Blowing a hooley again, and cold but sunny. Managed to get out and do some weeding around the soft fruit yesterday, can't wait to have a bonfire. So lovely to get outside again, at last. Have plenty of raking up to do after having hedge cut back, all the little bits, it is blackthorn, so vicious. Lots of fruit /flower buds on the fruit trees, fingers crossed they turn into fruit.
No gardening for me yesterday as wind too strong and soil too wet tho OH did do some hoeing of gravel to clear weeds in the drive and cut some grass yesterday pm. NOt sowing any toms as there's a man with lots of different heritage varieties at the fair in Angles in a month or so and I can just buy 2 or 3 of whatever I fancy. I will sow some chilies tho, once I've checked the heated propagator is working still.
Does your info include when to cut back hedging plants such as photinia Red Robin @biofreak2? And when to strike cuttings?
10 years since storm Xynthia hit the coast here and killed 29 people at La Faute-sur-Mer as well as destroying many homes. I expect in a way it's more stressful for the Severn river dwellers, watching the water gradually creep up and then overwhelm their homes and businesses despite all their precautions.
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)."
Nurse dropped by this morning to dress my wound after small op last week, she drove through a mix of sleet/hail and rain to get here from only 5miles away, and yet we werein sunshine! Work that one out! -Nice to see a cheery face on a Sunday morning, particularly as we have known each other for many years and she is a keen gardener. Having sorted me out, she insisted on helping me put polytunnel cover back on as I've got dreadful dizzy spells with the Cortisone tablets. Only on them for 3 more days thank goodness. -After she had gone thinking she had safely settled me down in a chair 'to rest - threw back on outdoor gear and proceeded to empty water out of all buckets/pots/seed trays and tidy garden after debris of all sorts had flown around in the night!! So lovely, pruned some hedge Obelixx Prune Photinia and other non Spring Flowering hedging/shrubs on Descending Moon from 5-17th March but avoid mornings of the 10th 12th and afternoon of the 16th. (Phoned a Bio pal to find out for you) - Joyce welcome to Thread -I think that you should have masses of fruit as wild plums and sloes flowering already here due to wet, mild weather. They will take late frosts easily, so fingers crossed lots of lovely Xmas Licquors to make this year!! (By the way O/H Quince Liquer fabulous (Spelling Liquoer?? -Blame the cortisone brain not engaging and can't be bothered to check dictionary!)
So -this dastardly Weather. The Lunar Weather Calender for March says variable temperatures from 2-16th with heavy rain again particularly 8-9th. From 10-18th some lovely days but only in some regions. From 19th getting colder with plenty of frost around and more snow for those higher areas. Huge differences from one region to another. Obelixx -30/31st Major Depression forecast to cross France (Don't think I want to know about this and we're only talking about weather) -By the way did you mean Angles or Angers?? We shall be at La Fete de La Rose in Angers. Love that town nearly as much as La Rochelle. - Cats not pleased with this weather. Pushkin bashed up by massive hail storm during the night (Still don't know how my Broad Beans are standing up so well to this) which he insisted in going out in. Boots the Bengal angry mouseholes full of water and not mice. 'Norman' the Ginger Tom too old to care (21) AND Bipsy in disgrace for hiding behind apples on lawn left out for Starlings in fruitless attempt to catch one. -Not yet obedience trained like other cats to leave birds and feeders alone.
Beautiful Moon 2 nights ago diagonally next to planet that I have to admit not looking up, Wish I could take a night photo successfully, it really was stunning as we are lucky and in a Dark Sky area.
Well, better stop Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks for supper -One Pot, no dashing around kitchen as dizzy -Oh no -O/H has just asked if he can have Yorkshire Pudding -Hey Ho!!
Thanks @biofreak2. Noted for pruning. Good timing as I'm busy with patch homework till next class on the 4th.
Small plant fair at Angles for me, about 10kms away. Angers is 150kms away but I may persuade OH to indulge me on a day out. When is it? And where? found nothing on Google.
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)."
Plus we obviously need our Cheese supplies for the Farmers Markets. Only buy Cheddar from Cheddar.
Hi @biofreak Hope your penicillin allergy is now over and you are feeling your old self again. I once had an anti-inflammatory medicine allergy which set a certain part of my anatomy on fire. Terrible experience.
Bringing UK cheese to France sounds like bringing coal to Newcastle.
Small plant fair at Angles for me, about 10kms away. Angers is 150kms away but I may persuade OH to indulge me on a day out. When is it? And where? found nothing on Google.
Thanks @Papi Jo. De Gaulle is often quoted as saying it was hard to govern a country that produces 250 different cheeses. There are over 750 now in the UK and nothing the French make compares to Cheddar for taste and texture and versatility. I still maintain Vieux Gouda or Vieux Bruges is even better, both with bread and for cooking.
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)."
Yes Papi Jo that's the Fair at Angers (and thank you allergy symptoms nearly cleared up.) First time for us despite being invited before and unfortunately previous conflict of dates. Hope the link helps Obelixx. Yes I like the Vieux Gouda and Bruges -95% of my clients are French and have a passion for Uk Cheeses, so where there's demand I supply!! Anyway back to gardening. Compared to yesterday, today is horrible -Sharp showers, cold wind but strong sun when it shines. Have you noticed that the light is changing now? They talk about Artist's light and there is a certain clarity coming to the sky with a crisp bright sheen pricking out the clouds, and beginning to pick up on the grass. I love this hop and jump into Spring -The sort of in-between time when one is longing to get cracking but just need to hold off a fraction.
Anyway -Today and tomorrow 2/3rd March are Root Days. with the Moon descending in Taurus an Earth Constellation. Under warmth sow some Celeriac in seed trays and in a Nursery Bed sow some Autumn Leeks. Not sure if you come across this in UK but try sowing some Tuberous Chervil remembering to scratch the seed with a nutmeg grater first (This tastes like a Celery Root and makes a good alternative to Parsnips roasted in late Summer. Looks like a rather unappetising grey Carrot but if you can get them -a real treat)
4/5th March Flower Days with Moon in the Air Conctellation Gemini. Avoid gardening before 9.50am on the 4th Noued ascending. Prune Floribunda Roses cutting them hard back to 3rd eye on tall varieties and back to the soil for Bush Roses. Seems dramatic but I have tried this French method and it has worked for me. Larger and more flowers produced over a longer period. Prick out Cauliflowers in Nursery Bed sown 27-28th January. Pot on Pelargoniums.
6/7th March Leaf Days with Descending Moon in Water Sign Cancer. Plant asparagus in ridge of previously raised mounds -only pop them about 5cm underground and water well or presoak in bucket for 2hrs before planting. Plant out Container Shrubs.
8/9th March Full Moon 5.47pm on 9th. Fruit Days and descending Moon in Fire Sign Leo.Prune Grapevines and tidy up Stawberry Beds by cutting out dead growth, weeding and scratching up soil around plants, then add a liitle bonemeal and work it well in (Next door neighbour's dog dug mine up last year -strawberry plants all over the place!! the smell was obviously irresistable!) This year I shall net or fleece earlier and block the fence again!
10th March Moon at it's closest point to Earth in Monthly Cycle at 11.35am so perigéé so ineffective to plant growth. remember that it is wiser to avoid any major plantings or sowings 5hrs before and 5hrs after Noeuds/Perigée/Apogées Moons but this is for the Purist. Some scientific studies don't hold by this -I use my Gut Feeling and Gardening Instincts. Also I find watching the garden birds (Actually I have noted Buzzards are pretty accurate foretellers of wind and temperature conditions) and even my cats' behaviour can affect whether I hold back a little or jump in and take a chance inside the 5hr time frame.
So that's that for today. New Lunar/Bio Book arrived today. Just ordered some new Reading Glasses so when I can see the dreadful fine print -I shall report!!
Bio , thanks for update Currently having some nice sunny but cold days and frosts Cut lawns on Sunday , first cut of the year as they where dry enough !
Not come across Tuberios Chervil , will goggle it I do like to grow something I’ve not done before each year , last year it was Cucamelons
GWRS what were they like? Just been in greenhouse on first calm day for 2 weeks. Temp only 15c so definately holding back on doing anything to do with tender crops. They always catch up anyway. Broad Beans Aquadulce absolutely stunning in polystyrene Broccoli boxes. Seem to be happy with depth and all 40 bushy and glossy.So so pleased. Not going to plant them out as enough depth to earth up as per French method keeping them in containers. Here is Lunar Calender 13-24th March.
13/14th March. Flower Days with Moon descending in Libra. Plant out under cover Cauliflowers sown 1st January. (We have just eaten our first Purple Sprouting Broccoli from 2019 sowing -Yummy) I will now plant out my 15 young Broccoli plants overwintered in greenhouse and fleece them up in Raised Beds (5 in each flanked by Onions or Salad Crops that will be easy to pull as Broccoli grows). Prick out Cauliflower/Broccoli and Buzy Lizzies sown 23/24 February.Prune Summer Flowering Clematis and repeat Flowering Roses (french word remontant) can't remember UK one -sorry! Roses that flower more than once in the Season anyway.
15th & 16th March up to 9.34am. Leaf Days with Moon descending in Scorpio. Blanche Dandelions. Plant and divide old bunches of herbs to pop into fresh bed or intersperse in Flower Beds as Companion Plants Plant Asparagus. Prick out Spring Cabbage sown 1st February and Thin out Spinach/Dandelions and plant out Lettuces (Under Cover) sown 26/28th February.
Balance of 16th/17th & 18th March -Noeud descending on 17th so no gardening before 6.05am. Fruit Days. Under heat no less than 20c Sow Aubergines/Peppers and Chilies. In a Greenhouse sow Tomatoes between 18-20c
19/20th March - Moon ascending in Capricorn so Root Days again. Sow Carrots where they are to be harvested. Sow some Radish and first Round as opposed to long Beetroot.
21/22/23rd March - Moon ascending in Aquarius. Flower Days Sow tender Annuals, remembering toonly cover them lightly so Spring warmth and light can help them to sprout and establish quickly. Sow Sweet Peas in pockets as opposed to rows putting the supports in first as Triangles or Strips as you wish.
Spring Bulbs really taking a hold now. Bought some pots of White and Powder Blue Muscari at Market yesterday to naturalise by splitting each pot in three and popping them amongst the primroses along the hedgerow. Good time to do this as you can see the gaps that need filling when Daffs etc are out.Also bought 1Kg Shallots to pop in Orange Boxes as per last year. This method really worked for me -Shallow soil but brilliant crop.
Hopefully this w/e will be a little better than last and I can get out side and DO something!!
Oak Trees bursting with buds -Well ahead of Ash so hot Summer again I think bearing in mind the old rhyme which has always proved to be correct for my gardens over the years. 'Oak before Ash we're in for a Splash -Ash before Oak we're in for a Soak'
Looking forward to Farmers Market tomorrow, New Veg and Herbs all starting to be sold now as Plants in bunches -Much better to buy this way. OK you get some wastage but over all cheap and cheerful.
Posts
Does your info include when to cut back hedging plants such as photinia Red Robin @biofreak2? And when to strike cuttings?
10 years since storm Xynthia hit the coast here and killed 29 people at La Faute-sur-Mer as well as destroying many homes. I expect in a way it's more stressful for the Severn river dwellers, watching the water gradually creep up and then overwhelm their homes and businesses despite all their precautions.
Small plant fair at Angles for me, about 10kms away. Angers is 150kms away but I may persuade OH to indulge me on a day out. When is it? And where? found nothing on Google.
Currently having some nice sunny but cold days and frosts
Cut lawns on Sunday , first cut of the year as they where dry enough !
I do like to grow something I’ve not done before each year , last year it was Cucamelons
Happy gardening to all