Q&A: a new series with Sarah Raven
We’re excited to bring a new regular series to grow, cook, eat, arrange in 2024 enabling you to ask questions directly to Sarah.
Just pop us a message on the podcast review pages, email or our social media posts, and keep an eye (or ear!) out for Sarah’s response in our regular Q&A episodes.
this month's episode:
Q&A: How do I make my mark on a new garden? What can I forage for wreath decorations? What’s the difference between part-shade and full sun? How can I start coppicing?
In this episode, Josie shares how best to create your dream garden from one that you’ve just moved into, and enlightens us on what constitutes part-shade and full-sun, so that we can plant our flowers where they’re best suited. Sarah also gives us some fantastic wreath decoration ideas which are foraged, therefore more sustainable, and lauds the benefits of coppicing.
Listen to the podcast.
Q&A: Is it better to grow Sweet Peas from seed? Why have shrubs and hedges become integral to gardens?
In this first edition, Josie joins Sarah to answer the best way of growing sweet peas and why shrubs and hedges have become so popular in recent years.
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Q&A: Can a well-established peony tree be moved? How many bulbs should be in a container?
This time round, we’re looking at whether it’s safe to move a well-established peony tree without damaging it, and Josie’s curious new revelation for the perfect number of bulbs in any sized container.
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Q&A: When can you move seedlings outside? How do I treat gangly sweet peas? What can we do to combat dahlia gall?
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.
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Q&A: Can you split Dahlia tubers when they’ve grown too big? What are the best long-flowering spring plants? How do you put together colour collections?
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.
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Q&A: What are the best potted plants? Are there dahlias you would recommend growing from seed? Which plants are ideal for shade?
This time we are looking at the plant varieties that are 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.
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Q&A: Should I pinch out tall, leggy seedlings? What are your favourite spring plants?
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.
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Q&A: How should I best sow sweet peas? What’s best to plant out in April for instant impact? Which seeds should I sow now in the garden, and for cut flowers in containers?
In this month's episode, Sarah turns her attention to sweet peas. Also this month, we hear which plants are ideal for planting out in April, particularly those that bring instant impact.
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Q&A: How should I propagate Dianthus ‘Green Wicky’? What should I do now with my spring bulbs? What’s the best time and depth to plant out my dahlias? What edibles should I harvest now?
In this month's episode, Josie shares the key to propagating the stunning Dianthus ‘Green Wicky’, and we explain what you should do with spring bulbs now that they’ve gone over - and it’s not to throw them away!
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Q&A: How should I best maintain roses through June? What are you harvesting to eat right now? How do you maintain plants at this time of year?
June is the month of roses, so in this episode we hear about how best to maintain them and whether or not they need deadheading.
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Q&A: What veg is best to sow in July? What are you harvesting now at Perch Hill? How do I keep containers alive while I’m on holiday?
This month, we’ve some timely questions on the best edibles that it’s not too late to sow, and what we’re harvesting at Perch Hill right now.
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Q&A: How do you protect dahlias from pests, and keep them healthy into late summer? What adds structure in the garden for next year? How do you prevent mildew? How can I stop containers drying out over holidays?
For August's Q&A, we hear how pests can be held at bay from your precious dahlias, and advice for treating the leaves such that they’re looking grand late into the summer season.
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Q&A: When should I mulch dahlias? What should I cut back into autumn? When should I start forcing scented bulbs? Is it too soon for bulb planting?
For September's Q&A, Sarah shares the ideal time to mulch your dahlias and how best to tackle the task, and when to start working on forced, scented bulbs ready for Christmas.
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Q&A: Which bulbs do I need to plant as soon as they arrive? If I don’t lift my dahlias, when should I mulch them? Do I need to lift dahlias from pots? When, and how, do I store dahlias? What perennials can I plant this month?
For October's Q&A, Sarah shares which of the bulbs you should plant out as soon as you receive them and why, and Josie talks through when you should mulch dahlias if you’re not lifting them over winter.
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Q&A: Are we too late to plant forced bulbs for Christmas? How can I start bare root planting this Winter? What can I still sow in November?
In this episode, Sarah answers timely questions on forced bulbs and whether it’s too late to plant them now for Christmas, as well as the things you can still sow at this time of year.
Listen to the podcast.
Q&A: How do I make my mark on a new garden? What can I forage for wreath decorations? What’s the difference between part-shade and full sun? How can I start coppicing?
In this episode, Josie shares how best to create your dream garden from one that you’ve just moved into, and enlightens us on what constitutes part-shade and full-sun, so that we can plant our flowers where they’re best suited. Sarah also gives us some fantastic wreath decoration ideas which are foraged, therefore more sustainable, and lauds the benefits of coppicing.
Listen to the podcast.
