episode 174 | show notes & advice
episode description
Since we’re still in the joyous wake of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, it’s a perfect time to see the show through the eyes of a newcomer to gardening and explore its greatest lessons.
As the leader of our new range aimed at beginner gardeners, and a huge part in our presence at the show this year, Jemima Bowker returns to the podcast this week to share her RHS Chelsea Flower Show experience, and what novice gardeners can learn to brighten up their own spaces this summer.
In this episode, discover
- Jemima’s perspective as a newer gardener on the RHS Chelsea Flower Show’s most inspiring highlights
- The main caveat with nasturtiums which sometimes catches out those sowing them for their easy-to-grow nature
- What’s perfect for beginners to sow right now for a delightful summer season
links and references
Order Sarah’s new book - A Year Full of Pots
Order Sarah’s book - A Year Full of Flowers
Order Sarah’s book - A Year Full of Veg
Sarah Raven's Garden Cookbook | Sarah Raven
Shop on the Sarah Raven Website
Get in touch: info@sarahraven.com
Episode 174 advice sheet
Jemima’s best and worst parts of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (3:00)
While Jemima has visited the show before, this year marks the first in which she’s taken a strong interest, which comes with its challenges just as much as things to cherish.
Besides the concerns leading up to the show, Jemima found joy in the incredible process of bringing our stand to life with long and rewarding days - plus being surrounded by the extraordinary efforts of so many others
Plants perfect for those with balconies (10:00)
Having recently moved into a new space with shady balconies, Jemima kept a keen eye out at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for how best to dress those environments.
CorTen steel was among the most appealing ways to style edging, and sparked the dream to create ‘curved, living walls’ which blend the natural with the man-made.
Standout edible gardens at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (18:15)
From Jemima’s experience at the show, there were some gardens in the grand pavilion which demonstrated how a space filled with edible plants need not sacrifice beauty - a wonderful example came from the Pulp Friction CIC garden with painted lady, hestia and polestar.
Things ideal for sowing now (25:50)
Wrapping up the episode, Sarah and Jemima list some of the flowers and ‘edimentals’ which are great for sowing at this time of year, particularly for those who came to the show stand worried that they’d missed the boat on sowing summer-flowering plants.
Jemima’s pick of the bunch includes the Zinnia 'Jazzy Mixture', which came out as a long-lasting bringer of colour and joy in our trials, and Sarah’s collection of edimentals include some of the most beautiful runner beans and french beans for impact in the garden and kitchen alike.
