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Other favourite pot recipes
with SARAH RAVEN — Acclaimed English gardener, cook and writer. Host of the UK’s No.1 gardening podcast.
Lesson 19 of 25
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In this lesson Sarah highlights the importance of loving your summer pots and shares some of her favourite pot combinations.
From the Lesson Workbook
Other Favourite Pot Recipes
In this lesson, I'm going to introduce you to the pot combinations in one of the most sheltered spots of Perch Hill.
Recipe for a Boiled Sweet Pot in a Sheltered Spot
Thriller: Dahlia 'Happy Single Juliet'
Filler: Phlox drummondii 'Grandiflora Brilliant'
Spiller: Pelargonium 'Querxifolius'
Recipe for a Soft & Warm Whopper Pot
Thriller: Dahlia 'Hawaiian Sunrise'
Filler: Phlox 'Creme Caramel'
Spiller: Thunbergia 'African Sunset'
Making Sure You Love Your Summer Pots
These pots were planted up in the middle of May, once the tulips went over. The dahlias began to bloom in the middle of July and with the right care and with regular deadheading they will carry on producing until late November, so in total, you will have five months of beauty out of these pots.
As you will be living with them for so long, it is very important that you love them. That's why getting the colour combinations and form right is so crucial. If you follow my rules, you will be able to create something that you love for months to come.
Recipe for a Low-Maintenance Perennial Pot
- Agapanthus 'Midnight Blue'
I've had this particular agapanthus for over 20 years now and every three years I take it out of its pot, cut the root ball into quarters with a sharp spade and then replant them separately.
The reason you only want to do this every three years is that agapanthus will bloom better when the root ball is packed tightly together and the plant is under a bit of stress.
This variety also produces beautiful seed heads and is very drought resistant, making it easy to look after during warm summer.
A Dark and Rich Pot That the Birds Love
The Recipe for a Dark and Rich Pot for Birds
Bride: Amaranth 'Red Army'
Bridesmaid: Salvia 'Nachtvlinder'
Gatecrasher: Tagetes 'Constance'
Tagetes are a great companion plant and will help to deter aphids and other pests as they emit a chemical called 'limonene', so they're a great addition to any garden.
Amaranths are also a very good source of plant-based protein as they produce quinoa, which is very good for birds and of course humans too.
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Create Academy has been such a great resource. I'm in the middle of renovating a bungalow with a very large garden and the courses have offered a wealth of information to dive into and explore new ideas. I'm...
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Absolutely love Create Academy! The instructors are extremely informative, and it is beautifully filmed. Create Academy is great value for money and plan on renewing my subscription yearly because there are ...
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Magic in small spaces
Butter's creativity is stunning! Her ability to incorporate brilliance in small gardens is magical!
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May 30, 2026
Your Instructor
Sarah Raven
Acclaimed English gardener, cook and writer. Host of the UK’s No.1 gardening podcast.
Sarah Raven is a renowned English gardener, cook and award-winning author. She is an inspirational and passionate teacher - combining her decades of experience with her scientific approach to growing (she is medically trained) - and has been running cooking, flower arranging and gardening courses at Perch Hill, her 90-acre farm in East Sussex, and around the UK for over 30 years. She has written for a host of major publications - including House & Garden, The Saturday Telegraph, Country Living, Gardens Illustrated, Gardeners’ World Magazine and The English Garden - and presented on TV shows including Gardeners' World and BBC’s Great British Garden Revival. Her gardening and cookery books have won numerous awards including ‘Best Specialist Gardening Book’ for The Cutting Garden and ‘Cookery Book of the Year’ for Sarah Raven's Garden Cookbook. Sarah is married to the writer Adam Nicolson, Vita Sackville-West's grandson. She also has an online shop that is a brilliant destination for plants, bulbs, seeds, tools and all things garden.
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