@biofreak , ........ had another hard frost last night Wonder if there a scientific reason why such hard late frosts ?
If that was aimed in my direction - the weather is very poorly understood. We are living in a relatively warm inter-glacial period - regardless as to "global warming." As little as 7/12,000 years ago, most of Britain was covered by an ice sheet over a mile thick - no one has much idea why it formed or why it melted - it certainly wasn't through any human agency. I love there to be some direct connection between the return to "cooler" weather and the large reduction of industrial outputs - particularly aircraft emissions. However; as the white contrails reflect solar energy back into space in almost equal ratio to their pollution downside - the lack of them has a nett heating effect rather than the opposite.
As a few of the regulars seem to think I'm anti, I thought the following might be helpful.
Despite being immersed in the scientific approach during my professional training - which added to my natural bent - I'm not averse to "muck and magic." Indeed, having lived through the "Silent Spring" era and the evils of DDT - I know that the application of science often leaves much to be desired. These days, I rarely spray anything, I compost, rescue worms. I'd love to find some magic, fairies at the bottom of my garden etc., but that hope took a bit of a knock when I realised that the vicar gets holy water out of the tap and dead things stay that way. Even so, I've gone in for more than a little mysticism - I've waited for the sun to come up over Stonehenge on Dec 21st (winter solstice) I sweated blood bringing a 400kgs Buddha into my garden and burn incense ( though I draw the line at mantras - Oooomm) and I'd cheerfully plant all my seeds standing on one leg whistling "God Save the Queen" if I could see some purpose in it. Although there have been quite confusing posts here very recently - everything I read about Bio Dynamics in the beginning assured me that there most certainly was a purpose - do this at this time and your plants will grow better. There were no codicils - no mention of it only working for "true Believers!" etc. I thought it well worth looking into. Even more so when I discovered our Herr Dr Hartmut Spiess and his Team in der biologisch-dynamischen who seemed quite scientific to the extent of reexamining claims of at least one extravagant proposer and honestly admitting that those results couldn't be repeated. This is pukka science. The team has gone on to publish many findings which tend to suggest that there are links between the moon and plants - based on astronomy. What's not to like?
Sporophyte Boy it was GWRS who mentioned frosts not me.
GWRS I'm not speaking to Boots the Bengal..he has taken it into his head to attack Thomas at every opportunity at the moment.
ChrisCavell if you contact The Biodynamic Association in UK they can help you join a group or if you have an allotment normally they know of a member interested in Bio dynamics.
I think that Sporophyte Boy and Allotment Boy are managing very well without the rest of us with their sparring and definately keeping the rest of us entertained, although this is supposed to be a gentle Thread and not one designed for fisty cuffs.
Here is the Lunar Calender for 5-15th May
5/6th May - Moon ascending in front of Aquarius so Flower Days. In a Nursery Bed sow some Cauliflowers and Brocolli for Autumn crops. (We have nearly finished the Brocolli and I shall definately sow again in August instead of now to avoid Caterpillars. It certainly worked and the crops have been the best I have ever had.) Sow some Sunflowers in the Potager for Winter Seeds for the birds.
7/8/9th and 10th May up to 11.22pm- Moon ascending in Water Sign Pisces so Leaf Days. Sow all Salad Leaves and Herbs where they are to crop remembering to keep them moist to encourage germination. Sow some Brussel Sprouts and Celery in a Nursery Bed
(Meteo France says we are going to be in for a drier than average three months based on planetary movements, so start saving water now, their articles are very interesting Obelixx spotted them when looking up Previsions Meteo))
10/11th May - The only Fruit Day until the 19th so sow Courgettes/Cucumbers where they are to crop remembering to pop a flower pot or inverted plastic bottle with bottom cut off beside them to facilitate watering in Summer. New Moon 7.59pm on 11th.No gardening recommended after 5.45pm on 11th as Moon apogee.
12/13/14th May - Moon ascending in front of Taurus so Root Days No gardening recommended between 6.20am and 4.35pm as Noued ascending. Sow Carrots where they are to crop. Sow Black and Winter Radishes. If you place these between the Carrot rows they will be sweeter. Try some Salsify as well this year for a change.
15/16th May -Flower Days. Take cuttings from Lilacs and Potentillas and Rock Roses. Plant Impatiens (Busy Lizzies) sown 12-13th February. and potted annuals. Thin out Cauliflowers and Brocolli sown 8/9th April. Protect all from Snails. (We too have a hedgehog, spotted him/her 5am on Saturday morning toddling around the drive), certainly no slugs or snails found yet this year even underneath pots, although it has been far too cold to date for a mass invasion.
Thanks @biofreak. I shall have a look at the météo info.
I had planned to put out the seep hose for my new dahlia bed today but it's cold and windy and intermittently wet so I'll start on that tomorrow. With any luck by Saturday we'll have had enough rain and warmed up enough to make planting of leafy shrubs and trees possible.
I have a seep hose in the soft fruits bed and two more ready to go in the polytunnel for the tomatoes. Much more efficient than the sprinkler and no spray to spread spores.
I sowed 4 potimarron a couple of weeks ago. 2 are doing well but 2 are no shows. No worries as 2 will be enough along with the butternut and a blue something I have bought.
Off to the vet this pm with huntress cat. She's listless and not eating and not chatty so I suspect she's eaten something she shouldn't have. All other critters on fine form, especially the chooks. Had to round up 2 of them and take them back to the potager yesterday evening after they went exploring.
I have consigned S-boy to the Ignore list. Life is too short.
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)."
Weather so awful this morning did not do market. Made some lovely Carrot Cakes yesterday for it too, but never mind .. the longer you keep them the better they are.
Making Gingerbread this afternoon. Clotted Cream delivered from Ireland this morning (to sell) so I shall have to start Scones again. I only make them between 1st May and 1st October and still get asked in November!!! Good luck with the vet. France meteo is really interesting since they re vamped their site.. lots of little pieces to read. Find MABD site useful too although a bit complicated. Glad I bought the book. Easier to dip in and out. The French are far more informative on Lunar Gardening, don't actually know a gardener who does not practise it!! Just in passing do you run your seep hoses off the mains or off barrels and rain tanks??
Quote from La Movement L'agriculture Bio Dynamie :- "Some publications propose changes related to our position on the earth (parallax) but this does not seem to us to be justified because the positions of the stars are only the "markers" of the great natural rhythms. It is more subtle, the living is not directly related to geometric phenomena, positions in space, but to rhythms that are the same for the whole of planet Earth."
I beg to differ - though I suspect that this sort of thinking is responsible for some of my posts being taken to task (or ignored).
However; no one can have things both ways - if the School is to be called "Gardening by the Moon" and going to quite detailed calculations for the Moon's position exactly correlated to specific jobs - that's what it is. I was of the opinion that the whole concept of Bio Dynamics was to explain the "great natural rhythms" or do I sense a degree of retrograde thinking?
Lo and Behold! What the Dickens? Is this a disclaimer???
Quote from La Movement L'agriculture Bio Dynamie :- Important: It should be noted here that under no circumstances should the use of cosmic rhythms take precedence over agronomic and meteorological conditions in terms of decision-making and planning of agricultural work. It is only if the "terrestrial" conditions are met, i.e. I have a soil in good condition, warmed and well resusctive as well as favorable working conditions that I can refine my work with more distant influences.
@biofreak , thanks for update , sorry to hear Bengal isn’t behaving !
Do use pots in soil for cucumbers , have not done that for courgettes but will start Still getting light frosts Getting my second vaccine today , hopefully more restrictions being lifted on 17th May , is France still in lock down ?
Hurray GWRS..Join the Club O/H had his second Vac yesterday, he was warned that he would be ill for 2 days. This morning bright as a buttin thank goodness. I had Moderna, he had Pheizer. What did you have? No market today because of Doctor's warning and joy of joys it's poured with rain... Did you get any Obelixx?? Found polytunnel cover leaks around roof seams so seedlings got a good drenching but none the worse for wear. More tomatoes sprouted and 3 peppers.
Apologetic email received from Gardening Association, they had forgotten to process my order hence the reason why I have never received it!! Not amused at all but typical French. Have cancelled my Sub. Thank goodness for Thompson & Morgan and Chiltern Seeds and Lidl!!!! French should be lifting Lockdown totally by mid June but the goalposts seem to be changing in all countries don't they?!
I wonder what will happen about export of seeds and plants this year from UK. Orders coming out of my ears for Bacon.Sausages and Steak Pies from Ireland as no fresh food allowed to be brought in. Supermarkets running out of UK Tea apparently!!
Interesting lectures coming up with Bio D Association in UK and France so will keep you posted.
Posts
Wonder if there a scientific reason why such hard late frosts ?
As little as 7/12,000 years ago, most of Britain was covered by an ice sheet over a mile thick - no one has much idea why it formed or why it melted - it certainly wasn't through any human agency.
I love there to be some direct connection between the return to "cooler" weather and the large reduction of industrial outputs - particularly aircraft emissions. However; as the white contrails reflect solar energy back into space in almost equal ratio to their pollution downside - the lack of them has a nett heating effect rather than the opposite.
A Decade of Sun - YouTube - I think the Little House knows something about it.
Despite being immersed in the scientific approach during my professional training - which added to my natural bent - I'm not averse to "muck and magic." Indeed, having lived through the "Silent Spring" era and the evils of DDT - I know that the application of science often leaves much to be desired. These days, I rarely spray anything, I compost, rescue worms.
I'd love to find some magic, fairies at the bottom of my garden etc., but that hope took a bit of a knock when I realised that the vicar gets holy water out of the tap and dead things stay that way.
Even so, I've gone in for more than a little mysticism - I've waited for the sun to come up over Stonehenge on Dec 21st (winter solstice) I sweated blood bringing a 400kgs Buddha into my garden and burn incense ( though I draw the line at mantras - Oooomm) and I'd cheerfully plant all my seeds standing on one leg whistling "God Save the Queen" if I could see some purpose in it.
Although there have been quite confusing posts here very recently - everything I read about Bio Dynamics in the beginning assured me that there most certainly was a purpose - do this at this time and your plants will grow better. There were no codicils - no mention of it only working for "true Believers!" etc. I thought it well worth looking into.
Even more so when I discovered our Herr Dr Hartmut Spiess and his Team in der biologisch-dynamischen who seemed quite scientific to the extent of reexamining claims of at least one extravagant proposer and honestly admitting that those results couldn't be repeated. This is pukka science. The team has gone on to publish many findings which tend to suggest that there are links between the moon and plants - based on astronomy. What's not to like?
I had planned to put out the seep hose for my new dahlia bed today but it's cold and windy and intermittently wet so I'll start on that tomorrow. With any luck by Saturday we'll have had enough rain and warmed up enough to make planting of leafy shrubs and trees possible.
I have a seep hose in the soft fruits bed and two more ready to go in the polytunnel for the tomatoes. Much more efficient than the sprinkler and no spray to spread spores.
I sowed 4 potimarron a couple of weeks ago. 2 are doing well but 2 are no shows. No worries as 2 will be enough along with the butternut and a blue something I have bought.
Off to the vet this pm with huntress cat. She's listless and not eating and not chatty so I suspect she's eaten something she shouldn't have. All other critters on fine form, especially the chooks. Had to round up 2 of them and take them back to the potager yesterday evening after they went exploring.
I have consigned S-boy to the Ignore list. Life is too short.
We do have 6 250litre butts but they are soon emptied.
However; no one can have things both ways - if the School is to be called "Gardening by the Moon" and going to quite detailed calculations for the Moon's position exactly correlated to specific jobs - that's what it is. I was of the opinion that the whole concept of Bio Dynamics was to explain the "great natural rhythms" or do I sense a degree of retrograde thinking?
Lo and Behold! What the Dickens? Is this a disclaimer???
Still getting light frosts
Getting my second vaccine today , hopefully more restrictions being lifted on 17th May ,
is France still in lock down ?