episode 193 | show notes & advice
episode description
It’s prime bulb-planting time, and top of mind for Sarah right now is a stunning collection of colourful, inspiring bulbs to plant.
This week’s episode of ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’ is a must-listen for bulb fanatics, as Sarah talks us through her desert island bulbs, how to plant for colour succession in the spring months, and the delightful stories behind how some of Sarah’s favourite bulbs were discovered.
In this episode, discover
- Charming stories behind the discovery of some of Sarah’s favourite bulbs, including her namesake Tulip ‘Sarah Raven’
- A brand new variety of allium which earns its place in the company of the beloved schubertii
- Collections of tulips perfect to create succession between months, loading your garden with constant colour
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
This week, don’t forget to make the most of our Bulb Bonanza - you can get up to 40% off of our autumn bulb range. The offer ends this weekend, learn more https://www.sarahraven.com
Episode 193 advice sheet
Standout tulips and the Hortus Bulborum (2:30)
Top of Sarah’s list of tulips is the rich, crimson mahogany of ‘Dom Pedro’, part of The Breeder group of tulips. That group is a collection which she fell in love with 15 years ago upon discovering Hortus Bulborum, the living bulb museum in Holland.
Another of Sarah’s top bulbs is a beloved narcissus called ‘Starlight Sensation’. Not only is it an absolute classic, but it flowers not only for weeks, but for months, making it such a rewarding bulb to plant.
A new allium, and bringing lilies back into fashion (8:40)
Allium schubertii is a variety we’ve covered plenty on ‘grow, cook, eat, arrange’, but there’s a new, white schubertii which has easily become a new favourite - Allium schubertii 'Arctic Snow'.
Another flower worth bringing back into fashion is Lilium ‘Black Beauty’, which is not only bombastic in its shape, but reliably perennial - a must-plant if you want them springing back in a decade’s time.
A ravishing list of top tulips (11:55)
Carolyn’s book is awash with ideas, and As one would expect, there are so many marvellous tulips on this list, and among the more unusual varieties in terms of colour is the elegant ‘Blue Heaven’, with a lovely bluish-pink hue and mature to lush lavender-blue.
Other standouts with charming stories behind their discovery are the perennial whopper of ‘Queensday’, and the namesake Tulip ‘Sarah Raven’.
Bulbs for succession (19:50)
Sarah’s final contributions to this staggering list of bulbs provide succession from month to month, passing the baton in terms of bringing colour through from February to May.
Thinking in terms of layers, a deeply planted ‘Green Wave’ or ‘Green Spirit’ gives way to the soft, delicate apricot of ‘Mystic van Eijk’, followed by a striking colour sensation of ‘Ice Stick’.
