All of it. 10km limit except for a good reason for which we have to carry an "attestation" to say why if we're stopped so tomorrow I need one in the morning to do the weekly SM runs - 23kms each way - and another in the pm to go to the dentist - 21km each way. OH gets his jab on Friday and that's another 20km job with a form, just in case.
I had to put the sprinkler on the shallots on Monday so OH could go out and hoe and weed yesterday morning so I could scatter on some pelleted chicken manure. The surface was like rock after all the drying winds and yet it's soft and crumbly and lovely just below. Lots of pot watering here too.
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 I've been watering too!! Shallots and Onions needed a soak as did Spinach/Poiré (what's that in English Obelixx?) and red Mustard seedlings and Turnips which have all sprouted well despite weather. 35c in polytunnel yesterday afternoon 4c this monring. Crazy temperature changes. We have continued doing the Farners Markets and they have been packed with people who are avoiding the shops that are open. All a bit subdued. O/H had his first Pheizer jab on Wednesday and we are waiting for a delivery of Bacon and Sausages from Ireland this morning HURRAY!! No idea if and when we shall get back to UK. Lots of Brits selling up here, but also lots buying as they are moving their UK businesses to France incuding 2 nurserymen who used to come over for the Garden Fairs.
Anyway. Here is the Lunar Calender 10th-20th April. Today the 9th is a Flower Day so if you have time and weather willing sow hardy annuals where they are to flower and Cauliflowers and Brocolli under cover.
10/11/12th April Moon ascending in front of Pisces so Leaf Days. If you have a steady temperature of over 11c in your greenhouse sow some Celery and leaf Beet. Also you could set off some bulbing Fennel.
13/14th April Moon ascending in front of Aries so Fruit Days. If warm enough sow Melons/Cucumbers and outside some Dwarf Beans. (I usually set these off indoors and put the plants out when well grown as mice still anxious to get their teeth into tasty bean or pea seeds..Cats useless!!) On the 14th no gardening recommended before 12am as Moon apogée. (At furthest point from the Earth in Monthly Cycle. In France this is called the tie of Saint Jean. Plants have a tendancy to bolt to seed like Onions and Lettuce, so best to avoid this risk by sowing during Root or Leaf Days if Moon apogée unless you are growing for seed specifically.
15/16/17th April Moon ascending in front of Taurus so Root Days. Sow some Salsify and Scorzonera. Sow some Parsnips. No gardening recommended on the 16th before 12am as Noeud ascending. Twice a month the Moon cuts across the eclliptique line and viewed from the Earth the Sun and the Moon appear to be running on two different paths forming an angle of 5degrees 8. Over many years trials have shown that in 80% cases a Noeud had affected a delay in sprouting seedlings and a check in growth of crops. Biodynamic Farmers delay sowings and treatments of crops around these days.
All Planets cut the eclypticique plan twice during their circuit around the Sun and also form Noeuds. Mercury and Venus being nearest the Sun form the more Noeuds than planets a further distance away. When these Noeuds also tie in with Mars and the Moon we see massive shifts in the weather pattern.
18/19th April At 17.01pm on 18th the Moon shifts from ascending to descending. These are Flower Days so in mild regions plant out Begonias and Pelargoniums sown 15/16th January. Plant out Cauliflowers and Brocolli sown 11th to 13th March remembering to bury them well in firm soil up to the first leaves.
20/21st April Moon descending in front of Cancer so Leaf Days again. Under Cover plant Letuce and Scarole sown 14-16th March. Prick out Basil and other tender herbs sown 16th March.
So there we are lots to do. Bacon and Sausages have just arrived!!!! HURRAY
Bio , thanks for update Hoping to got to allotment over the weekend We have some shallots we have grown from seed , never done that before , o/h hoping to pot them on tomorrow , definitely better to buy the sets but you have to try different things None essential shop , outside catering and organised sport can open hear from Monday We have been helping to get the Village bowls green ready for grand opening on 18th April Happy gardening
Hello , have been getting heavy frosts and last week hail storms & a dusting of snow It has been lovely sunny days but cold , everything is late this year and very dry , watering lots , hopefully weather should improve next week
At allotment yesterday , noticed frost done in the Aspargus that was just peeking through , not happened before , perhaps with hind sight should have covered with fleece
Blossom on fruit trees not effected I’m pleased to say
Gardening Association let down --No Seed Orders have arrived so I have not got my new Asparagus/Potatoes or Onion Sets. Decided to spend money on 2 new Raised Bed Kits instead. Had already saved some Potatoes to seed last year so popped all 6 in (Yes 6!!!) I really did not want 100 and no smaller packs left in shops. Had already bought extra Onion and Shallot sets plus topped up through UK prior to Brexit as you know. So all is not lost. Beautiful warm afternoons but mornings and evening evil!!! Still we have lovely light mornings and evenings. All Garden Fairs cancelled again. Lockdown threatening to continue into June now for Events. Still we have the Markets as we trade in Food (No non foods allowed) so that's good. Sowed Tomatoes/Peppers/Chillies and Aubergines in Polytunnel as temp fairly stable at 15-20c. Decided to keep Brad Beans in there with door open as too windy outside. Have a good w/e. and Happy Gardening.
L'Asphodèle - Vendée gardening and plant lovers club - usually organises a plant fair on the 3rd Saturday of April but it's been cancelled again this year. Fortunately I anticipated there being no fairs and ordered seeds from Chiltern and others in the UK plus a Belgian site for chillies and a local seeds supplier for heritage tomatoes so I'm all set.
Well, I would be if we weren't having freezing morning and drought. Can't move the citrus and fuchsia pots out of the polytunnel, can't move seedlings into there as it's too cold at night, can't sow new ones as no more space indoors. I spent a lot of time watering pots, seedlings, cuttings and recently planted shrubs and trees including some done last autumn.
OH sowed his new lawn on Monday and has had to put the sprinkler on. Now he's moaning about sparrows pinching seed despite there being plentiful food on the feeders. It seems he ignored the advice about one for the birds and one for the lawn.
I'm keen to prune the hibiscus, check the salvias and gauras and take cuttings form the dahlia shoots but will wait for a descending flower moon next week.
Broad beans sown outside in December are now in flower and looking bonny.
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)."
Just popped my head outside. 2 Parsnips have sprouted in Seed Tray Hurray!! only 14 left! Turnips/Red Mustard and Spinach coming along. On the Flower front. Glad for Cold Snap as Daffodils. Tulips. Muscari and Primroses continue to look stunning. Met pal who runs a Bio Nursery in floods of tears this morning. She was supposed to be exhibiting this w/e and heard about the cancellation only last night. Organisers said they would carry forward her Stand Fee to next year instead of refunding as per usual now. Money she could well do with back in the kitty. She has no idea what to do with her plants. Last year many Nurserymen took them to the Cemeteries to put around the graves (no charge)as opposed to just throwing them away. Such a shame.
As for your friend, tell her to set up an FB account and see if there's a page dedicated to her local region - we have several for the Vendée - or a local commune site where she can announce her plants for sale and I believe she can also sell from her gate if she puts up a sign and has hand gel, masks etc.
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)."
Stephanie bless her heart has done all these things and also does the local market but now plants are banned from our local Markets unless they are vegetables or herbs. I think I really meant to get over the fact that it's not only 'hospitality' that is suffering in our respective countries. From March Nurserymen as opposed to Garden Centres rely on Trade and Public Fairs for a large amount of their income as Plantsmen.
By the way,,very impressed with Chiltern Seeds. Nicely packed and look really healthy. Thanks for recommendation.
Posts
I had to put the sprinkler on the shallots on Monday so OH could go out and hoe and weed yesterday morning so I could scatter on some pelleted chicken manure. The surface was like rock after all the drying winds and yet it's soft and crumbly and lovely just below. Lots of pot watering here too.
Hoping to got to allotment over the weekend
We have some shallots we have grown from seed , never done that before , o/h hoping to pot them on tomorrow , definitely better to buy the sets but you have to try different things
None essential shop , outside catering and organised sport can open hear from Monday
We have been helping to get the Village bowls green ready for grand opening on 18th April
Happy gardening
It has been lovely sunny days but cold , everything is late this year and very dry , watering lots , hopefully weather should improve next week
At allotment yesterday , noticed frost done in the Aspargus that was just peeking through , not happened before , perhaps with hind sight should have covered with fleece
Blossom on fruit trees not effected I’m pleased to say
Well, I would be if we weren't having freezing morning and drought. Can't move the citrus and fuchsia pots out of the polytunnel, can't move seedlings into there as it's too cold at night, can't sow new ones as no more space indoors. I spent a lot of time watering pots, seedlings, cuttings and recently planted shrubs and trees including some done last autumn.
OH sowed his new lawn on Monday and has had to put the sprinkler on. Now he's moaning about sparrows pinching seed despite there being plentiful food on the feeders. It seems he ignored the advice about one for the birds and one for the lawn.
I'm keen to prune the hibiscus, check the salvias and gauras and take cuttings form the dahlia shoots but will wait for a descending flower moon next week.
Broad beans sown outside in December are now in flower and looking bonny.
As for your friend, tell her to set up an FB account and see if there's a page dedicated to her local region - we have several for the Vendée - or a local commune site where she can announce her plants for sale and I believe she can also sell from her gate if she puts up a sign and has hand gel, masks etc.