Welcome to the Sunflower Allotment Podcast! During this special episode we talk to Jack First, a gardner, horticulturalist and author of Hotbeds: how to grow early crops using an age-old technique. Using hotbeds is becoming increasingly popular due to the ability to lengthen the growing season, as well as their cost-effectiveness, productivity and eco-friendly approach.  We chat with Jack about hotbed history, building a hotbed, vegetables that grow well in hotbeds, as well as a fascinating discussion on the types of manure you can use. Jack has been gardening for 50 years and is convinced that hotbeds is the answer for productive gardening in every climate. Link to Jack's Book: Hotbeds: https://www.waterstones.com/book/hot-beds/jack-first/9780857841063Link to Jack's online course: https://abundanceacademy.online/p/hot-bed-gardeningLink to a Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrIldkX7nHcJack's instagram handle: @jackfirst42