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

Amaryllis are fabulous and unusual additions to the house in winter, but while they’re an absolute must for Sarah Raven, Josie Lewis isn’t quite sold on them. If you’re with Sarah in loving their bombastic beauty then this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ gives you a sizable list to bring into your home. Else if you’re not a fan, then listen up for Josie’s alternative picks, from the watercolour...

For the keen edible gardener, this September and October present a particularly unmissable opportunity to sow a garden chock full of tasty veg. From the stalwart Lettuce Merveille de Quatre Saisons to the unbeatable hardiness of Flat Leaf Parsley, Sarah parses through all the edibles to share her top 12, with a few bonus veg to boot… In this episode, discover: Four superb lettuces that serve as th...

There are two things in this world which, when combined, creates one of Sarah Raven’s ideal desserts - Basil Sweet Genovese, and ice cream. In the last of our fantastic cookalong series, we’ll be learning Sarah’s rapid recipe for a lovely basil ice cream, best eaten as fresh as possible, and full of utterly wonderful flavour. In this episode, discover: Why late summer into early autumn is when Bas...

Every change of season brings with it an opportunity to renew your garden’s beauty for the year ahead, particularly as we head into autumn. With our autumn catalogue to hand, Arthur Parkinson rejoins Sarah Raven in an episode bursting with imaginative ideas for the year ahead, from later flowering Lilies, to Fratileries that mark the start of spring in style. In this episode, discover: How Arthur’...

The classic Sunday roast is wonderful as is, but with a simple, effective seasoning using the best the garden has to offer, it’s elevated to an absolute family staple. In the next of our cookalong mini series, Sarah shares the key to a showstopping Sunday meal with a Rosemary and Lemon Chicken recipe, and how the dish harks back to the very best Greek cuisine.  In this episode, discover: Why waxy,...

September has brought us a perfect storm of hot weather, warm ground, and cool enough nights for dew to moisten the soil, ideal for germinating seed quickly. That’s why this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ celebrates the supreme ornamental seeds for autumn sowing, whether you’re after the poise of Ammi Majus or the watercolour beauty of Nigella Hispanica. In this episode, discover: Why warm, moi...

Kale is among the top of the superfoods, and combined with a rich dressing it makes an unbeatable, nutritious salad. In the next of our video cookalong series, Sarah takes us through a recipe that’s just as quick as it is deliciously rewarding. Follow along as we craft a dish with our favourite kales, like Redbor and Nero di Toscana. In this episode, discover: The science behind why kale is one of...

There’s almost no more intoxicating feeling in the floral world than catching eyes with a showstopping, undiscovered variety, particularly if it’s a rousing new Dahlia. Fresh back from Holland on a Dahlia-hunting expedition, Sarah Raven and Josie Lewis share the joys of visiting Dahlia breeders, what makes the perfect Dahlia, and what’s on our radar for 2024 and beyond… In this episode, discover:...

In the next of our cookalong episodes of the podcast, Sarah turns her attention to a fabulous, versatile summer garden harvest meal - tempura. There’s no better way to use your most varied fresh produce, from baby vegetables to edible flowers and herbs, and it’s perfect for serving 4-6 people at a stunning summer party. In this episode, discover: How to make a perfectly balanced batter, without th...

Tom Stimpson is our Head of Horticulture, and with a fairly compact urban garden of his own he’s got wonderful vision for potted plants with showstopping impact. Join us for ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ as Tom shares his pick of the perennials and annuals which bring simplicity and impact to any urban garden, and the three top varieties he’d never pass-up on. In this episode, discover: Tom’s backgro...

Welcome to the first episode of our brand new cookalong podcast series! We’ll be bringing 5 fantastic recipes to life in real time across 5 episodes, starting with a quick and simple gazpacho. These episodes are accompanied by videos on YouTube to see Sarah cook this fresh recipe yourself, but either way you’ll learn how to combine a flavoursome variety of tomatoes and cucumber to indulge in this...

Blanche Vaughan’s stellar journey through cookery at top restaurants and becoming a literary authority on creative recipes is absolutely stunning. It’s these experiences that have culminated in her new book, A Year in the Kitchen, boasting seasonal recipes for year-round joy. Blanche offers an insight into her rich background and wonderfully creative recipes in this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrang...

While our gaze often falls to flower beds for our appreciation of nature, when we set our sights to the skies, there’s wonderful garden & woodland birds all around us. Having shared the lives and loves of sea birds in his award-winning book, Adam Nicolson’s next literary adventure shares the avian wonders that you’ll find closer to home. Join Sarah & Adam in this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, a...

Since we’ve recently shone a spotlight on the year’s most exciting edibles for food, it’s only fitting that we do the same for drinks, inspiring you with bold and flavoursome tisanes and cordials. Sarah runs through each month and offers up 12 delightful flowers for garden-based drinks, from easy growers like Chamomile and Lemon Balm to absolute classics like Lemon Verbena. In this episode, discov...

Kitchen gardens needn’t be acres and acres - there’ll be many urban gardeners turning window boxes and balconies into extensions of their kitchen. This final episode of our Beginner’s Kitchen Garden Mini-Series is brimming with must-have herbs and veg for the smallest spaces, packing the punchiest flavour and boasting the very best productivity. In this episode, discover: Flat Leaf Parsley’s right...

For those taking pride in their thriving kitchen garden, the biggest threat comes from the blight of pests and diseases… Sarah’s decades of experience defending against the likes of flea beetles, mildew and slugs culminates into this 6th episode of our kitchen garden miniseries, where she’ll prepare you with the tools to keep your herbs and veg flourishing. In this episode, discover: The reason th...

As ideas continue to spring forward for your compact, crop-packed kitchen garden, our podcast mini-series continues with a focus on Sarah’s favourite vegetables. Whether it’s the year-round joy of Swiss Chard or the Sugar Snap Pea Nairobi which is unrivalled in its taste and texture, episode 5 brings a wealth of ideas for both halves of the year. In this episode, discover: What makes Swiss Chard a...

At the halfway point in our Beginner’s Kitchen Garden Mini-series there are likely to be an abundance of ideas for what you might like to grow, but leave some room for a daily joy for Sarah - salads. Once again splitting the year into April to August and August to April, this episode of the miniseries ensures that you’re well-stocked for salads all throughout the year, with hardy varieties and unb...

Whether you’ve space in abundance, or a small garden with little time to maintain it, there’s no reason not to assemble your own superb selection of edibles. Kitchen gardens are for everyone, and Sarah Raven takes this third episode of the miniseries to share the herbs that she’d recommend for absolutely anyone, regardless of space, time or knowledge. In this episode, discover: Why chefs are obses...

The plant world is awash with floral terminology that might seem baffling at first, but once understood, can open up a world of creativity with flowers. As we continue our mini-series bringing the joys of kitchen gardening to beginners, Sarah takes us through what makes annuals different from perennials, the subcategories of each, and 12 of her top things to grow throughout the year. In this episo...

Welcome to our ‘Kitchen Garden Mini-series” focusing on the very best kitchen garden plants for those just starting to grow their own delicious edible flowers. Kicking off episode 1 of 7, Sarah takes us through the five categories in her hierarchy of which plants to get started with, from the low-effort, high producers to the more elaborate and visually stunning ornamental plants. In this episode,...

Sarah Raven and Gary Newell share a mutual passion for shrubbery, putting more thought into the ornamental beauty of these structural garden sensations. In our 12 best series, we turn our attention to shrubs - all through the year, these trendy varieties are standout additions to your garden, whether you’re looking for a shrub that’s pollinator-friendly, compact, colourful or grandiose. In this ep...

With every exciting summer holiday comes the dread of returning to your garden having suffered under the scorching heat, particularly if nobody can water your plants in your absence. That’s why this week on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, Head Gardener Josie Lewis returns to share the absolute heat-beating tips, from the collective power of grouping your pots to the life-saving use of capillary mattin...

As flowers drift in and out of season, so can your palette of edible flowers, bringing you joy in the garden and the kitchen alike. Shining a spotlight on a ‘plant of the moment’ in each month, Sarah Raven takes this week’s ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ to inspire your year of edible flower growing with her 12 best for flavour and productivity. In this episode, discover: Numerous ways to use your edi...

What is the inspiration behind your love of gardening and all things floral? Each of us tells a vastly different story, and that diversity is at the heart of Alice Vincent’s new, heartwarming book. ‘Why Women Grow’ paints a stunning visage of the reasons that women take to the garden, reasons that often are buried deep within the work that they do. Consider Alice’s work the chance to let those sto...