Was ill for 10 days, sofa bound for 2, feeling really, Chap other half works with had exactly the same symptoms, was told by his GP it was Swine flu, and that if you have had flu va (which I have) you get a milder form.
Flu now turned into an F1 Hybrid as added French tummy bug!! Anyway this wonderful summery spell has cheered me up no end and I see that the BioD weather report for April is unseasonally warm 2-6th April, on the 7th it will become changeable with vast variants from hot to cold followed by a North Wind. Towards the 11th it will get colder again particularly hard frosts forecast followed by a period of light winds. After the 18th I'm afraid that temperatures are going to fall again and rain returns. Make a point of sowing salad crops between 24-26th April as high temperature forcast for May do not bode well for sowings in early May. Watch out for an Orange coloured Moon from 7th April (Lune Rousse) this nearly always means hard frosts, so keep all crops fleeced up regardless of temptation.
There are 3 Water Trines in April backing up the prospects of heavy rain from 18th of the month. As there are 6 Warmth Trines in May, make sure those water butts are filled in April with dry dry conditions forecast into June.
Storm Katie blew up my Internet Router, so new one has just arrived. Just in case this gives out the wrong side of the w/e, here is the Lunar Calender for 1st-12th April.
1st April Moon ascending in Sagittarius Fruit Day - Sow wrinkled peas/cucumbers/courgettes and squash.
2/3rd April Moon ascending in Capricorn. Root Days - Sow celeriac/beetroot/carrots/parsnips and turnips plus swede in nursery bed.
4/5th April Flower Days Sow 1st Annuals. On 5th No gardening after 1.20pm.
6/7/8th April Moon in Pisces (Watch out for Lune Rousse - frost) Leaf Days Sow leeks/celery and fennel. Renew sowings of salad crops.
9th April Fruit Day Sow courgettes/cucumbers/squash/melons under cover.
10/11/12th April Moon in Taurus Root Days. Sow salsify and Scorzonera/parsnips and parsley root. Make more sowings of beetroot/turnips/swedes/radish and carrots.
Thanks BF. I hope you have now fully recovered form Euro bugs.
We're off to explore the Vendée for a week with the dogs so no gardening here but I'm pleased to see I can mess with roots when we get back. I shall be off buying beetroot plugs and swing my own in modules as well as planting onion sets in modules or small pots to get them started off well. Might try carrots in pots. They don't grow in the ground here for some reason.
Haven't sown any other seeds yet as Possum is happy to feed the birds and cat sit but draws the line at plants of any size or type.
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)."
Most French Gardens open after Easter - Try and pop into Abbey and Chateau Gardens as their Potagers incorporating Le Jardin Physic (Medecinal Plants) gave me really good ideas for companion planting. Dare I put out my pot grown peas yet?? (Not Sweet Peas - Peas to munch!) I had never tried starting these off in trays and I am thrilled, but don't want to lose them by putting them out too soon. I have put them into the cucumber frame - next step Potager - But should I cloche or fleece them. All advice welcome. - Overwintered Broad Beans now in flower but only 8 survived of the 20 sown (Birds?) - What do you think of new series Gardeners World - I'm not that impressed I'm afraid, although the veg trials may be interesting.
Thanks for advice re peas - off to talk to them and plant them out now! No don't know Beachgrove - Which Channel plus when?? Hope you enjoyed la vie francaise!
Biofreak , watched recorded G/W programmes last night and I enjoyed them , there has been lots of comments on various furoms on hear but it is a TV programme designed for entertainment
You do pick up the odd tip , I have a couple of dalias and was thinking of putting them straight into ground but was concerned it is a bit cold so I will now pot them up first
Will be interesting to see the veg trials ?
Hope you spoke to the peas nicely !
Do like rural France for many year we had a couple of weeks holiday there , this time we cruised there Burlona ( spelling not right ) and in August we have a trip down Seine river to Roan
Will watch Beachcroft we get it on BBC iplayer via computer
Sun shine and showers today but hoping to do a few more jobs in garden
Make sure you jump off the boat at Les Andeleys (Sth of Rouen) it is overlooked by the most stunning snow white castle which was built by Richard the Lionheart, who spent more time in France than anywhere else apparently because he did not like the English weather!! Also some stunning views on riverbank over gardens - you will certainly enjoy this trip. We are taking part in a Garden Fair on 24th April actually on the banks of the Seine towards Dieppe. Never been before but photos look really good. Trouble is I earn dosh then spend it immediately on plants! Husband not happy!
Did you see the planets this morning - Stunning Jupiter/Saturn and diddy bright Mercury popped up at dawn. If you read the back Page of The Sunday Times there is an excellent description of the sky during the week. Still like dark mornings for this. - Peas told to stay indoors just a little longer - high winds here at the moment, burning (is that the right word?) bamboo and shrubs and tender plants. (They look frazzled round the leaves)
Posts
Was ill for 10 days, sofa bound for 2, feeling really, Chap other half works with had exactly the same symptoms, was told by his GP it was Swine flu, and that if you have had flu va (which I have) you get a milder form.
Happy Easter evebody
Flu now turned into an F1 Hybrid as added French tummy bug!! Anyway this wonderful summery spell has cheered me up no end and I see that the BioD weather report for April is unseasonally warm 2-6th April, on the 7th it will become changeable with vast variants from hot to cold followed by a North Wind. Towards the 11th it will get colder again particularly hard frosts forecast followed by a period of light winds. After the 18th I'm afraid that temperatures are going to fall again and rain returns. Make a point of sowing salad crops between 24-26th April as high temperature forcast for May do not bode well for sowings in early May. Watch out for an Orange coloured Moon from 7th April (Lune Rousse) this nearly always means hard frosts, so keep all crops fleeced up regardless of temptation.
There are 3 Water Trines in April backing up the prospects of heavy rain from 18th of the month. As there are 6 Warmth Trines in May, make sure those water butts are filled in April with dry dry conditions forecast into June.
Storm Katie blew up my Internet Router, so new one has just arrived. Just in case this gives out the wrong side of the w/e, here is the Lunar Calender for 1st-12th April.
1st April Moon ascending in Sagittarius Fruit Day - Sow wrinkled peas/cucumbers/courgettes and squash.
2/3rd April Moon ascending in Capricorn. Root Days - Sow celeriac/beetroot/carrots/parsnips and turnips plus swede in nursery bed.
4/5th April Flower Days Sow 1st Annuals. On 5th No gardening after 1.20pm.
6/7/8th April Moon in Pisces (Watch out for Lune Rousse - frost) Leaf Days Sow leeks/celery and fennel. Renew sowings of salad crops.
9th April Fruit Day Sow courgettes/cucumbers/squash/melons under cover.
10/11/12th April Moon in Taurus Root Days. Sow salsify and Scorzonera/parsnips and parsley root. Make more sowings of beetroot/turnips/swedes/radish and carrots.
Happy Gardening!
Thanks BF. I hope you have now fully recovered form Euro bugs.
We're off to explore the Vendée for a week with the dogs so no gardening here but I'm pleased to see I can mess with roots when we get back. I shall be off buying beetroot plugs and swing my own in modules as well as planting onion sets in modules or small pots to get them started off well. Might try carrots in pots. They don't grow in the ground here for some reason.
Haven't sown any other seeds yet as Possum is happy to feed the birds and cat sit but draws the line at plants of any size or type.
Most French Gardens open after Easter - Try and pop into Abbey and Chateau Gardens as their Potagers incorporating Le Jardin Physic (Medecinal Plants) gave me really good ideas for companion planting. Dare I put out my pot grown peas yet?? (Not Sweet Peas - Peas to munch!) I had never tried starting these off in trays and I am thrilled, but don't want to lose them by putting them out too soon. I have put them into the cucumber frame - next step Potager - But should I cloche or fleece them. All advice welcome. - Overwintered Broad Beans now in flower but only 8 survived of the 20 sown (Birds?) - What do you think of new series Gardeners World - I'm not that impressed I'm afraid, although the veg trials may be interesting.
Hello all , glad all better , just back off holiday a cruise to France and Ireland , so lots of gardening to do now
Biofreak , I would cloche the peas to start with as weather not to good at moment then when they are to big or weather improves put the supports in
Not seen the new series of G/W yet have it recorded , will let you known what I think in due course
Have you heard of a programme called Beachgrove , it is BBC Scotish gardening programme , it would be worth a look
Thanks for advice re peas - off to talk to them and plant them out now! No don't know Beachgrove - Which Channel plus when?? Hope you enjoyed la vie francaise!
See this thread BF - http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/talkback/beechgrove-has-started/954583.html
Biofreak , watched recorded G/W programmes last night and I enjoyed them , there has been lots of comments on various furoms on hear but it is a TV programme designed for entertainment
You do pick up the odd tip , I have a couple of dalias and was thinking of putting them straight into ground but was concerned it is a bit cold so I will now pot them up first
Will be interesting to see the veg trials ?
Hope you spoke to the peas nicely !
Do like rural France for many year we had a couple of weeks holiday there , this time we cruised there Burlona ( spelling not right ) and in August we have a trip down Seine river to Roan
Will watch Beachcroft we get it on BBC iplayer via computer
Sun shine and showers today but hoping to do a few more jobs in garden
Have a good day
Make sure you jump off the boat at Les Andeleys (Sth of Rouen) it is overlooked by the most stunning snow white castle which was built by Richard the Lionheart, who spent more time in France than anywhere else apparently because he did not like the English weather!! Also some stunning views on riverbank over gardens - you will certainly enjoy this trip. We are taking part in a Garden Fair on 24th April actually on the banks of the Seine towards Dieppe. Never been before but photos look really good. Trouble is I earn dosh then spend it immediately on plants! Husband not happy!
Did you see the planets this morning - Stunning Jupiter/Saturn and diddy bright Mercury popped up at dawn. If you read the back Page of The Sunday Times there is an excellent description of the sky during the week. Still like dark mornings for this. - Peas told to stay indoors just a little longer - high winds here at the moment, burning (is that the right word?) bamboo and shrubs and tender plants. (They look frazzled round the leaves)