Bank Holiday today in France and weather foul!!! So glad I was not working yesterday, spent whole day in Polytunnel which has now been well and truly tied down!! Changed position of staging to run down side instead of along back and sowed Carrots/Spring Onions and mad fool that I am Broccoli (OK Broccoli not listed on Moon Calender now (or anywhere else at this time of year!!) But in an effort to beat the Cabbage whites and bearing in mind Polytunnel 20C! -Thought I would pop some seeds in. Cats hiding indoors as group hunting in opposite field. 1 deer and a couple of rabbits thrown into back of van, and following drunken revelry in Fishing Clubhouse, all hunters went on their way so I could let cats out again -I really worry about my little gang in Winter.
Anyway here is the Lunar Calender 12th-21st November as I am off to Twinning Fair in Rennes next w/e so baking again for the rest of this week -French love Carrot Cake as you have no doubt found Obelxx, plus so easy to knock up.
13/14/15th November - Moon ascending in Taurus so Root Days - No need to go outside if you don't want to as now is the time to make notes of successes and failures of 2019 and plan for 2020. If weather calm enough, finish planting Iris/Snowdrops and Narcissi as bulbs come under 'Roots' Harvest balance of Root Veg if possible before frosts.
16/17th November - Cross over from Moon ascending to descending 1.53pm on 16th so in preference avoid gardening as noued descending. Flower Days. - Bring in Dahlias/Begonias and other tender bulbs like Gladioli (I put my Dahlias in pots on their sides yesterday so no more rain could enter them and then I can tip them out into wheelbarrow, shake off excess soil and pop upside down in Polystyrene boxes for splitting out prior to new Season. Plant out the last Day Lilies/Peonies and Clematis.
18th November -Leaf Day Sow Asian Salads under cover. Hoe between Leaf crops to loosen soil so that birds can peck out beetle grubs and other nasties.
19/20/21st November - Moon descending in Leo so Fruit and Seed Days - If you have no frost plant bare root fruit trees allowing 3 metres between each if planning an Orchard. Seems alot now but when they grow you will have no intertwining branches. Take cuttings from Figs and earth up Briad Beans sown 15-16th October.
A sincere note of condolence to all of you who may be suffering in floods in UK. Chin up and keep positive.
Glad I got allotment ready for winter as weather ie. rain has been terrible hear in Lincolnshire , my own garden I have dug a trench to take water/sewage to the stream at side of garden . I have never seen as much water going down stream At moment nee to fit in gardening in between the weather
Remember once in Frances waking up on a Sunday thinking WWW3 had broken out with the hunters Glad your gang is safe
Having passed 1,000 Posts on Gardening with the Moon, New Thread created here to continue with Calender and to introduce some Biodynamic Gardening tips and info, for which I would be really grateful for added input. Watching current gardening, nature and Local News programmes, I can't help thinking that we have all been here before. Self Sufficiency was a hot topic in the 60's and 70's -Organic Gardening was the 'thing' in the 80's and 90's Us gardeners have always had the urge to safeguard nature and whilst we now call it Biodiversity, I fail to understand why Saving the Planet and dealing with Climate Change should suddenly have come into 'vogue' as if we had never made any efforts before. -Still enough of my musings. I have been driven in by hail and the courgettes will have to be potted on a little later this afternoon. the Tomatoes are happily settling into their new beds. Cats are behaving which makes a change. Off to UK tomorrow for 48hr flying visit to buy more Bean Canes and Cake Ingredients as I have completely run out following sales at the Garden Fairs. Last w/e was glorious. I just missed out on a Stand at Chantilly this w/e but am satisfied looking at Chelsea on TV.
Here is the Lunar Calender for 21-31st May
21/22/23rd May (On 22nd No gardening after 3pm as Noeud descending -See Gardening with Moon Thread for more info re this if you are new to Lunar Gardening)
Moon ascending in Sagittarius so Fruit Days, Sow all climbing beans and pop in some more haricots where they are to crop. Sow Pumpkins, outdoor Cucumbers and Courgettes. Biodynamic Diary says put Tomatoes?Aubergines/Peppers and Chiilies out into final places.
24/25th May. Moon ascending in Capricorn so Root Days - Sow Beetroot outside now and Chicory for harvesting in the Autumn. Sow Leeks in a Nursery Bed for Winter Harvest. Biodynamic Diary says sow more Parsnips/Turnips and Carrots now in spaces where the others may not have sprouted in last sowing.
26/27/28th May - (No gardening on 26th before 9.20am Moon apogee)Flower Days as Moon in Aquarius. Sow Cauliflower/Broccoli and Romanesco in a Nursery Bed for Autumn Harvest. Sow some quick growing annuals in bare spaces in borders. As a Biodynamic gardener one will already be aware that you should never have bare spaces, but should at the very least pop in a Green Manure. By 'bare space' I mean after you have whipped out all the waning spring flowers like Forget me Nots which have run riot here this year and made a stunning display. I have put in some Cosmos and Sunflower Plants (Make sure the latter have the edible seed heads for Winter Bird Food) The first flower heads on courgettes are normally without fruit -Pick them off and saute or stuff them - Take cuttings from geraniums
29/30/31st May - Leaf Days Sow Salad Crops wherever you can find a space and keep moist. I mix up all my old seed and scatter it liberally everywhere, this makes a surprise Mixed Leaf treat that will see you well into the Autumn without having to wait for each individual Lettuce or Radish to plump up. Don't go out and buy Mixed Leaf Salad Seed -Make up your own! Sow Brussel Sprouts and Cabbages. Divide Chives now so they do not get exhausted flowering thus weakening roots if you wait longer.
Thank you Obelxx for reminding me to start this New Thread and thanks GWRS for your news.Let's keep this Thread going and roll on the next 1,000 Posts!!
Happy Gardening.
Another aspect of biodynamic agriculture is coordinating planting to the moon phases. Biodynamic theory holds that just as the moon influences our tides, it influences the growth of plants. The basic idea is that from the new moon to the full moon is the ideal time to sow seeds, transplant, bud, and graft
Yes you are quite right about BioD Agriculture. There are now quite a number of farms and vineyards practising Biodynamics here in France, and I met BioD Consultant who lectures at many of the Garden Fairs where I have been this Season. Biodynamics is a philosophy that holds a touch of mystery but gradually has gained credibility through scientific study. So glad you joined this Thread -Keep comments coming -always a joy to chat.
GWRS -Fast catching up with you with rainfall. Lawn very swampy but Polytunnel still 18-20C whilst outside 5-7c. Think because I put bubble wrap liner in has helped alot Not blown away yet anyway since O/H set to work with ropes!!! Want to get balance of tulips in but ground just too soggy.
Off to Rennes tomorrow for Twinning Fair. Garden will have to wait until next week for a further tidy up. Just made mincemeat (Mary Berry's Xmas Recipe) Making our Xmas Cake next weekend.
Bio , I have put Tulips 🌷 in ground at allotment which drains better , as garden is sodden Hopefully ropes will keep roof on , I normally bubble rap greenhouse at home which makes a big difference to the temperature I have used “lorry ties “ to secure a covered sitting area at plot , people have used them successfully over polly tunnels at allotment Hope to go to allotment tomorrow subject to weather !!!
Busy with an exhibition this weekend - mosaic and art classes led by the same tecaher and I have dancing tomorrow night and patch homework to prepare for a class I'm giving on Monday but I have booked OH for the rest of next week to get trees and shrubs planted in a waning moon. Roots days will be even better and I have bulbs left to plant too.
I haven't done a twinning fair for about 15 years @biofreak. Rather you than me. The Belgians, French and Germans were great fun but the Brits were proper peculiar with one or two exceptions.
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 luck at the Expo this w/e Obelxx -Twinning Fair OK for us as Rennes/Exeter a nice bunch of people -mainly Irish and Scots students from the University. -It is also aBrocante so I shall be looking out for some gardening tools to add to my motly collection. Found one or two victorian trowels and baskets last year. Always a good turnout. Rennes has a superb medieval quarter and I like walking the dog round it on Sundays because no-one is about and one can sink in the atmosphere and look at the archaeological digs in progress (Lots of Roman stuff) - Just been out to feed the birds -Will have to add fat balls soon as getting colder. Luckily cats don't bother them, still catching mice but keener on sleeping at the moment!!
Posts
At moment nee to fit in gardening in between the weather
Remember once in Frances waking up on a Sunday thinking WWW3 had broken out with the hunters
Glad your gang is safe
Hopefully ropes will keep roof on , I normally bubble rap greenhouse at home which makes a big difference to the temperature
I have used “lorry ties “ to secure a covered sitting area at plot , people have used them successfully over polly tunnels at allotment
Hope to go to allotment tomorrow subject to weather !!!
I haven't done a twinning fair for about 15 years @biofreak. Rather you than me. The Belgians, French and Germans were great fun but the Brits were proper peculiar with one or two exceptions.