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

The Colour Guide Mini Series #1: My life in colour - Episode 261

Welcome to the first in a brand new miniseries of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, as Sarah delves into the world of colour, and how to use each colour palette to its absolute maximum potential in the garden.In this week’s first episode, Sarah shares how the colour system used at Perch Hill came to be, the theories behind mixing certain palettes, and the difference between calm and chaos when combining colours.In this episode, discover:How Sarah’s experiences as a florist, gardener and colour-obsessed child shaped her approach to garden colourHow the colour palettes underpin every border at Perch HillWhy misuse of colour can make some gardens feel chaotic The six key colours within each palette, from citrus brights and Venetian velvets to café-au-lait pastels and cool silversWhy no colour is truly “wrong” in a garden, and how the right combinations and contrasts can make even challenging shades singProducts mentioned:Tulip 'Mariette': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-marietteTulip 'Sarah Raven': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-sarah-ravenTulip 'Slawa': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-slawaTulip 'Dom Pedro': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-dom-pedroTulip 'Copex Cairo': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tulip-copex-cairoDahlia 'Waltzing Mathilda': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-waltzing-mathildaDahlia 'Schipper’s Bronze’: https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-schippers-bronzeDahlia 'Tom's Choice': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-toms-choiceDahlia 'Molly Raven': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-molly-ravenDahlia 'Perch Hill': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-perch-hillDahlia 'Lou Farman': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/dahlia-lou-farmanCosmos bipinnatus 'Rubenza': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-rubenzaCosmos bipinnatus 'Dazzler': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-dazzlerCosmos bipinnatus 'Xanthos': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-xanthosDigitalis purpurea 'Sutton's Apricot': https://www.sarahraven.com/products/digitalis-purpurea-suttons-apricotFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Huw Richards: Learn to grow brilliant veg in a single bed - Episode 260

In this episode, Sarah is joined by YouTube phenomenon Huw Richards to talk about his journey from smallholding childhood to seven-acre experimental plot, and the ideas behind his hit book Veg in One Bed. They’ll also cover exactly what to sow in late winter, and what’ll perform best when sown later – from chillies and aubergines to peas, onions and tomatoes. In this episode, discover:How Huw Richards went from helping on his parents’ Welsh smallholding to building a seven-acre experimental food-growing siteThe story behind Huw’s first book, Veg in One Bed, and the sheer potential in a single 10x4ft bedHow Huw blends creativity with just enough science to keep things productiveExactly what Huw is sowing in late winter, and why timing mattersHow Huw’s now using his land to grow for education, biodiversity and foodEpisode Cover Photo Credit: Dorling Kindersley: Jason IngramProducts mentioned:Pepper 'Padron'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/pepper-padronCourgette 'Black Beauty'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/courgette-black-beautyAubergine 'Slim Jim'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/aubergine-slim-jimSpring Onion 'North Holland Blood Red'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/spring-onion-north-holland-blood-redTomato 'Sungold'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-sungoldTomato 'Tigerella'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-tigarellaTomato 'Honeycomb' F1https://www.sarahraven.com/products/tomato-honeycomb-f1Follow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

Josie Lewis: Hellebores for reliable winter colour - Episode 259

From their resistance to deep snow and hard frosts, to long-flowering habits, hellebores are quietly spectacular plants that earn their keep in pots, borders and shady corners.This week we’re diving into one of the true stars of the winter garden, focusing on the new varieties that bring a renewed perspective on one of the winter garden’s most generous providers, and how to keep them looking their best in the garden or in a vase.In this episode, discover:How to choose hellebore varieties for pots, borders and different garden conditions, from shade to full sun with Corsican typesThe best new and classic hellebores for long winter colour, including Maestro, Merlin, Strawberry Moon, Bijou and the Pretty Ellen seriesHow to cut, condition and arrange hellebores so they stand proud in a vase for two weeksPractical ways to prevent and deal with pests and diseases like aphids, mice damage, leaf miner and black spotTips on soil, compost, potting and feeding so hellebores thrive as long-lived, reliable perennialsProducts mentioned:Helleborus nigerhttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-nigerHelleborus argutifoliushttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-argutifoliusHelleborus x ballardiae 'Merlin'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-x-ballardiae-merlinHelleborus x 'Bijoux'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-bijouxHelleborus x 'Guess'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-guessHelleborus orientalis 'Pretty Ellen Red'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-pretty-ellen-redHelleborus orientalis 'Pretty Ellen Spotted'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helleborus-orientalis-pretty-ellen-spottedFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest

A Year of Cut Flowers: Behind the writing of Sarah’s new book with Milli Proust - Episode 258

March 2026 marks the release of perhaps Sarah’s most personal book to date, drawing from childhood love, family influence, and the evolution of one’s own gardening tastes.In this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ Milli Proust joins us to discuss Sarah's new book, ‘A Year of Cut Flowers’, blending the memoir and the method to trace her family’s historic love of flora, and how it drew Sarah into the world of cut flowers.In this episode, discover:How childhood wildflower hunts with Sarah’s father and her life with Adam shaped her lifetime love of cut flowersHow even a small, carefully planned patch of cut flowers can fill your home with abundant, seasonal bloomsThe surprisingly powerful impact of spacing and pinching on plant health, vase life and stem productionWhy gardening, and especially growing for the vase, can become such a life‑enhancing practice which evolves with youProducts mentioned:Abelia x grandiflorahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/abelia-x-grandifloraCerinthe major 'Purpurascens'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-purpurascensEuphorbia oblongatahttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/euphorbia-oblongataSalvia viridis 'Blue Monday'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/salvia-viridis-blueHelianthus annuus 'ProCut Plum' (Sunflower)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/helianthus-annuus-procut-plumAmmi majushttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majusPhlox drummondii 'Blushing Bride'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/phlox-drummondii-blushing-brideFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow 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 annuals and biennials - Episode 257

The dream garden of low‑maintenance abundance is all about picking the plants that need hardly any input, just the lightest touch of editing, and they’ll give you months of shifting colour.In the third episode in this theme with Arthur, we dive into the self-seeding annuals and biennials that bring abundant colour to the garden with very little effort. From forget-me-nots and violas to cerinthe, cosmos and quaking grasses, they share their favourite ‘volunteer’ plants, how to manage them, and simple ways to use them in borders and cut-flower arrangements for a truly low-maintenance, flower-filled garden.In this episode, discover:How to use self-seeding annuals and biennials to create a low‑maintenance, flower‑filled garden that largely looks after itselfInspired plant recommendations, from forget‑me‑nots and violas, to grasses, nasturtiums and Californian poppies Practical tips on managing self‑sowers - when to let them run, and when to thin them outWays to weave self‑seeders into borders, pots and even cracks in paving for long‑season colour, movement and structureProducts mentioned:Cerinthe major 'Kiwi Blue'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cerinthe-major-kiwi-blueHeart's Ease (Viola tricolor)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/viola-heartseaseAnthriscus sylvestris 'Ravenswing'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/anthriscus-sylvestris-ravenswingCosmos bipinnatus 'Dazzler'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/cosmos-bipinnatus-dazzlerAmmi majushttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/ammi-majusPanicum miliaceum 'Violaceum'https://www.sarahraven.com/products/panicum-violaceumBriza maxima (Greater Quaking Grass)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/briza-maxima-greater-quaking-grassNicandra physalodeshttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/nicandra-physalodesPersicaria orientalishttps://www.sarahraven.com/products/persicaria-orientalisNasturtium 'Ladybird Rose' (Tropaeolum minus)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nasturtium-ladybird-roseNasturtium 'Bloody Mary' (Tropaeolum minus)https://www.sarahraven.com/products/nasturtium-bloody-maryFollow Sarah: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravenperchhill/Get in touch: info@sarahraven.comShop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeuFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahravensgarden/Order Sarah’s latest books: https://www.sarahraven.com/gifts/gardening-books?sort=newest