I'm glad to see that most of the old timers are still posting away - I haven't so much as popped in for a look in ages. At the risk of being somewhat controversial - where do the Moon sightings originate? Biofreak stated on page 89 that on April 13/14th the Moon would be "in front of" Scorpio - when actually, viewed from London, it's true astronomical position would have been "leaving" Saggitarius - it came over the horizon about 04:00 depending on one's viewpoint and would have disappeared in the dawn just before 06:00. All the other stated positions are "out" by the same proportion - so I take it that these are Astrological chart positions rather than true observations.
Does anybody know the operating force that makes a day "root" or "leaf" - what experiments have been carried out. I am aware of data from the International Space Station where growth of all types has been measured extremely accurately in a number of situations.
It's astrological @mymothergoose1ugMO70Om. Earth signs for roots, air signs for flowers, fire signs for fruits and water signs for leaves. Whether or not the moon is descending or ascending in its cycle also makes a difference for biorhythmic gardening: Descending moon Harvest root vegetables (a Root day). Plant, transplant, prune, multiply (cuttings early in the waning moon, split, layer), to use with the part of the favored plant. Ex. plant cabbages in waning moon and a Leaf day. Cultivate, bury the green manure. Sow (some sources advise sowing in descending and ascending moon).
Ascending moon Harvest the aerial parts (a Fruit, Flower, or Leaf day, according to the harvested portion), take grafts and proceed to grafting (a Fruit or Flower day). Sow (some sources advise sowing only in ascending moon).
No scientific proof for any of it - no-one to pay for all the observations and experiments needed - but t works for me by organising my time. We have a huge plot and I can get all too easily distracted by all the other jobs I see need doing. The lunar calendar disciplines me to focus on one task at a time.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Also bear in mind the moon affects ground water levels to some extent, not as much as tidal changes because there is much more resistance in the soil, but still a noticeable effect. Seeds sown, or plants put in on the "correct " days show measurably better growth heavier harvests etc.
Also bear in mind the moon affects ground water levels to some extent, not as much as tidal changes because there is much more resistance in the soil, but still a noticeable effect. Seeds sown, or plants put in on the "correct " days show measurably better growth heavier harvests etc.
Hmm... this is the first time I've heard about "leaf" days or "root" days - and to be immediately frank - I'm pretty sceptical that even if there are such things - that it would be moon phase that cause them because the moon is still the same size regardless of the light we see reflected from it. However; I'm pulling the plug on Allotment Boy's ground water ( depending on what he means by "some extent") because the moon's effect on ground water or the sap in plants is infinitesimal and completely overwhelmed by much stronger influences that abound. In fact, just off the cuff, I reckon that as an average sized person walks towards a plant - the gravitational anomaly so caused is actually larger than that of the moon 240,000 miles away. It's all to do with the Inverse Square Law (square as in times itself rather than shape!) and it's stood a long time and applies to everything, everywhere. Basically, everything on the Earth's surface is being pulled towards the centre which is about 4,000 miles below our feet. The Earth has more mass than the moon, thus it starts out with about 1/6th of Earth's gravity and that gets four times weaker for every doubled distance from its centre. If you had a plant or an allotment containing the world's oceans, you then start talking of "tides" but at corrected scale there's about 7 or 8 powers lacking. That said - I'm prepared to do some really expensive experiments - like buying a packet of seeds and measuring the result. Lettuce is quick enough for several crops a season - tell me the best and worst times to sow.
The most popular garden magazines in France and Italy all issue a lunar calendar with one of their spring issues and there are websites too so have a browse thru you newsagent's stock and try googling.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Thanks for standing in for me with Info for My Mother Goose, at least he/she is going to give it a go. That's what this Thread is here for .lovely discussion and encouragment.
My Garden Fair at Château Pommerio near Saint Brieuc was brilliant. Met many pals including Barnhaven Primroses who were exhibiting. Despite rain and quagmire conditions all weekend, people came in their droves to the Conference about Christopher Lloyd and Great Dixter given by Fergus Garrett. Sold out of all my cakes and Flower Jellies, so have been chasing my tail all week getting more ready for this weekend at Le jardin de Père Hébert at Gravigny near Évreux..my 🍅 tomatoes and Melons are OK. No sign of Kelvedon Wonder Peas ..but Hérault Mange-tout thriving. Bipsy Boo Baa (known to his friends as Soldier) has struck up a friendship with a new Ginger Tom on the block. Asked him home during my absence and the garage stinks of Tom Cat!! The rest of the gang are on vole and shrew alert. Meeting Refuge owner re offering a home to Malina who is a very beautiful Spanish greyhound. Have not told cats as she has to undergo a 'suitable for cats test' before I make any commitment. My eye still aches a bit and cateract apparently no where near 'ripe', so I shall just not take any risks. This weekend sees Fruit Days 28/29/30th so sow Peas/Beans and Sweetcorn outside. If you sow the Sweetcorn 10days before Climbing Beans, they can use the Corn to climb up. Start grafting Apples/Pears/Plums//Walnuts Vines/Quince and Currants. Prune Peaches attacked by Peach Leaf Curl, as they will not produce fruit. My Mulberry is doing wel and the Quince has the most gorgeous pink blossom. I have let the lawn grow a little longer before mowing so that I can harvest Dandelions to make Jelly, and I have topped the Nettles so that I can make Jelly with them. Had phone call from Organiser of Garden Fair this weekend asking me if I would like to join the Association for dinner on Sunday as I'm on my own now. Very touched and obviously said yes!. At last the Insurance Cheque arrived this morning after my Garden Fire caused by my neighbour last July. I can now buy a new wheelbarrow and trailer. With two weeks off before next Garden Fair I shall attack the Potager and get those wretched Onions in!! Still eating Asparagus and just started pulling Spring Onions. Lots of Apple Blossom 🌸 so hopefully good crop this year. Hard to believe last year I went into hospital next week for a month with Covid. At least I shall not miss the best early Summer growth this year. Happy Gardening everyone.
Hi everyone The Garden Fair last weekend was really interesting with a BBQ for the exhibitors on Sunday evening saw me sitting next to a lovely couple who were well into biodynamics. Their grandparents had followed the Steiner methods religiously and always had splendid results a good three weeks ahead of their neighbouring farmers. The Weather was not so kind to us on Monday with rain and high winds and that is a feature in the May Lunar Weather forecast particularly up to the 11th. Fresher weather expected 11th to 13th but much warmer and brighter globally 14th to 18th. From 19th to 31st bright sunny days and getting warmer but this will also bring in some storms. This weekend at last will give me a chance to get to grips with the garden as I now have a new wheelbarrow and can clear the compost heap and plant new Heucharas in the Bog Garden with the Hostas and a Honeysuckle to fill a gap in the hedge. Sold out of Dandelion and Nettle Jellies so reharvesting. Potatoes are up so I shall start earthing them up. Clematis and first Roses about to 🌺 flower. Going off tomorrow to buy new polytunnel cover plus 270ltr cattle water trough to turn into a pond. At last plans coming into fruition. 6/7/8th May are Leaf Days with Moon in front of Scorpio ♏ Sow herbs and salads. As Moon is descending plant out Cauliflowers/Broccoli and Cabbages. 9/10th May are Fruit Days. Take cuttings from Gooseberries and Currants. Prune Peaches 🍑 particularly those with Peach Leaf Curl as these branches will not produce fruit this season. 11/12/13th May Sees the Moon ascending in Roots then Flower Days. On 11/12th weed the Potager but leave the weeds that have not run to seed lying on the ground as a mulch. Earth up Potatoes. On 13th running into the morning of the 14th as it will be time to sow Broccoli and Flower Annuals. Plant Gladioli and Dahlias. Plant up Hanging Baskets. Treat Roses if you see signs of blackfly or aphids. 12/13/14th sees me back down south of Rouen at Garden Fair in Évreux..This major event is full of Plantsmen in particularly Rose and Shrub specialists so more temptation! I have a meeting on the 15th with the Refuge Centre for Spanish Greyhounds and on the 16th I'm visiting a Whippet Breeder. Hopefully will find a new dog soon. In the meantime have a good weekend..Happy Gardening.🌞
Hi @biofreak. Pleased things are going well for you. Hope Malina turns out to be suitable but greyhounds do have a strong prey instinct......... There are plenty of other dogs in refuges needing a good home.
No gardening for me this weekend as we have guests arriving this pm for 5 days. Toms, chillies and assorted brassicas, onions and beets all ready to plant out but they'll have to wait. My new apple trees have flowered out of kiliter so I may not get Bramleys this year but the Cox and Braeburn should do OK. No flowers yet on the crab apple back-up blossom tree but it is just a baby.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Posts
Does anybody know the operating force that makes a day "root" or "leaf" - what experiments have been carried out. I am aware of data from the International Space Station where growth of all types has been measured extremely accurately in a number of situations.
Descending moon
Harvest root vegetables (a Root day).
Plant, transplant, prune, multiply (cuttings early in the waning moon, split, layer), to use with the part of the favored plant. Ex. plant cabbages in waning moon and a Leaf day.
Cultivate, bury the green manure. Sow (some sources advise sowing in descending and ascending moon).
Harvest the aerial parts (a Fruit, Flower, or Leaf day, according to the harvested portion), take grafts and proceed to grafting (a Fruit or Flower day). Sow (some sources advise sowing only in ascending moon).
No scientific proof for any of it - no-one to pay for all the observations and experiments needed - but t works for me by organising my time. We have a huge plot and I can get all too easily distracted by all the other jobs I see need doing. The lunar calendar disciplines me to focus on one task at a time.
I hope you are all keeping well
However; I'm pulling the plug on Allotment Boy's ground water ( depending on what he means by "some extent") because the moon's effect on ground water or the sap in plants is infinitesimal and completely overwhelmed by much stronger influences that abound. In fact, just off the cuff, I reckon that as an average sized person walks towards a plant - the gravitational anomaly so caused is actually larger than that of the moon 240,000 miles away. It's all to do with the Inverse Square Law (square as in times itself rather than shape!) and it's stood a long time and applies to everything, everywhere. Basically, everything on the Earth's surface is being pulled towards the centre which is about 4,000 miles below our feet. The Earth has more mass than the moon, thus it starts out with about 1/6th of Earth's gravity and that gets four times weaker for every doubled distance from its centre.
If you had a plant or an allotment containing the world's oceans, you then start talking of "tides" but at corrected scale there's about 7 or 8 powers lacking.
That said - I'm prepared to do some really expensive experiments - like buying a packet of seeds and measuring the result. Lettuce is quick enough for several crops a season - tell me the best and worst times to sow.
You can buy books or calendars to tell you what to do when.
Thanks for standing in for me with Info for My Mother Goose, at least he/she is going to give it a go. That's what this Thread is here for .lovely discussion and encouragment.
My Garden Fair at Château Pommerio near Saint Brieuc was brilliant. Met many pals including Barnhaven Primroses who were exhibiting. Despite rain and quagmire conditions all weekend, people came in their droves to the Conference about Christopher Lloyd and Great Dixter given by Fergus Garrett. Sold out of all my cakes and Flower Jellies, so have been chasing my tail all week getting more ready for this weekend at Le jardin de Père Hébert at Gravigny near Évreux..my 🍅 tomatoes and Melons are OK. No sign of Kelvedon Wonder Peas ..but Hérault Mange-tout thriving. Bipsy Boo Baa (known to his friends as Soldier) has struck up a friendship with a new Ginger Tom on the block. Asked him home during my absence and the garage stinks of Tom Cat!! The rest of the gang are on vole and shrew alert. Meeting Refuge owner re offering a home to Malina who is a very beautiful Spanish greyhound. Have not told cats as she has to undergo a 'suitable for cats test' before I make any commitment. My eye still aches a bit and cateract apparently no where near 'ripe', so I shall just not take any risks.
This weekend sees Fruit Days 28/29/30th so sow Peas/Beans and Sweetcorn outside. If you sow the Sweetcorn 10days before Climbing Beans, they can use the Corn to climb up. Start grafting Apples/Pears/Plums//Walnuts Vines/Quince and Currants. Prune Peaches attacked by Peach Leaf Curl, as they will not produce fruit.
My Mulberry is doing wel and the Quince has the most gorgeous pink blossom. I have let the lawn grow a little longer before mowing so that I can harvest Dandelions to make Jelly, and I have topped the Nettles so that I can make Jelly with them.
Had phone call from Organiser of Garden Fair this weekend asking me if I would like to join the Association for dinner on Sunday as I'm on my own now. Very touched and obviously said yes!. At last the Insurance Cheque arrived this morning after my Garden Fire caused by my neighbour last July. I can now buy a new wheelbarrow and trailer. With two weeks off before next Garden Fair I shall attack the Potager and get those wretched Onions in!! Still eating Asparagus and just started pulling Spring Onions. Lots of Apple Blossom 🌸 so hopefully good crop this year. Hard to believe last year I went into hospital next week for a month with Covid. At least I shall not miss the best early Summer growth this year.
Happy Gardening everyone.
The Garden Fair last weekend was really interesting with a BBQ for the exhibitors on Sunday evening saw me sitting next to a lovely couple who were well into biodynamics. Their grandparents had followed the Steiner methods religiously and always had splendid results a good three weeks ahead of their neighbouring farmers. The Weather was not so kind to us on Monday with rain and high winds and that is a feature in the May Lunar Weather forecast particularly up to the 11th. Fresher weather expected 11th to 13th but much warmer and brighter globally 14th to 18th. From 19th to 31st bright sunny days and getting warmer but this will also bring in some storms.
This weekend at last will give me a chance to get to grips with the garden as I now have a new wheelbarrow and can clear the compost heap and plant new Heucharas in the Bog Garden with the Hostas and a Honeysuckle to fill a gap in the hedge. Sold out of Dandelion and Nettle Jellies so reharvesting. Potatoes are up so I shall start earthing them up. Clematis and first Roses about to 🌺 flower. Going off tomorrow to buy new polytunnel cover plus 270ltr cattle water trough to turn into a pond. At last plans coming into fruition.
6/7/8th May are Leaf Days with Moon in front of Scorpio ♏ Sow herbs and salads. As Moon is descending plant out Cauliflowers/Broccoli and Cabbages.
9/10th May are Fruit Days. Take cuttings from Gooseberries and Currants. Prune Peaches 🍑 particularly those with Peach Leaf Curl as these branches will not produce fruit this season.
11/12/13th May Sees the Moon ascending in Roots then Flower Days. On 11/12th weed the Potager but leave the weeds that have not run to seed lying on the ground as a mulch. Earth up Potatoes.
On 13th running into the morning of the 14th as it will be time to sow Broccoli and Flower Annuals. Plant Gladioli and Dahlias. Plant up Hanging Baskets. Treat Roses if you see signs of blackfly or aphids.
12/13/14th sees me back down south of Rouen at Garden Fair in Évreux..This major event is full of Plantsmen in particularly Rose and Shrub specialists so more temptation! I have a meeting on the 15th with the Refuge Centre for Spanish Greyhounds and on the 16th I'm visiting a Whippet Breeder. Hopefully will find a new dog soon. In the meantime have a good weekend..Happy Gardening.🌞
No gardening for me this weekend as we have guests arriving this pm for 5 days. Toms, chillies and assorted brassicas, onions and beets all ready to plant out but they'll have to wait. My new apple trees have flowered out of kiliter so I may not get Bramleys this year but the Cox and Braeburn should do OK. No flowers yet on the crab apple back-up blossom tree but it is just a baby.