Hi Everyone Lunar Weather prédictions for 2024 show erratic changes throughout the year with most months seeing above normal temperatures. In January from 14-24th we can expect drier and warmer weather but still brisk winds. 25-31st temperatures predicted to be outside the norm with wind and unpredictable weather patterns. Sounds all very airy fairy compared to last year., but I take it that not much gardening will be possible!! February between 1st-12th says very varied and unpredictable conditions with sudden changes between rain and snow. 13-16th Rain always present but milder. 17-20th Generally brighter 21-29th Globally colder, wetter and windy. At the moment I have managed to cut back brambles and trim hedgerows, but ground just too wet and sticky. Lots of Seed Catalogues have arrived, but I don't really need much this year Are you trying anything new or repeating a favourite? Not sure I can say Happy Gardening!
Freezing here at the mo @biofreak so I'm not even thinking about gardening - can't weed, can't sow, can't prune.
I shall be sowing/planting tried and tested tomatoes and other veggies this year. I have found a French supplier of seeds for Murraya Koenigii - curry plant, zanthoxylum Piperitum - Sichuan pepper and Phyllanthus Emblica - Ceylon gooseberry and plan on raiding my seeds box for some of the more unusual basil varieties so some interesting sowing in a month or so.
Happy New Year.
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)."
Hello , weather has been much drier and getting colder which personally I don’t mind , however ground water levels are still very high and not all the fields have dried out
Have been to allotment a few times but doing repairs to fence posts , pruning and generally tidying Going again on Thursday morning to prune my Gooseberrys bush’s , which I’ll add to Fridays burning pile
As well as getting colder we are getting frosts , not to bad and we have had no snow Weather forecast is difficult to predict due to the weather pattens , just like Biofreaks resent update
Just need Anglian Water Co to come and clean the dried sewage from back garden so I can finish tidying it up The front garden was ok , as I dug a hole in lawn to help take the water away , Infact we have turned it into a soak away , lots of broken bricks an topped up with slate chips , as I’m sure it will happen again
Well the snow predicted for us today opposite Jersey did not arrive, it's just pouring with rain AGAIN! Dogs have just waded through swampy marshland behind us having had a fun run (unauthorised!) chasing Herons. Don't seem to care about weather..so much for greyhounds and whippets needing pampering and wrapping up in fancy coats ..not my two!! They do have coats for cold weather like yesterday -4c and crispy crunchy underfoot on the beach. But they are basically intensely embarassed at being dressed up. Much more fun to return home and dig up my Dahlias!!! 'No!' is not in Dog Dictionary, so lots of fencing to go up this Spring. If you are feeling bold, the Lunar Calender says we should sow Câbbages under cover today 17th January and Round (not wrinkled) Peas tomorrow 18th as Leaf Days. 20/21/22/23rd January are Root Days with ascending Moon in front of Taurus. Sow Radishes and short rooted Carrots under cover for early crops. Turnips are also good to sow now, but à great attraction to slugs. 23/24th January if there is no frost, prépare new bed for Artichokes and plant Bare Root 🌹 Roses as Flower Days. 25/26th January prépare Asparagus Bed if you did not do it in the Autumn. Make trenches 40cm wide and 25cm deep. Plant leafy as opposed to evergreen hedges as Moon Descending , and cut Hazel for Pea and Bean Sticks. 27/28/29th January are Fruit Days. On 29th no gardening recommended before 3.20pm as Moon apogée. If not frosty prune Apples & Pears. Scrub Moss and lichen off trunks, then spray with Bio Mix. Cut back balance of Bush Fruit and Kiwis and pop cuttings in New Fruit Bed in bunches of three. In no time you will have fresh baby Canes with Fruit in second year. Earth up Broad Beans. 30/31st January are Root Days again with no gardening recommended after 5.10pm on the 31st .In all regions plant shallots in ground not recently manured. Do not water in..Just hoe and weed around them until harvest. Do not even surround bulbs with straw or other mulch. They need dry and sunny weather for much of the time and always à cold start. Well that will keep us busy weather willing! I have been looking at the New trend to use Flower and Herbal Essences to control parasites and caterpillars. Have you come across this? We have a Biodynamic Lecture on this on 23rd. Will keep you advised. As ever all comments welcome. Happy Gardening.
Thanks @biofreak. It's persisting down here wih hail and sleet and set to be very cold over the weekend and early next week so I'm sticking to patchwork homework and other busy stuff. Lots of projects on the go from a Siddi patchwork bag to embroidery and a quilt plus Possum's birthday (day trip to Nantes) and a trip to Cholet for Fils Croisés expo.
Still have my shallots to plant so hope the weather's OK at end of January for those two root days. No plans to sow anything just yet.
I've read a bit lately about "natural" essences for controlling pests but it seems labour intensive so I prefer to stick with growing healthy plants, using barriers such as nets and relying on predators to eat aphids, slugs and so on.
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)."
I'm not planning to sow much at the moment, particularly as more gales supposed to be arriving this week-end . Busy booking Garden Fairs. Diary already filling up from March onwards. Most organisers contact exhibitors in Jan/Feb, mainly because they want to make sure we say 'yes' to them before we get asked by any body else. Nice to be wanted!! 60kgs Séville Oranges coming in next week so I shall be kept busy. I only accept 2 or 3 day fairs, not worth the effort and cost of hôtels and petrol otherwise. Electrician here this morning fitting new ☎️...then Orange tomorrow, so hope to have Fixed Phone and full Internet by Monday. My New Lunar Calender contains great updates based on new research. As it is quiet at the moment, I am putting together some fresh info for you. Watch this space!
Hi Everyone Wonderful hard crunchy frost to kill off bugs this morning. It is a joy, because we rarely get frost. As we are all pausing planting or sowing, I thought I would give you a current list of Companion Plants that repulse Flea Beetles/Aphids/Caterpillars/Whitefly/Pierides/Thrips/Carrot Fly and Slugs according to current research, and some of which I did not know. So:- Plant any of the ONION Family around Peach Trees to avoid Peach Leaf Curl. Plant:- 1.DILL next to Cabbage/Turnips/Radishes/Broad Bean/Haricot Beans/Kettice & Tomatoes to repulse Flea Beetles & Aphids. 2. BASIL next to Cucumbers & Courgettes to guard against Powdery Mildew. 3.BORAGE next to Cabbage to repulse Pierides 4.NASTURTIUMS next to Aubergines_Cabbage/Cucumbers & Tomatoes to guard against Whitefly. Tomatoes to guard against Mildew. Cabbage/Cucumber/Pumpkins /Courgettes/Haricot Beans/Lettice/Roses & Tomatoes to guard against Aphids. 5. CHIVES next to Potatoes to guard against Colorado Beetle (not sure if you have that in UK?) Next to Carrots to repulse Carrot Fly 6.CORIANDER next to Beetroot/Cabbage/Turnips & Radishes yo guard against Flea Beetles. Next to Potatoes to guard against Colorado Beetle. Next to Carrots to repulse Carrot Fly. 7.COSMOS next to Cabbage to guard against Pierides. 8. LETTUCE next to Cabbage to guard against Flea Beetles. 9.LAVENDER next to Roses to repulse Aphids. 10.MINT next to Cabbage/Turnips & Radishes to repulse Flea Beetles & Pierides. 11.FRENCH MARIGOLDS next to Aubergines/Cabbage/Cucumbers & Tomatoes to repulse Whitefly. Next to Cabbage/Turnips & Radishes to repulse Flea Beetles. Next to Tomatoes to guard against Nematodes. Next to Cucumbers/Pumpkin/Courgettes/Spinach/Haricot Beans & Peppers to repulse Aphids. 12.PARSLEY next to Carrots & Onions to repulse Carrot & Onion Fly. Next to Melons & Tomatoes to repulse Aphids. 13. HORSERADISH next to Potatoes to guard against Colorado Beetles. Next to Celery to guard against Rust. 14.ROSEMARY next to Cabbage/Turnips & Radishes to repulse Flea Beetles. Next to Carrots & Haricot Beans to repulse Carrot Fly & Whitefly. Next to Cabbage to guard against Pierides and next to Cabbage & Lettuce to repulse Aphids. 15.SAVORY next to Cabbage/Turnips & Radishes to repulse Flea Beetles. Next to Haricot Beans to repulse Whitefly. Next to Cabbage to repulse Pierides. Next to Broad Beans/Haricot Beans & Lettuce to guard against Aphids. 16. SAGE next to Cabbage/Turnips & Radishes to repulse Flea Beetles. Next to Carrots to repulse Carrot Fly. Next to Cabbage to guard against Pierides. Next to Cucumbers/Courgettes/Pumpkin Family & Lettuce to guard against Aphids. 17.MARIGOLDS next to Aubergines/Cabbage/Cucumbers/& Tomatoes to repulse Whitefly, and in particular in the case of Tomatoes, Nematodes. Next to Pumpkin Family/Courgettes/Spinach/Haricot Beans/Lettuce & Peppers against Aphids. 18. NiCOTIANA next to Aubergines/Cabbage/Cucumbers & Tomatoes to repulse Whitefly. Next to Gladioli & Peas to repulse Thrips. 19. (Nearly finished!) THYME next to Cabbage/Turnips & Radishes to repulse Flea Beetles. Next to Pumpkin Family/Courgettes//Spinach/Lettuce & Melons to repulse Slugs. Next to Cabbage to guard against Pierides. 20. TOMATOES next to Cabbage/Turnips & Radishes to guard against Flea Beetles. There you are... Some of these I did not know. If you know of any not listed please tell us all. I shall certainly be incorporating some of these like Nicotiana into my planting this year. Happy Gardening don't get too cold..Off to walk Dogs.
@biofreak , that’s for info on companions planting , I’m a great believer in this
We had another very hard frost last night , however , another storm is to hit us Sunday and temperatures set to increase substantially , really strange !
Hope the phone is working and you get the Internet working , it’s surprising how much we rely on the Internet
Hope all your animals are ok Unfortunately No Saville oranges at supermarket
Posts
Lunar Weather prédictions for 2024 show erratic changes throughout the year with most months seeing above normal temperatures. In January from 14-24th we can expect drier and warmer weather but still brisk winds. 25-31st temperatures predicted to be outside the norm with wind and unpredictable weather patterns. Sounds all very airy fairy compared to last year., but I take it that not much gardening will be possible!! February between 1st-12th says very varied and unpredictable conditions with sudden changes between rain and snow.
13-16th Rain always present but milder. 17-20th Generally brighter 21-29th Globally colder, wetter and windy.
At the moment I have managed to cut back brambles and trim hedgerows, but ground just too wet and sticky. Lots of Seed Catalogues have arrived, but I don't really need much this year
Are you trying anything new or repeating a favourite? Not sure I can say Happy Gardening!
I shall be sowing/planting tried and tested tomatoes and other veggies this year. I have found a French supplier of seeds for Murraya Koenigii - curry plant, zanthoxylum Piperitum - Sichuan pepper and Phyllanthus Emblica - Ceylon gooseberry and plan on raiding my seeds box for some of the more unusual basil varieties so some interesting sowing in a month or so.
Happy New Year.
Have been to allotment a few times but doing repairs to fence posts , pruning and generally tidying
Going again on Thursday morning to prune my Gooseberrys bush’s , which I’ll add to Fridays burning pile
As well as getting colder we are getting frosts , not to bad and we have had no snow
Weather forecast is difficult to predict due to the weather pattens , just like Biofreaks resent update
Just need Anglian Water Co to come and clean the dried sewage from back garden so I can finish tidying it up
The front garden was ok , as I dug a hole in lawn to help take the water away , Infact we have turned it into a soak away , lots of broken bricks an topped up with slate chips , as I’m sure it will happen again
Well the snow predicted for us today opposite Jersey did not arrive, it's just pouring with rain AGAIN! Dogs have just waded through swampy marshland behind us having had a fun run (unauthorised!) chasing Herons. Don't seem to care about weather..so much for greyhounds and whippets needing pampering and wrapping up in fancy coats ..not my two!! They do have coats for cold weather like yesterday -4c and crispy crunchy underfoot on the beach.
But they are basically intensely embarassed at being dressed up. Much more fun to return home and dig up my Dahlias!!! 'No!' is not in Dog Dictionary, so lots of fencing to go up this Spring.
If you are feeling bold, the Lunar Calender says we should sow Câbbages under cover today 17th January and Round (not wrinkled) Peas tomorrow 18th as Leaf Days.
20/21/22/23rd January are Root Days with ascending Moon in front of Taurus. Sow Radishes and short rooted Carrots under cover for early crops. Turnips are also good to sow now, but à great attraction to slugs.
23/24th January if there is no frost, prépare new bed for Artichokes and plant Bare Root 🌹 Roses as Flower Days.
25/26th January prépare Asparagus Bed if you did not do it in the Autumn. Make trenches 40cm wide and 25cm deep. Plant leafy as opposed to evergreen hedges as Moon Descending , and cut Hazel for Pea and Bean Sticks.
27/28/29th January are Fruit Days. On 29th no gardening recommended before 3.20pm as Moon apogée. If not frosty prune Apples & Pears. Scrub Moss and lichen off trunks, then spray with Bio Mix. Cut back balance of Bush Fruit and Kiwis and pop cuttings in New Fruit Bed in bunches of three. In no time you will have fresh baby Canes with Fruit in second year. Earth up Broad Beans.
30/31st January are Root Days again with no gardening recommended after 5.10pm on the 31st .In all regions plant shallots in ground not recently manured. Do not water in..Just hoe and weed around them until harvest. Do not even surround bulbs with straw or other mulch. They need dry and sunny weather for much of the time and always à cold start.
Well that will keep us busy weather willing!
I have been looking at the New trend to use Flower and Herbal Essences to control parasites and caterpillars. Have you come across this? We have a Biodynamic Lecture on this on 23rd. Will keep you advised. As ever all comments welcome. Happy Gardening.
Still have my shallots to plant so hope the weather's OK at end of January for those two root days. No plans to sow anything just yet.
I've read a bit lately about "natural" essences for controlling pests but it seems labour intensive so I prefer to stick with growing healthy plants, using barriers such as nets and relying on predators to eat aphids, slugs and so on.
I only accept 2 or 3 day fairs, not worth the effort and cost of hôtels and petrol otherwise. Electrician here this morning fitting new ☎️...then Orange tomorrow, so hope to have Fixed Phone and full Internet by Monday.
My New Lunar Calender contains great updates based on new research. As it is quiet at the moment, I am putting together some fresh info for you. Watch this space!
I’m also not planting anything at moment
O/H is hoping to get some Saville oranges 🍊 tomorrow for marmalade
Wonderful hard crunchy frost to kill off bugs this morning. It is a joy, because we rarely get frost. As we are all pausing planting or sowing, I thought I would give you a current list of Companion Plants that repulse Flea Beetles/Aphids/Caterpillars/Whitefly/Pierides/Thrips/Carrot Fly and Slugs according to current research, and some of which I did not know.
So:- Plant any of the ONION Family around Peach Trees to avoid Peach Leaf Curl.
Plant:- 1.DILL next to Cabbage/Turnips/Radishes/Broad Bean/Haricot Beans/Kettice & Tomatoes to repulse Flea Beetles & Aphids.
2. BASIL next to Cucumbers & Courgettes to guard against Powdery Mildew.
3.BORAGE next to Cabbage to repulse Pierides
4.NASTURTIUMS next to Aubergines_Cabbage/Cucumbers & Tomatoes to guard against Whitefly.
Tomatoes to guard against Mildew.
Cabbage/Cucumber/Pumpkins /Courgettes/Haricot Beans/Lettice/Roses & Tomatoes to guard against Aphids.
5. CHIVES next to Potatoes to guard against Colorado Beetle (not sure if you have that in UK?) Next to Carrots to repulse Carrot Fly
6.CORIANDER next to Beetroot/Cabbage/Turnips & Radishes yo guard against Flea Beetles. Next to Potatoes to guard against Colorado Beetle. Next to Carrots to repulse Carrot Fly.
7.COSMOS next to Cabbage to guard against Pierides.
8. LETTUCE next to Cabbage to guard against Flea Beetles.
9.LAVENDER next to Roses to repulse Aphids.
10.MINT next to Cabbage/Turnips & Radishes to repulse Flea Beetles & Pierides.
11.FRENCH MARIGOLDS next to Aubergines/Cabbage/Cucumbers & Tomatoes to repulse Whitefly. Next to Cabbage/Turnips & Radishes to repulse Flea Beetles. Next to Tomatoes to guard against Nematodes. Next to Cucumbers/Pumpkin/Courgettes/Spinach/Haricot Beans & Peppers to repulse Aphids.
12.PARSLEY next to Carrots & Onions to repulse Carrot & Onion Fly. Next to Melons & Tomatoes to repulse Aphids.
13. HORSERADISH next to Potatoes to guard against Colorado Beetles. Next to Celery to guard against Rust.
14.ROSEMARY next to Cabbage/Turnips & Radishes to repulse Flea Beetles. Next to Carrots & Haricot Beans to repulse Carrot Fly & Whitefly. Next to Cabbage to guard against Pierides and next to Cabbage & Lettuce to repulse Aphids.
15.SAVORY next to Cabbage/Turnips & Radishes to repulse Flea Beetles. Next to Haricot Beans to repulse Whitefly. Next to Cabbage to repulse Pierides. Next to Broad Beans/Haricot Beans & Lettuce to guard against Aphids.
16. SAGE next to Cabbage/Turnips & Radishes to repulse Flea Beetles. Next to Carrots to repulse Carrot Fly. Next to Cabbage to guard against Pierides. Next to Cucumbers/Courgettes/Pumpkin Family & Lettuce to guard against Aphids.
17.MARIGOLDS next to Aubergines/Cabbage/Cucumbers/& Tomatoes to repulse Whitefly, and in particular in the case of Tomatoes, Nematodes. Next to Pumpkin Family/Courgettes/Spinach/Haricot Beans/Lettuce & Peppers against Aphids.
18. NiCOTIANA next to Aubergines/Cabbage/Cucumbers & Tomatoes to repulse Whitefly. Next to Gladioli & Peas to repulse Thrips.
19. (Nearly finished!) THYME next to Cabbage/Turnips & Radishes to repulse Flea Beetles. Next to Pumpkin Family/Courgettes//Spinach/Lettuce & Melons to repulse Slugs. Next to Cabbage to guard against Pierides.
20. TOMATOES next to Cabbage/Turnips & Radishes to guard against Flea Beetles.
There you are...
Some of these I did not know. If you know of any not listed please tell us all. I shall certainly be incorporating some of these like Nicotiana into my planting this year.
Happy Gardening don't get too cold..Off to walk Dogs.
We had another very hard frost last night , however , another storm is to hit us Sunday and temperatures set to increase substantially , really strange !
Hope all your animals are ok
Unfortunately No Saville oranges at supermarket
Not this year tho. I bought a crate of oranges last year and have enough marmalade to last about 5 years.
I don'tunderstand how tomatoes help cabbages and turnips. They have such different cultivation needs re heat, direct sunlight, moisture levels etc.