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...

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: [email protected] Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu Follow Sarah:...

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...

Early May is on its way, bringing a fresh bloom of fragrant and fabulous flowers. It’s this abundance of impact and perfume on which Simon Lycett thrives. His style of floristry is so striking, and one from which we cannot fail but to learn - Simon joins us to share his highlights of the spring season and how you can choose the perfect varieties to create your own stunning arrangements. In this episode, discover: Simon’s recent endeavours with BBC Maestro, creating wonderful guides to...

Welcome back to our monthly Q&A podcast episodes for April, where Sarah and Josie answer questions from you, our lovely listeners. In this month’s episode, Sarah turns her attention to sweet peas as she shares how deep to sow seeds, and how far apart to sow them based on our trials at Perch Hill. Also this month, we hear which plants are ideal for planting out in April, particularly those that bring instant impact.  Sarah takes us through what seeds should be sown now, from the...

For any organic gardener, companion planting is one of the most essential, rewarding and productive ways to ward off bugs and fungal infections. As the seasons are beginning to turn, it’s a wonderful time to recap the importance and joy of companion planting - Sarah is joined once again by Arthur Parkinson, where we revisit classic combinations, and share some unconventional pairings that you might not have considered. In this episode, discover: The many reasons that companion planting is a...

For those with a vegetable garden, The Pig’s offering is a source of inspiration and envy among many, all of which thrives under the watchful eye of Group Head Gardener, Ollie Hutson. This week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ brings us a fantastic array of tips and recipes to take from Ollie’s expertise and bring into our own growing and cooking, drawing on a love of the natural world that’s spanned his entire life. In this episode, discover: The Pig’s humble beginnings and the exciting...

Light levels are increasing and life in the garden is well and truly bustling, which makes this time of year such a joyful one for gardeners!  Returning to our ‘Monthly Jobs’ series, this month’s episode sees Sarah & Josie share which flowers and edibles are perfect for sowing at this stage of the year, as well as how to revitalise your whopper pots once the Tulips go over. Get in touch: [email protected] Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu Follow Sarah:...

Knepp plays host to one of the most breathtaking rewilding projects in Britain, and from it we can take such inspiration to channel into our own green spaces. Sharing the evolution of the project from its initial thousand species and how you can encourage biodiversity in your garden is Charlie Harpur - Knepp’s Head Gardener joins Sarah this week alongside her husband, Adam Nicolson. In this episode, discover: How much or how little control you should impose on a garden that’s being...

Our Events and Horti Marketing Manager, Jemima Bowker has been gardening for a few years now, and her perspective on the floral world is shared by many a beginner gardener. That’s why this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ is dedicated to the 12 flowers that are absolutely essential for newcomers to gardening. From the fast growers to the fragrant showstoppers, this episode is brimming with simple, easy to grow and wholeheartedly rewarding varieties. In this episode, discover: The beauty of...

Welcome back to the March Q&A podcast episodes, in which Sarah and Josie are once again answering your burning questions. This time around, we’re looking at pinching out seedlings like cosmos, whether they should be pinched out when they’re tall and leggy, and if there are certain seedlings which shouldn’t be pinched. Also in this episode, you’ll discover a short, sweet and stunning selection of Sarah & Josie’s favourite varieties for spring, from Sarah’s beloved amelanchiers to...

One of gardening’s great joys is sowing from seed, planting out and seeing those seeds thrive, and this year brings a lovely variety of new favourites to sow. Arthur joins Sarah this week as we look at which new stunners and old favourites you’ll want to sow this year, and when to plant out each variety for them to deliver maximum glamour.  In this episode, discover: A delicious selection of edibles, from a prolific climbing French Bean to the flavoursome Runner Bean Black Knight The...

Over the course of the podcast, we’ve featured a huge number of remarkable women, inspiring the world in everything from natural-style textiles to award-winning garden design. In this very special episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, we bring you a selection of our favourite clips from previous episodes, shining a light on the fabulous female horticulturalists and entrepreneurs leading the way in the gardening world. In this episode, discover: How a cocktail of herbs from the kitchen garden...

Welcome to the first of March’s Q&A podcast episodes, where Head Gardener Josie Lewis joins Sarah to directly answer questions from our listeners. In this month’s episode, we look at the plant varieties best suited to pots with consideration for both small tabletop and larger floor pots, Sarah & Josie share the Dahlias that they’d most recommend growing from seed, and we discover the perfect plants for varying levels of shade. Get in touch: [email protected] Shop on the Sarah Raven...

Whether you’re growing edibles or ornamentals, March is a busy month for getting into the garden. Building on our ‘Monthly Jobs’ series so far, Sarah & Josie return to share what you should focus on in March. In this month’s episode, learn which of the edible crops are ready to sow out as soon as possible, from your chitted potatoes to your half-hardy veg, discover which flowers need planting and pruning with special care for frost, and much more to keep you busy! Get in touch:...

The spring and summer ahead of us is a glorious opportunity to let our gardens sing with colours anew, and in this week’s podcast, Sarah & Arthur share how to select the very best for your space. The Spring & Summer Catalogue takes centre stage on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, as we hear about the best brand new collections, some of Arthur’s stalwart favourites, and which of this year’s floral highlights have brought Sarah the most joy. In this episode, discover: Standout flowers that...

Trees hold a special place in our ecosystem not only for their environmental impact, but the emotional connection we all make with trees in our earliest years. It’s for exactly these reasons that choosing the right tree can enrich any garden, regardless of size. Arit Anderson and Henrik Sjöman have combined their passions and expertise, culminating in ‘The Essential Tree Selection Guide’, and the pair join us on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to share the joys of finding the perfect tree, and why...

Welcome to the next Q&A episode for February, where Sarah & Josie answer even more of your questions for a bountiful spring garden! In this episode, we learn how to split Dahlia tubers once they’ve grown extremely large, round up the best flowers for long-lasting beauty throughout the spring, and touch on the ways to create your own complementary collections of flowers. Be sure to leave your questions in comments across social media for Sarah & Josie to answer in a future Q&A...

Over 380 pots call Perch Hill home, and bring such joy and seasonal splendour, which makes Sarah’s latest book a must-read for anyone hoping to do the same in their own space. Sarah’s joined by Arthur once again on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, this week to share the inspirations behind her love of pots, her simple approach to beautifully combining colour palettes, and the huge range of subjects covered in the book: A Year Full of Pots. In this episode, discover: Why Sarah chose to write on...

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and for those looking to bring a floral flair to their gift-giving this year, Sarah and Arthur’s shortlist is full of delightful ideas. As you’d expect there’s a varied selection of flowers beyond the traditional roses, and other ways to bring joy to your loved ones with mini-landscapes and pins to keep one’s favourite flowers and animals close. In this episode, discover: Why the charm of printing photos is so important to relive fond garden...

Welcome to the first of February’s Q&A podcast episodes, addressing questions directly from our listeners with Sarah Raven and Josie Lewis. Kicking off the month, we’ve a timely question on moving seedlings outside when they’ve been in a window propagator, and Sarah shares her golden rule to prevent sweet peas from developing a ‘gangly’ appearance. We also hear the latest on ‘dahlia gall’, with an abundance of Josie’s expertise on pests and diseases, and tips on how to prevent its spread...

A desirable feature in so many plants is their ability to bring beauty to the garden for as long as possible, and in this episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ we’re focusing on 12 of the very best. From stunning showstoppers to rampant climbers with gorgeous scent, Sarah is joined this week by Head Gardener Josie Lewis to discuss the 12 best long-performing flowers. In this episode, discover: Which shrubs and trees are perfect for making a huge impact with fantastic blossoms The perennial...

Join Sarah Raven and Perch Hill’s Head Gardener, Josie Lewis, for a rundown of February’s essential gardening jobs. In the next of this mini-series leading you through the month’s most important tasks, we run through the flower groups that need sowing soon, how to keep your potatoes growing, and what wildlife to look out for - plus plenty more to keep you busy throughout February! Get in touch: [email protected] Shop on the Sarah Raven Website: http://bit.ly/3jvbaeu Follow Sarah:...

The humble pond is a staggering ecosystem in itself, and supports much of the creatures surrounding it, making any garden pond a wonderful place for wildlife to thrive. Steve Head returns to the podcast this week with a rousing call to action for us all to create our own ponds, great or small. He shares the value they bring, why one shouldn’t be concerned about a pond’s size, and the gorgeous array of flora and fauna that a pond can introduce. In this episode, discover: The essential value...