GWRS Have a great break, and don't sneak too many plant cuttings/seeds or other new garden goodies home!! I am lethal in another country, can't resist parks! Bengal now feeling sick which serves him right! We have lovely crisp mornings this week, something I can say I miss from UK -a good hard frost! Took some lovely photos of sloe blossom this morning. Put Mimosa outside for the day from greenhouse to slowly harden off (It is only a 'baby') -Peas & Mangetouts sprouting but no sign of aubergines/peppers and chilies yet -May have to sow some more.
Anyway here is Lunar Calender for the w/e and then -Gosh it's April already!! Look out for Weather prediction Monday.
No Gardening recommended today 29th as Noued descending (Lovely bright Moon this morning though)
30/31st March - Moon ascending in Capricorn so Root Days to finish the month - Sow Carrots/Radish and Beetroot outside.
Oh -Kale and Nero Toscana plus Brussel Sprouts budding up to flower so we ate the tops last night like Broccoli and WOW was it tasty!! So -before you throw bolting Cabbage family on compost heap, Steam the Flower tops in a little water with a knob of butter and they are really good!!! -Made this dish up as hate waste.
We have no Fairs this Sunday and it is our 40th wedding Anniversary so Oysters (Only £4 a dozen here!)and Champagne called for plus a really nice Pork Joint tucked away in the Freezer. Just beginning to sit outside each day now when the sun is strongest just after lunch. Spring garden looking really good.
No problems with Gilets Jaunes, seem to be fading away now.
Happy Gardening! What a joy to change the clocks -At last lovely light mornings at 5am! so I can drive to our Farmers Markets in daylight!
Thanks BF. No gardening done yesterday apart form watering new veggie plug plants and a rose from France Rurale on the way home from running errands all day in La Roche-s-Y. Have onion sets ready to go in and some potatoes chitting.
My online lunar calendar says flowers from 2:45 pm today so maybe I'll get some more roses planted too, or a clematis or two.
None of my toms and chilies have germinated yet either. They have till next Sunday when I shall go to the plant fair at Angles and stock up on all sorts of lovely toms and a cucumber or two. More varieties there than I care to sow or can even source.
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)."
Sowed Purple Carrots/Snowball Turnips and Crapinaud Beetroot yesterday, plus re-sowed Aubergines/Chilies and Peppers (I know Root Days, but nothing coming up from original sowing so could not resist popping some more in!!) 24 Tomatoes up now so that should keep us going. O/H felt peeky Saturday and I did not think that he would be cured in time for anniversary meal yesterday -How wrong I was ! Oysters worked a treat! as did lots of Pork Crackling and Champers! Miraculous cure! -Anyway Weather Report for April says Much colder 1-11th April (does not say snow and wet as per TV -will have to see) 12-15th Temperature rise again and beautiful sunny days. 15-16th Storms. 19-24th Wet with stormy periods. 25-26th Weather fresher and showery and generally damp. End of April Wind change to the North East which means cold. -Well today is beautiful but certainly a nippy breeze. Edged and created new flower borders yesterday ready for Annuals and no doubt treasures to be found at next w/e's Plant Exchange Fair.
Lunar Calender 1-14th April 2019
1/2/3 April - Moon ascending in Aquarius so Flower Days -Sow hardy annuals where they are to flower. Prune Roses for last time and spray with Purin of Prele (Marestail)to prevent blackspot.
4/5/6/7th April up to 10.30am on 7th -Leaf Days as Moon ascending in Pisces. New Moon 9.50am on 5th.In sunny Nursery Bed sow Autumn Cabbage & Brussel Sprouts and Winter Kale. Sow some Scaroles and Mesclun. Bio/D Club say Plant Asparagus and harvest Wild Garlic and young Nettle Leaves in the early morning to make syrups and jelly. (My Tip -Try Nettle Jelly with Goat Cheese -really good) After 10.30am on 7th until 8.24am on 8th Very short window for Fruit Day - Sow Melons and Graft Fruit Trees. Bio D Club say Sow or plant peas outside and sow tomatoes.
8/9/10th April - Moon ascending in Taurus so Root Days again -Sow Parsnips where they are to stay for Autumn harvest. Sow Spring Turnips and in a Nursery Bed sow leeks for Autumn Harvest. Bio D Club say plant potatoes on a ridge and earth up Garlic (Never done this -apparently it is to stop ants attacking collar of bulbs)If you watched Countryfile last night -you will know that you have to dig up your cow horns now and taking out the manure that you placed inside in the Autumn, soak in water and swirl to oxygenate then spray the Potager. (I know we have not covered this here yet but I shall do so when we approach Autumn so we can try the method out)
11/12th April - Moon descending in Gemini so Flower Days - Plant Gladioli and Dahlias BioD Club say collect slugs & snails and burn them in galvanised dustbin lid to ash then mix with sand and scatter around base of dahlias to deter further slug attack.Prick out Cauliflower and Brocolli sown 5-6th March.
13/14th April - Moon descending in Cancer so Leaf Days - prick and rake over lawn to lift moss and winter debris. Add Bio Granules to nourish. I stress Organic Feed to avoid additives that may effect red clover and dandelion if you intend to pull young dandelion leaves for salad or make dandelion jam. Re. red Clover this can be used as a nourishing purin and also attracts bumble bees.Edge borders and plant herbs.Sow Green manure on empty spaces as a quick catch crop to dig in before Autimn planting.
Gosh this seems alot to do -but now is the time we have to get busy starting the new Season. Hope all these notes help and please don't hesitate to ask questions.
Hello , back off hols from Belgium 🇧🇪 & Holland 🇳🇱 Went to the Waterloo Museum & Keukenhof spring Gardens both excellent Garden looking good not been to allotment yet
Went to Keukenof when I was 9 and remember the vivid colours and size of the place. I believe you can choose your favourites and buy the bulbs direct in bulk later in the year. Check out their Website. Bought another Raised Bed Kit yesterday (120 x 120 x 30cms)as delighted with my 2yr old ones which have weathered really well. Went to super small Plant Exchange Fair at w/e. Had Picnic on the riverside and sold loads of cakes so happy times!! All seedlings coming up now. Potted on baby tomatoes and 2nd aubergine has sprouted. Le Pompadour potatoes peeping through so earthed the pots up a little. Strawberries about to flower and flower buds on gooseberries and redcurrants. Taking afternoon off to go to cinema to see 'Dumbo'! -Simple pleasures!
Hello , going to try and get some fritillary type Tulips that looked amazing
Started on allotment , first early potatoes 🥔 in and parsnips sewed Can’t believe how many raspberry suckers I pulled up Don’t have problems with ants 🐜 so want be hoeing up
Glad picnic 🧺 and cake sales went well Getting Cow horns could be rather difficult hear
We want to go and see Dumbo 🐘 but it the Schools half term , so will wait until later , hopefully it will still be on
Weather sunny & dry but rather cold at moment , Happy gardening
We've hit the 1000 posts Biofreak so maybe start a new thread when you do the update?
Much too cold to do much here other than pot watering and checking on treasures in the PT. However, my potatoes have finally chitted so I need a roots day to get them planted out along with the onion sets that have been awaiting the end of decorating for me to have time to attend to them.
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)."
Gosh 1,000 sounds fantastic! Here is just a quick update to get you through the w/e because I am off to exhibit at Chateau Pommorio near St Briuc in Brittany tomorrow, and need to pack!! - No gardening yesterday as Moon perigee Sow Beetroot/parsnips and carrots where they are to be harvested tomorrow 19th April as Root Days and should now be mild enough. prick out Celeriac sown 12/14th March and Leeks sown 4//5th February. 20/21st April Flower Days. Plant out new perrenials and sow hardy annuals where they are to flower. Mix some seeds up so that you get a good natural effect. Bio D Diary says after 11.53am on 21st and into Monday 22nd Leaf Days - Plant out Cabbage/Lettuce and Herbs. Gather Nettles in the morning to make your BioD preperations and to dry - grind into powder for use in the Winter Months storing in a dark jar or tin out of light.
Will get to grips with New Thread Obelixx next week, although then I shall be getting ready for major Garden Fair south of Rouen. -It's all happening!! Happy Easter and Happy Gardening!
Posts
Have a great anniversary dinner , sounds fab , do you like cracking with pork ?
Hope Bengal is better 🐈 soon
My online lunar calendar says flowers from 2:45 pm today so maybe I'll get some more roses planted too, or a clematis or two.
None of my toms and chilies have germinated yet either. They have till next Sunday when I shall go to the plant fair at Angles and stock up on all sorts of lovely toms and a cucumber or two. More varieties there than I care to sow or can even source.
Went to the Waterloo Museum & Keukenhof spring Gardens both excellent
Garden looking good not been to allotment yet
Started on allotment , first early potatoes 🥔 in and parsnips sewed
Can’t believe how many raspberry suckers I pulled up
Don’t have problems with ants 🐜 so want be hoeing up
Glad picnic 🧺 and cake sales went well
Getting Cow horns could be rather difficult hear
We want to go and see Dumbo 🐘 but it the Schools half term , so will wait until later , hopefully it will still be on
Weather sunny & dry but rather cold at moment , Happy gardening
Much too cold to do much here other than pot watering and checking on treasures in the PT. However, my potatoes have finally chitted so I need a roots day to get them planted out along with the onion sets that have been awaiting the end of decorating for me to have time to attend to them.
Enjoy your fairs