In winter our gardens seem still and lifeless. But when the weather heats up and the growing gets going, we’re likely to find ourselves struggling to stay on top of all the tasks. So what practical tips and mindset shifts can we deploy to make sure we actually enjoy the forthcoming growing season? Plus, Pippa talks Zoe through what to do with her bounty from her trip to a seed swap.

Check out the Can I Dig It Podcast's Patreon page!

Can I Dig It? is made by:

• Pippa Chapman, @pippachapman_thoseplantpeople on Instagram, and Pippa Chapman Permaculture on YouTube.
• Zoe Edwards, @sozoblog and @checkyourthread on Instagram, and visit the Check Your Thread website and find the podcast in your favourite app.

Check out Pippa’s recent video that includes her digging up the unwanted raspberries by wielding her mattock.

Register to attend Pippa’s virtual book launch that’s taking place on 18th February at 7pm via Zoom.

Bare soil = no food! We discuss what succession planning is and how to start incorporating it into your garden so you can get more from your space. Plus, Pippa blows Zoe’s mind with her controversial take on crop rotation.

Check out the Can I Dig It Podcast's Patreon page!

Can I Dig It? is made by:

• Pippa Chapman, @pippachapman_thoseplantpeople on Instagram, and Pippa Chapman Permaculture on YouTube.
• Zoe Edwards, @sozoblog and @checkyourthread on Instagram, and visit the Check Your Thread website and find the podcast in your favourite app.

Find out about the Winter of Care and Repair challenge via Zoe’s other podcast, Check Your Thread:

• Ep. #115: Winter of Care and Repair with Jeanna Wigger

The two types of succession sowing:

1 - Sow the same crop but just one row or a small amount every 2-4 weeks. This will help you get a crop over a long period rather than them all being ready at once.

Crops that work well with this approach include: Lettuce, spring onion, radish, baby carrots

2 - Following one crop with another. For example, a spring sowing of spinach could give crop from April to May, and it always seems to flower in May/June, whatever time you sowed it. Then take out spinach and put in dwarf french beans for a second crop from the same bed.

Some early cropping options:

Early potatoes, peas, broad beans, early carrots, beetroot

Follow those with:

Winter cabbage, leeks, kale, swiss chard, late carrots, courgette

A late summer harvested crop like courgette or french beans can be followed with autumn sown broad beans, turnips, winter salads esp oriental salads, pakchoi or autumn planted garlic.

Huw Richards has created an excellent video on succession planning:

How to Create a Planting Plan for Year-Round Food Abundance | Complete Guide

https://youtu.be/nkjeSJQWhZc?si=9YPqBwV2-PKXOMEO

More food for less work? Yes please! We explore the pros and cons of both exciting annuals and one-and-done perennials. Plus, what are the options for life after astro turf?

Check out the Can I Dig It Podcast's Patreon page!

Text:

Can I Dig It? is made by:

• Pippa Chapman, @pippachapman_thoseplantpeople on Instagram, and Pippa Chapman Permaculture on YouTube.
• Zoe Edwards, @sozoblog and @checkyourthread on Instagram, and visit the Check Your Thread website and find the podcast in your favourite app.

Watch the documentary Pippa found about the history of oca and potatoes.

Pippa’s Top 5 Perennials:

• Taunton Deane perennial kale
• Everlasting onion
• Caucasian spinach (climbing)
• Oca
• Allium moly for salads - sweet but hot garlic flavour