Hail has stopped..just a glimpse of sun so off to feed birds who are pairing and nesting now. Still very greedy though..polished off a chunk of cheddar in their bird feeder this morning!! Gales forecast tomorrow so Bread Pudding and Fruit cakes I made today mayhave to be kept to one side ..still they are both better after a few days.
Popped into SJ Cameron site but couldn't find any obvious discussion with Claire Hattersley or anything else BioD - any clues to where it might be hiding?
I thought I'd add a little more about the Moon. You can call any satellite a moon (a smaller body orbiting another ) but there's only one Moon. Planets such as Saturn and Jupiter have many whereas Mars has only two worthy of the name. Back in the day, all planets and their moons were presumed to be fixed entities but increasingly as knowledge of physics extends, theories of orbit change and capture have emerged with the odd catastrophe thrown in for good measure. Piccy is an impression of an ancient collision between the primordial Earth and another celestial body about the size of Mars - they had both been orbiting the Sun minding their own business, unaware that their paths would cross at some time and this is it. Large parts of both were vapourised by the fabulous impact but as the blow was at a glancing angle and the earth being substantially more massive - this theory does account for the 23.5 degree tilt to Earth's axis. The Universe has plenty of time, what's a few hundred million years between friends? There are computer programmes which can demonstrate how this scenario would develop and result in the present situation - it fits quite well. To start with, the debris coalesced into two independent planets that orbited the Sun but as they were so close gravity began to affect their motion until the Moon was locked with almost one face permanently towards us which was originally much closer. Folk are still arguing about when the Earth acquired all it's water - whatever the scientific answer - I'm pretty sure the Bible hasn't got it right! Darkness on the face of the waters etc., whoever wrote that had no idea of sequence!
Once the oceans formed, the Moon had something it could affect (it does affect solid ground too but not so much) working in conjunction or opposition with the Sun the oceans are pulled up in a tidal bulge while the Earth continues to revolve underneath,the sloshing water, over time the generated friction has slowed the Earth's revolution and very similar to two skaters pirouetting - close goes faster than further apart - so as the Earth has slowed the Moon has receded. It's still moving away at about 50mm a year.
By all estimates, an original Earth day was far less than the 24 slightly plus hours it is today and one day it may well stop revolving altogether - the Moon will have then drifted off to oblivion. Not that it will worry us!
The Moon doesn't follow a simple circular orbit ( nothing really does ) it's an ellipse and while the Moon follows its eggshaped track it appears to travel at different speeds depending where it is. Its orbit, although within the Ecliptic along with all the Planets and the Sun also has a bit of a wobble which accounts for us seeing more than 50% of it despite it being locked towards us.
Because of the Moon's orbit being different to the revolution of the Earth and the relationships to the Sun we see the familiar waxing and waning rather than one shape all the time. Many natural events on Earth are phased to the Moon - spawning of coral to name but one - other linkages are more tenuous. More on that story later.
Thank you SporophyteBoy, your input is much appreciated--All info is welcome on this Thread. Do you only grow veg etc for showing or do you have an every day plot as well? I have read an article regularly in Kitchen Garden written by someone who shows and have to say that I have been shocked at the additives he has added to his plants and the disregard for natural growth.
Ate our first Sprouting Broccoli yesterday -Really proud of it.. superb aand enormous plants following biodynamic growing mediums last season.
With weather warming up and in proud posession of a new wheelbarrow (68Euros I splashed out but it is a good solid one Obelixx from Maison) They were also selling off Onion Sets for 1Euro for 250g. Did not succumb however as I thnk I have planted enough and my Seeds plus Terreau arrive tomorrow from the Gardening Club.
I shall be using my Bousse de Corne and Silica from BD Asssociation next week as I sow new crops.
Spent yesterday transplanting shrubs that I have decided need a change of scene, now have some fresh spaces to fill with new goodies.
Thank you SporophyteBoy, your input is much appreciated--All info is welcome on this Thread. Do you only grow veg etc for showing or do you have an every day plot as well? I have read an article regularly in Kitchen Garden written by someone who shows and have to say that I have been shocked at the additives he has added to his plants and the disregard for natural growth.
Ah ha! I sense that I could be on la terre dangeruse! But here goes- What exactly do you mean by "natural growth"? More precisely - what would I have to do to a plant to make it grow unnaturally? I spot the word "additives" - what is this other poster doing? Pouring on nuclear waste? Getting the odd visit from aliens?
Last year, all my stuff grew without any form of concentrated fertiliser whatsoever, though I did dig in about 16 tonnes of local authority "green" waste compost - (I have a small tipper truck and can fetch it in 2 tonnes lots at reasonable cost ) and then I also compost everything the plots produce apart from Tomatoes, Potatoes which are prone to harbouring diseases. My heaps are much bigger than most you see, they don't sterilize as well as the council stuff but do heat up pretty good - I rotate them over three years, the resulting product is lovely black friable "all muck and magic" and again is dug in the autumn. My regime is based on thorough soil preparation in the autumn/winter and then not alot else apart from water during the growing period, though I have been known to spot feed exhibition Onions and Leeks after judging by experience or soil test for something they're missing. I've used an "additive" called Vitax when mixing my own filling compost for exhibition long roots. So I think I very nearly conform to the modern idea of "Organic" culture. Personally I detest this term as I was brought up to regard anything with Carbon in it as organic and thus there were two syllabi Organic and Inorganic Chemistry. There is actually very little difference in any chemical that gets into a plant - the atoms of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen they bind by photosynthesis into sugars and starch are identical - they were all "cooked up" in long departed stars millions, if not, billions of years ago - there are quite a few of them but they are a finite quantity - you can't get any from anywhere else!
Hello , been to allotment today , lots of little jobs done , including weeded winter sewed spring onions , coming up nicely , broad beans not coming up , first time ever so have prepared a new bed Weeded summer Rasberry bed and feed them some BFB , is that classed as organic ?
Started sorting out g/h at home need to think about what seeds to sew ?
weather still a bit up and down Happy gardening everybody
Yesterday I finally sowed 4 each of 6 different chillies, all new varieties to me from a supplier in Belgium. I have a new heated mat I was keen to try but have held back on tomatoes as it's still too cold overnight in the polytunnel for the seedlings and I have no indoor windowsills.
Other than that the northerly wind is so piercing and cold I've done nothing outdoors but I did pot on all my trailing fuchsias and took cuttings of some a few days ago. The chooks found that process fascinating and I've had to rig up protection for all the pots of cuttings as the PT is left open all day to let pollinators in for the nectarines which are in bloom.
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)."
Good to hear from you SporophyteBoy, nice to know you are growing such specimens naturally without resorting to chemicals. We are now munching our way through our Broccoli in earnest. May have to freeze some soon and I only have 6 plants!! Broad Beans down from 40 to 11 outside but these are beginning to set flower despite icy winds . I am going to keep the second batch in the Polytunnel for the moment as they are growing on really well and I made the mistake last year of popping them outside albeit in the polystyrene boxes and the crop was very poor as they were set back so much. I too am holding back Obelixx, nice warm days yet really cold at night. Scotland seems to have Summer already!! Just had 2 lovely Garden Fairs come infor September. I think that this year will be the same as last.. opening up in the Autumn. The Farmers Markets are now allowi ng nurseries in as long as they are 'Bio' .and we know the origin of the plants. Commercial food producers are not allowed on the Market. Anyway here is the Lunar Calender 19th-25th March 19/20th March. Moon ascending in front of Taurus so Root Days. Sow some parsnips/carrots and turnips. Sow onions for salads and Autumn harvest. Sow leeks in a nursery bed. No gardening recommended on 20th before 8.35am as noeud as enfin G. Remember to wait for five hours after this when it will have passed. 21/22/23rd March. Moon becomes descending moon 2.40pm on 21st moving in front of Gemini so Flower Days. Plant out Gladioli and other Summer bulbs. Prick out pelargoniums down 15/16th January and Impatiens down 12/13th February. Plant under fleece Cauliflower down 16/17th January and Broccoli where they are to stay for harvest. 24th March Moon descending In front of Cancer so Leaf Day. Plant out Asparagus. Take miss from lawn.Finish new flowerbed designs and edging. 25/26/27th. Moon descending in front of Leo so Fruit and Seed Days. Plant out Strawberries and the last new soft fruit bushes. Prick out Aubergines.Peppers and Chillies plus Tomatoes down (if you were brave enough!) 9th February. Happy Gardening and have a nice weekend.😊😊
Depending where you all live - it's been a funny winter - warm periods, then sharp cold with long rainy spells - not the best for autumn planted stuff to sit through. What was the variety of Broad Beans you lost? When did you plant them and did you notice the demise of the ones you lost?
Posts
I thought I'd add a little more about the Moon. You can call any satellite a moon (a smaller body orbiting another ) but there's only one Moon. Planets such as Saturn and Jupiter have many whereas Mars has only two worthy of the name. Back in the day, all planets and their moons were presumed to be fixed entities but increasingly as knowledge of physics extends, theories of orbit change and capture have emerged with the odd catastrophe thrown in for good measure. Piccy is an impression of an ancient collision between the primordial Earth and another celestial body about the size of Mars - they had both been orbiting the Sun minding their own business, unaware that their paths would cross at some time and this is it.
Large parts of both were vapourised by the fabulous impact but as the blow was at a glancing angle and the earth being substantially more massive - this theory does account for the 23.5 degree tilt to Earth's axis. The Universe has plenty of time, what's a few hundred million years between friends? There are computer programmes which can demonstrate how this scenario would develop and result in the present situation - it fits quite well.
To start with, the debris coalesced into two independent planets that orbited the Sun but as they were so close gravity began to affect their motion until the Moon was locked with almost one face permanently towards us which was originally much closer.
Folk are still arguing about when the Earth acquired all it's water - whatever the scientific answer - I'm pretty sure the Bible hasn't got it right! Darkness on the face of the waters etc., whoever wrote that had no idea of sequence!
Once the oceans formed, the Moon had something it could affect (it does affect solid ground too but not so much) working in conjunction or opposition with the Sun the oceans are pulled up in a tidal bulge while the Earth continues to revolve underneath,the sloshing water, over time the generated friction has slowed the Earth's revolution and very similar to two skaters pirouetting - close goes faster than further apart - so as the Earth has slowed the Moon has receded. It's still moving away at about 50mm a year.
By all estimates, an original Earth day was far less than the 24 slightly plus hours it is today and one day it may well stop revolving altogether - the Moon will have then drifted off to oblivion. Not that it will worry us!
The Moon doesn't follow a simple circular orbit ( nothing really does ) it's an ellipse and while the Moon follows its eggshaped track it appears to travel at different speeds depending where it is. Its orbit, although within the Ecliptic along with all the Planets and the Sun also has a bit of a wobble which accounts for us seeing more than 50% of it despite it being locked towards us.
Because of the Moon's orbit being different to the revolution of the Earth and the relationships to the Sun we see the familiar waxing and waning rather than one shape all the time. Many natural events on Earth are phased to the Moon - spawning of coral to name but one - other linkages are more tenuous. More on that story later.
Last year, all my stuff grew without any form of concentrated fertiliser whatsoever, though I did dig in about 16 tonnes of local authority "green" waste compost - (I have a small tipper truck and can fetch it in 2 tonnes lots at reasonable cost ) and then I also compost everything the plots produce apart from Tomatoes, Potatoes which are prone to harbouring diseases. My heaps are much bigger than most you see, they don't sterilize as well as the council stuff but do heat up pretty good - I rotate them over three years, the resulting product is lovely black friable "all muck and magic" and again is dug in the autumn.
My regime is based on thorough soil preparation in the autumn/winter and then not alot else apart from water during the growing period, though I have been known to spot feed exhibition Onions and Leeks after judging by experience or soil test for something they're missing. I've used an "additive" called Vitax when mixing my own filling compost for exhibition long roots. So I think I very nearly conform to the modern idea of "Organic" culture. Personally I detest this term as I was brought up to regard anything with Carbon in it as organic and thus there were two syllabi Organic and Inorganic Chemistry.
There is actually very little difference in any chemical that gets into a plant - the atoms of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen they bind by photosynthesis into sugars and starch are identical - they were all "cooked up" in long departed stars millions, if not, billions of years ago - there are quite a few of them but they are a finite quantity - you can't get any from anywhere else!
Weeded summer Rasberry bed and feed them some BFB , is that classed as organic ?
weather still a bit up and down
Happy gardening everybody
Other than that the northerly wind is so piercing and cold I've done nothing outdoors but I did pot on all my trailing fuchsias and took cuttings of some a few days ago. The chooks found that process fascinating and I've had to rig up protection for all the pots of cuttings as the PT is left open all day to let pollinators in for the nectarines which are in bloom.
Good to hear from you SporophyteBoy, nice to know you are growing such specimens naturally without resorting to chemicals. We are now munching our way through our Broccoli in earnest. May have to freeze some soon and I only have 6 plants!! Broad Beans down from 40 to 11 outside but these are beginning to set flower despite icy winds . I am going to keep the second batch in the Polytunnel for the moment as they are growing on really well and I made the mistake last year of popping them outside albeit in the polystyrene boxes and the crop was very poor as they were set back so much. I too am holding back Obelixx, nice warm days yet really cold at night. Scotland seems to have Summer already!!
Just had 2 lovely Garden Fairs come infor September. I think that this year will be the same as last.. opening up in the Autumn. The Farmers Markets are now allowi ng nurseries in as long as they are 'Bio' .and we know the origin of the plants. Commercial food producers are not allowed on the Market.
Anyway here is the Lunar Calender 19th-25th March
19/20th March. Moon ascending in front of Taurus so Root Days. Sow some parsnips/carrots and turnips. Sow onions for salads and Autumn harvest. Sow leeks in a nursery bed. No gardening recommended on 20th before 8.35am as noeud as enfin G. Remember to wait for five hours after this when it will have passed.
21/22/23rd March. Moon becomes descending moon 2.40pm on 21st moving in front of Gemini so Flower Days. Plant out Gladioli and other Summer bulbs. Prick out pelargoniums down 15/16th January and Impatiens down 12/13th February. Plant under fleece Cauliflower down 16/17th January and Broccoli where they are to stay for harvest.
24th March Moon descending In front of Cancer so Leaf Day. Plant out Asparagus. Take miss from lawn.Finish new flowerbed designs and edging.
25/26/27th. Moon descending in front of Leo so Fruit and Seed Days. Plant out Strawberries and the last new soft fruit bushes. Prick out Aubergines.Peppers and Chillies plus Tomatoes down (if you were brave enough!) 9th February.
Happy Gardening and have a nice weekend.😊😊
, none germinated
@biofreak , thanks for updated
Gladioli , I just leave them in the ground and mulch over winter
How is your animal tribe doing ?
A day at allotment today but all maintenance stuff , including , o/h stained the original shed and I replaced 2 broken fence posts