This past summer was alarmingly dry and our growing spaces really suffered. In this episode, we look into what we can put in place before next summer to conserve water, and how we can use it more wisely. Plus, we discover that Zoe is an early adopter of a rare and terrifying-sounding plant pest…

Image by Filip Urban via Unsplash

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.

Previous episodes mentioned:

• Ep. 22: What the hell is wrong with my plant
• Ep. 6: Seed Saving Dos & Don’ts
• Ep. 11: Annuals Vs Perennials
• Ep. 3: Mulching: How, Why and When?
• Ep. 18: What Even is a Food Forest?

Pest issue, fungal disease, bacterial disease, too wet, too dry, too sunny, too shady: why won’t our sad-looking plants just tell us what’s wrong?! Pippa gives us tips on how to diagnose their issues, and when action is necessary. Plus, the recent long, hot summer means water saving is top of mind for our listeners.

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.

Zoe fulfills a long-held dream to go mushroom foraging. Luckily, she has a good friend called Kerry who made sure she did so safely! Plus, Listener Heather commiserates and one-ups Zoe when it comes to weeds!

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.

Kerry mentioned the Facebook Group Mushroom Spotters UK.

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 Huw Richards’s video, 12 Crops to Sow NOW to BEAT Rising Food Prices

Pippa recommends following Jamie Walton of @nettlesandpetals.

Bolt resistant varieties include

• Lettuces: Salad Bowl Red and Salad Bowl Green from Premier Seeds Direct
• Spinach: Mikado

‘Magentaspreen’ is the crazy-sounding disco tree spinach.

Read more about Stephen Barstow, the extreme salad man.

Varieties that can keep you in lettuce all year long:

• All Year Round
• Marvel of Four Seasons
• Arctic King

‘How to Grow Food’ by Huw Richards and Sam Cooper includes some interesting ‘alternative’ salad recipes.

When funds are low, it’s time to get resourceful. Pippa shares her hot tips for food growing on a budget. Plus, Zoe receives a shocking letter and defense against rabbits gets real.

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.

Listen to the related episode of Zoe’s other podcast:

• Ep. #224: Sewing When You’re Skint

Pippa recommends the coriander varieties ‘Calypso’ and ‘Leisure’ which are slower to bolt.

How to analyse and copy nature’s growing patterns to get every inch of use from your growing space. Plus, Pippa manages listener Kristin’s heartache AND Zoe enters her witch era during the recording!
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 a food forest near you:

• Volunteering - Edible Landscapes London
• Research Site Tours - The Agroforestry Research Trust
• RHS Garden Bridgewater / RHS
• Developing the Walled Garden at Shugborough | National Trust

Uh oh! We triggered Pippa’s special interest. We go deep into growing herbs for culinary and medicinal use. Plus, pressing rhubarb issues get tackled.

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.

Pippa recommends the YouTube channel ‘Herbs with Rosalee’ (@HerbsWithRosalee)

PSA: NOT putting in a ton of back-breaking work actually yields better results for your garden, Pippa explains why. Plus, Zoe quizzes Pippa on asparagus and time travel.

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.

Beauregard is the variety of sweet potato that is believed to be one of the best to grow in cooler climates.

Pippa’s pal, Steph Hafferty, has a YouTube channel (@stephaniehaffertyhomesteading) and has written several books.

Steph’s co-author of ‘No-Dig Organic Home & Garden’, Charles Dowding, also has a YouTube channel (@charlesdowding1nodig) and a number of other books, courses and products under his belt.