to assemble your winter containers ready to keep the scent and colour peaking, carrying us through till spring, with 12 inspiring varieties from Sarah and our Head Gardener, Josie Lewis.

Join them on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ for a plethora of plants perfect for containers of any size, and how to keep them all looking their very best.

In this episode, discover:

 • Which container plants will keep your garden brimming with colour, texture, and even scent through the quiet months of winter and into spring
 • How to outsmart common pests like vine weevil, and pick up clever, low-fuss tips for keeping containers healthy and happy
 • Inspiration for staging and arranging winter pots, transforming even a small balcony or windowsill into a cheerful display

Products mentioned:

Helleborus x glandorfensis 'Ice N' Roses Red'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-x-glandorfensis

Helleborus orientalis 'Pretty Ellen Red'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-pretty-ellen-red

Viola cornuta 'Tiger Eye Red' F1

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/viola-cornuta-tiger-eye-red-f1

Pelargonium 'Designer White' (Zonal)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pelargonium-designer-white

Heuchera sanguinea 'Leuchtkafer'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/heuchera-sanguinea-leuchtkafer

Sarcococca hookeriana 'Winter Gem'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/sarcococca-hookeriana-winter-gem

Narcissus 'Moonlight Sensation'

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

Dutch Yard Narcissus Collection

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dutch-yard-narcissus-collection

Wallflower 'Fire King'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/wallflower-fire-king

Pittosporum tenuifolium 'Bannow Bay'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pittosporum-tenuifolium-bannow-bay

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

Josie Lewis: The 12 best container plants for winter scent and spectacle - Episode 250

Whatever your garden’s size, picking plants with the right size and shape can be just as important for impact as their colour and scent.

Tom Stimpson returns to ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ this week as we uncover the plants that form the backbone of beauty, function and vibrance all year round.

You’ll hear hardy varieties, plants for both the garden and the kitchen, and inspiration as to where you should sow each flower for maximum impact.

In this episode, discover:

 • How to choose and incorporate shrubs and trees that provide essential structure and year-round appeal to your garden
 • Practical tips for caring for favorites like hydrangea, abelia, acer, olive, and more, even in small spaces and pots
 • Inspiring stories and ideas to turn plant selection and garden challenges into creative opportunities
 • How to tackle common issues like box blight, and expert alternatives to keep your garden thriving and beautiful

Products mentioned:

Hydrangea paniculata 'Little Fresco'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-little-fresco

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' AGM

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

Abelia x grandiflora

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/abelia-x-grandiflora

Cornus kousa 'Norman Hadden

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cornus-kousa-norman-hadden

Fig 'Little Miss Figgy' (Ficus carica)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/fig-little-miss-figgy

Fig 'Brown Turkey' (Ficus carica)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/fig-brown-turkey

Mahonia 'Volcano'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/mahonia-volcano

Pyracantha coccinea 'Red Star'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pyracantha-coccinea-red-star

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: 12 top plants for superb structure in the garden - Episode 249

It’s the run-in to Christmas, so if you’re thin on decorations and want to think more sustainably about dazzling your guests this year, turn to the garden and start drying flowers now.

In the first of many ‘12 Best’ episodes over the coming months, Tom Stimpson joins us as he and Sarah talk through the best flowers for stunning dried arrangements, and top tips to maintain their unique texture and colour throughout the season.

In this episode, discover:

 • Creative, sustainable ways to use dried flowers and foliage for beautiful homegrown Christmas decorations
 • Tried-and-tested techniques for drying and preserving everything from hydrangeas and dahlias to autumn leaves and poppy seed heads
 • Expert tips for maintaining colour, texture, and longevity in your dried arrangements
 • Inspiring ideas for DIY festive crafts that bring your garden’s magic indoors

Products mentioned:

Hydrangea paniculata 'Little Fresco'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/hydrangea-paniculata-little-fresco

Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' AGM

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

Lunaria annua

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/lunaria-annua

Allium hollandicum 'Purple Sensation'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-hollandicum-purple-sensation

Allium schubertii

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-schubertii

Allium cristophii

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/allium-cristophii

Climbing French Bean 'Monte Gusto'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/french-bean-monte-gusto

Runner Bean 'Black Knight'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/runner-bean-black-knight

Fig 'Little Miss Figgy' (Ficus carica)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/fig-little-miss-figgy

Chasmanthium latifolium

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chasmanthium-latifolium

Papaver somniferum 'Black Beauty'

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

Amaranthus hypochondriacus 'Pygmy Torch'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/amaranthus-hypochondriacus-pygmy-torch

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: The 12 best dried flowers for glamorous Christmas decorations - Episode 248

Violas and pansies are among the more overlooked flower families, an outlook that Brenna Estrada’s new book hopes to change for the better.

She’s embraced their beauty as cut flowers throughout her gardening journey with Three Brothers Blooms, and in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ she shares her tips for newcomers to bring their violas and pansies to life, whether in the garden or as part of stunning arrangements.

In this episode, discover:

 • The enchanting world of pansies and violas, and how they can transform from humble bedding plants into show-stopping cut flowers 
 • Brenna’s top tips for growing, harvesting, and pressing pansies, plus how to get the longest, most fragrant stems 
 • Behind the scenes of Brenna’s one-of-a-kind flower book, sharing these overlooked floral treasures with the world

Order Brenna’s book - ‘Pansies’:

https://threebrothersblooms.com/pansies-book/

Viola cornuta 'Tiger Eye Red' F1

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/viola-cornuta-tiger-eye-red-f1

Black Beauty

Black Prince

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

Brenna Estrada & Arthur Parkinson: Exploring the undiscovered magic of violas and pansies - Episode 247

As anyone in an area surrounded by larger animals might know, we’re entering a season where it’s harder to keep them at bay, and protect your handiwork from hungry mammals.

Sarah and Josie have been hard at work finding what’s most effective for keeping deer away, and in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, share their best advice on how you can fend off any unwanted visits from large mammals.

In this episode, discover:

 • Creative and practical ways to deter deer from your garden
 • Which plants deer love to munch on, and the ones they tend to leave alone
 • How drought, changing seasons, and garden design can influence deer behaviour

Products mentioned:

Phlox drummondii grandiflora 'Creme Brulee'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-creme-brulee

Chard 'Bright Lights'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chard-bright-lights

Kale 'Redbor' F1

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/kale-redbor-f1

Chicory 'Variegato di Castelfranco'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/chicory-variegato-di-castelfranco

Verbena bonariensis

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/verbena-bonariensis

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

Josie Lewis: How to protect your garden from deer - Episode 246

Sarah once overlooked the beauty of the brown tulip, but over time has only grown to love them more and more.

There’s a shade for every space, and so if you’re seeking inspiration on how to bring the beauty of Dom Pedro and La Belle Epoque into your garden, then brown tulips take centre stage on this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’.

In this episode, discover:

 • The fascinating history and allure of rare brown tulip varieties
 • How to “reflex” tulip petals for a show-stopping floral display
 • Inspiring stories from Sarah’s own garden and travels, and why brown tulips are becoming the must-have blooms for modern gardeners

Products mentioned:

Tulip 'La Belle Epoque'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-la-belle-epoque

Tulip 'Apricot Copex'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-copex-apricot

Tulip 'Copex Cairo'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-copex-cairo

Tulip 'Dom Pedro'

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-dom-pedro

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

Sarah’s guide to why you should treasure the beauty of brown tulips - Episode 245

As the days grow shorter and the garden’s colours fade for winter, it’s easy to feel a little wistful for spring’s vibrant cheer, and it’s not always as far away as one might think…. 

In this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Sarah shares her favourite ways to bring a burst of early colour into your home and garden, from clever bulb planting, to creative and natural flower arranging. 

In this episode, discover:

 • How to choose and plant the best bulbs for a burst of early spring colour in your garden
 • Simple, creative ways to arrange delicate winter flowers using homemade grids and vintage bottles for beautiful indoor displays
 • Tips for lifting, storing, and replanting bulbs so you can enjoy their blooms year after year
 • Heartfelt inspiration to find joy and beauty in your garden, even during the greyest winter days

Products mentioned:

Iris 'Pauline' (Reticulata)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/iris-pauline

Iris 'Alida' (Reticulata)

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/iris-alida

Galanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrop)

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

Aconitum napellus

https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aconitum-napellus

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

Josie Lewis: The 12 best container plants for a showstopping summer display - Episode 251

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