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Gardening with The Moon & Biodynamics (Part Two)

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  • biofreakbiofreak Posts: 1,089
    As a Footnote --Please please do not hesitate to ask Questions. and we would dearly love input from other Biodynamic gardeners and indeed to share experiences.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Nothing doing here @biofreak.  Dreadful weather and set to get worse for the next 4 days.   Hibernating with my sewing machine.
    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)."
    Plato
  • GWRSGWRS Posts: 8,478
    Bio , hello , looking forward to reading your posts 
    Good to look at different things , I always keep an open mind 
    Did my pruning at allotment yesterday , going to plot tomorrow to dig up rest of leeks and burn 🔥 prunings
    Dry but very cold at moment 
    Pleased the days are getting longer 



  • biofreakbiofreak Posts: 1,089
    hi everyone
    Oh what joy to have a couple of warmer days. Still too wet to do a lot outside but I ordered 5 David Austin Roses in Mail Order Sales 29.95euros instead of 110!!! I used to buy regularly but from this Nurseryman (Jacques Briand Obelixx) until we started doing Garden Faits. But having just had the one I had mentioned in Evreux 8/9th May cancelled where I always buy extra roses..I decided to take up this offer. So off the envelope went stamped with joy and anticipation!
    Not sure I can offer you much joy with the Lunar Weather Predictions for February. More of the same I'm afraid. From 1st-24th it will stay wet although warm for the season with fog (sorry)!
    From 25th it will become drier and warmer although windy. (Source: Jean Marais ) astro meteorologist.
    Here is the Lunar Calender 4th-14th February. No gardening recommended on the 3rd before 2pm as moon perigee.
    4/5th Feb Flower Days with Moon descending in Libra. If you no longer have snow lift protective covers from Artichokes during the day. Remembering to pop covers back at night. Plant Anemones and other late Spring bulbs. Divide Snowdrops in the green (Mine have only just started flowering!)
    6/7th Feb Leaf Days No gardening recommended before 5.30am as noeud descending. Prick out sowings made on 18/20January. Protect from Slugs.
    8/9th Feb Moon crossing over from descending to ascending in Sagittarius so Fruit Days. sow Tomatoes /Aubergins/Peppers and Chillies
    under heat 18..20c
    10/11th Feb New Moon 7.05pm on 11th. Root Days Under heat sow some Celeriac.20/25c
    12/13/14th Feb Flower Days. moon ascending in Aquarius. In a covered nursery bed sow some Broccoli and Summer Cauliflowers. For flowers sow Impatiens.
    Well that's certainly some things to get on with. Don't think I shall be in a hurry to do these things yet though! Don't worry if you also feel the time is not right. These sowing instructions will come round again when perhaps the weather is a little brighter.
    Hope you managed to get your Leeks up GWRS ..No snow?? Keep on sewing Obelixx..What are you making at the moment? I'm wading my way through 50kg Seville Oranges prepping them for yummy marmelades.
    Happy Gardening!
  • GWRSGWRS Posts: 8,478
    Bio , thanks for update , are your Roses coming from the UK ? 

    No real snow , slight dusting overnight but all now gone ,not a pleasant day but  Sunday & Monday lovely and sunny , dry but cold days . Noticeable the longer days 
    Just got a few leeks and parsnips left to dig up , probably this Thursday 
    I think broccoli & chard may have had it 

    On Sunday was going to allotment to burn 🔥 the pruning’s , which we did but decided to demolish and burn the old shed as well , not what we intended to do 
    Did some tidying up yesterday , need to redo the fence next 

    Snowdrops, only just showing  , the ones on the stream bank have been under water for a while , hope they are ok 

    Do you watch Gardeners  World on TV 📺 ?

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Still very wet here @biofreak tho we've had some dry spells today.  I had to go to La Roche-sur-Yon this pm to pick up more meds for the dogs and the allotments behind the clinic and on the banks of the Yon are all under water.

    I've just been to give the chooks a treat - tin of sweetcorn - and checked the broad bean which are nearly all through now and looking very sturdy and well leafed but only a couple of inches high.  The shallots are all thru now too and I have snowdrops out along the ruin bed.

    I have sewn a jersey dress for Possum and a fleece top/pullover jacket but have now moved on to making curtains and a Roman blind for our new shower room to keep out the moonlight at night and the early sunrises which are on their way.   Whilst in La Roche I bought some satin ribbon I need to continue my machine patch Convergence project which will then need backing and quilting and I'm working on fabric combinations for a Twister patchwork.  OH needs some new shorts for golf too but they can wait another month or so.
    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)."
    Plato
  • biofreakbiofreak Posts: 1,089
    Gosh you are enterprising and inventive Obelixx. Well done😊 I am trying Hairy Bikers Beetroot & Goat Cheese Tart tonight. Supposed to be done like Tarte Tatin but I haven't got a suitable pie dish or pan. Roses from France GWRS. There are quite a few G Austin agents here so I have built up a nice collection over the years. Just wanted another Graham Thomas as could not move it from last house as too large. Balance are Shakespeare/Winchester and two others I can't remember without popping into other room for copy order. Off to buy bird feed tomorrow.  Peregrine Falcon back in garden today.😊 Don't watch Gardeners World but do get digital mag. Giving it up as prefer paper and not really a lot in there. Fantastic sunset tonight. Farmer's Market tomorrow so should be sunny.
  • biofreakbiofreak Posts: 1,089
    Hi Everyone
    Just been out and fed the birds then rushed in again. Freezing cold, no snow but a bit sleety. Just read Biodynamic info on Companion Planting with new ideas which I thought we could share. We already work with the 4 elements Fire/Air/Earth and Water and we know that when the Moon is in front of the constellations of these elements it has certain powers magnified on Roots (Virgo/Capricorn/Taurus)Flowers(Gemini/Libra/Aquarius)Leaves(Cancer/Scorpio/Pisces) and Fruits/Seeds(Aries/Leo/Sagittarius). Bearing this in mind I felt it would also be useful to confirm the actions needed during Moon ascending and descending in front of these signs.
    FLOWERS: When the Moon is ascending in front of Virgo it is a perfect time in the cycle to sow flowers and cauliflower/brocolli and artichokes. You are also able to harvest the crop or gather seed. When the moon is descending in front of Gemini or Libra it is a good time in the cycle to thin out/prick out & plant flowers/pinch out tops or prune. This is also an ideal time to enrich soil with extra compost and nutrients or take cuttings.
    ROOTS: When the moon is ascending in front of Capricorn or Taurus sow root vegetables. When the moon is ascending in front of Virgo prepare and enrich soil. Thin out/Prick out and plant root vegetables. Harvesting is also good at this time.
    LEAVES: When the moon is descending in front of Cancer or Scorpio thin out/prick out or plant salad and leaf crops like spinach and chicory. Herbs come under 'leaves' too.When the moon is ascending in front of Pisces sow or harvest leaf crops.
    FRUIT & SEED: When the moon is ascending and passes in front of Sagittarius or Aries sow or harvest fruit and seed. These periods are useful also for taking the opportunity to graft fruit trees and for moving grafts. When the moon is descending in front of Leo or Sagittarius preare and enrich soil cultivated for fruit or seed. Thin out/prick or plant out fruiting plants and prune.
    COMPANION PLANTING: We are already aware of the benefits of growing Carrots and Onions together to avoid onion or carrot fly but I thought the following useful. Apparently planting Cosmos amongst Brassicas deters Cabbage White Butterflies as a) the flowers are higher than the brassicas and distract the butterflies from landing to lay eggs. Sow the Cosmos on a Flower Day when the moon is in front of Aquarius (Good dates 12/13th March. 7/8/9/ and 18 April and 5/6/and 15th May) Marigolds popped in between Tomatoes remove nematodes that normally weaken tomato roots and generally weaken the plants. The Marigold flowers secrete a chemical substance that stops these parasites from breeding. (Plant them in between Tomatoes when the moon is descending in front of Libra or Gemini. Choosing calm days best dates are 19/27 28th April. 16/17/24/25th May and 12/13th June.Last but no means least known to me is planting the annual linseed (Choose blue original flower only) Linum Usitatissimum in the middle and around the edges of Potatoes. This action will  act as a repellant against doryphores. Sow these flowers during an ascending moon in front of Aquarius best dates 12/13/and 21st March 7//8/9th and 18th April and 5/6th May.
    I hope that this has been interesting and useful. Please feel free to ask questions or add your own companion planting ideas. All info is welcome!
    Happy Gardening.

  • GWRSGWRS Posts: 8,478
    Bio , hello ,thanks for info , I trust you are keeping well

    Campion planting , always put marigolds in g/h , in pots with tomatoes 🍅, last year I planted marigolds with out doors tomatoes but the Marigolds out grew the toms which was a bit of a surprise 
    I’m going to try cosmos with brassicas , although I’m also going to buy some very fine mesh to cover the cabbage 🥬 this year 

    We keep getting a small covering of snow each night and getting very cold 🥶 but during the day the sun comes out and it’s a lovely winters day , so have been going for walks 
    as can’t do anything in garden or allotment at moment 
  • biofreakbiofreak Posts: 1,089
    Never tried marigolds with tomatoes. My first year with Cosmos/Broccoli too. Talking of broccoli whilst mine have their leaves bowed because of the temperature they are starting to sprout heads. Don't do any other brassicas as so cheap and abundant here, as are leeks. Hope the warm up arrives as from tomorrow as so much to start doing. Broad Beans happy despite snow buckling polytunnel roof. Managed to get cover back over but still bitterly cold in there. Cats on strike. Dog has heart condition (well he is 16 now) so just a quick potter round garden. Are the hens OK Obelixx? Not doing Markets at the moment too damned cold to stand still on a pavement for 5hrs!!!☹️☹️☹️ Will do Lunar Gardening for next few days tomorrow. Still wading my way through oranges. 2 crates left. Redeeming factor is that I shall have 8 super orange boxes for growing Carrots/Onions and Shallots in.
    Oh the Roses arrived Wednesday in a snowstorm!!! Not the best weather to welcome them. They look really good, so tucked up on the Terrace.
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