Welcome to August! French and English Bio Dynamic Calenders agree that this month will start hot and dry with warm windy conditions mixed with storms particularly between the 11-13th, the weather will be particularly unstable between the north & south regions but rain is forecast for all particularly between the 20th-25th. Following this there will be cooler automnal conditions (already?) with colder and wetter periods leading us into September. Pluto brings warmth in addition to the Sun in Leo followed by Mercury and Venus which move to Virgo after the 27th bringing coolness. Mars in Scorpio brings the stormy conditions strengthened by Saturn particularly around the 13th. I note looking at the sky that we can see Mars and Saturn all night and Mercury, Venus and Jupiter in the early evening. The collision of magnetic forces with most of the Planets at cross aspects -this month sees it as a wild, warm and stormy period. Let's see what happens!
This is the month for gathering seed that should be harvested on the relevant days. (Flower seed - Flower Days. Leaf Seed - Leaf Days etc) Be sure to sow Green Manures immediately you have vacant space in the Potager.
Here is the Lunar Calender for 1st-16th August.
1st Aug. - Moon descending in Gemini - Flower Day. Take cuttings from Flowering shrubs in particular Roses
2/3 Aug - New Moon on 2nd (so you won't see it in the sky) - Leaf days Trim evergreen hedges and brush moss from walls and terraces to weaken second growth in Sept/Oct.
4/5th Aug - Moon and Mercury in alignment encouraging Light Forces - Fruit Days - Cut Raspberry Canes to the ground if they have finished fruiting . Plant new strawberries and keep well watered.
6/7/8/9th Aug - Root Days Choose beetroot/carrots/turnips/celeriac to eat now as they will be at their very best on these days. Lift potatoes and onions.
10/11th Aug - No gardening on the 10th due to adverse effects of Sun entering Leo. Flower Days - Harvest Flower seeds, Plant or divide Day Lilies and Irises. Plant Autumn Bulbs. Prick out bi-annuals sown 22-23rd July.
12/13th Aug - Moon in Scorpio - Leaf Days Start blanching chicory and endive. (Allow 10-15 days for process to complete) Thin out Salad crops to allow light to enter between plants particularly into the Autumn.
14/15/16th Aug - Moon Rising in Sagittarius - Fruit Days. Harvest Beans to dry (Tip: After podding pop them in the freezer for a few hours to kill grubs etc that might be lurking inside grain) Harvest Summer Apples and Pears (Would these be ready yet?- If so what varieties? - Does anyone know??) Keep picking raspberries and strawberries. Harvest tomatoes for seed. . Harvest Aubergines Cucumbers and Courgettes.
17th/18th August will be Root Days so buy in Autumn Onion Seed if you have not done so already.
Well that's plenty to be going on with. - I don't like the idea of stormy predictions, but at least I won't have to worry about water supplies! - Keep your comments coming. We need other Bio contributers to share experiences on this Thread. Have just bought myself a natty little book about infusions/concoctions and other treatments in the garden. Will pass on any tips we don't know about already once I've read it.
Yes, all well here - hot wet and windy! - Struggling to keep roof on greenhouse and tomatoes upright! Must go back outside now and tend to outdoor toms, as they are about to tumble down as well!
Hello , got apple trees on allotment but not ready yet
Our cauliflowers where starting to blow so o/h harvested them and put in freezer
Allotment going well , have planted kale ( first lot got eaten) ,turnip , winter radish ( these in past not done well ) , broccoli & spring onions all now with nets over
Pruned out old summer fruiting rashberry canes yesterday afternoon
Going to plot on Sunday , 2nd early potatoes need digging up
Potted up some cape gooseberrys , never grown these before , will need to overwinter them and hopefully get some fruit next year
O/H to pickle shallots this weekend and make gooseberry and rhubarb jam not done it before , made some gin & gooseberrys jam for first time last week , fabulous
Note your keen on the old gin!! - Blight has struck my outdoor tomatoes. Poor little 'Glacier's succumbed within the week, as have all tom crops in our area. Plus Market Gardeners Potatoes hit too, so prices of both high in the shops. Back to imports! - However - Tomatoes themselves seem OK at the present and ripening fast in this heat. First time I have tried this Canadian Tom, really tasty and sweet - Stems like tree trunks and no pruning needed as Bush Variety. very similar to Sungold, but I think have the edge so I shall certainly grow them again (60days it said on the packet and it was correct!) Huge crop of standard size toms. Some Mini four legged Monster munching pea sprouts - Sent Boots the Bengal down there but he came back with another of the neighbour's baby rabbits from their garden not mine! Have I got more voles do you think - or could it be birds? Lots of empty snail shells on plot so very busy birds.
Anyway despite storms (as predicted) brewing -here is the Lunar Calender 19th-28th August.
19/20th August - Try not to garden on 19th as Full Moon descending and stormy weather predicted.Moon adverse with Neptune.- Flower Days - Sow outside hardy annuals and in nursery bed Pansies/violas/forget me nots and primevera. Graft climbing roses.
21/22/23 August - Leaf Days Sow Winter Salads resistant to cold weather to harvest in the Spring. Sow Spinach and Lambs Lettuce. In mild regions sow Spring Cabbage. Don't forget to sow Green Manure crops on vacant plots. On 22nd don't garden before 7.25am as Moon at nearest point to Earth so harmful force to plants.
24th August - Fruit Day - Cut away leaves from Grapevines and Tomatoes to encourage further ripening.
25/26/27th August - Moon in Taurus - Root Days - Sow Leeks and when sprouted thin them to 5cm apart - Do not prick this batch out as at this time of year it will weaken growth contrary to earlier leek sowings. These will be ready to harvest next May if left in peas and well earthed up. Carry on sowing radishes for late salad crops. In mild areas sow japanese Onions for harvest next Spring - (I sowed under Cucumber Frame and overwintered them there - Best crop I have ever had. Failed miserably with onions before.
28th August - Flower Day - Take cuttings from Evergreen Shrubs. Protect them in Winter. Blanche Celery for harvest in 2/3 weeks time.
Thanks for the continued updates BF. I have to confess I haven't been doing much apart from basic maintenance for weeks and tending pots and potting up babies and divisions for moving to a new garden. Handy to know which are the best days for the divisions but sometimes needs must and I just do it when I can.
Sorry about your blight. I don't bother with potatoes as we eat so few and I grow toms in the greenhouse to protect them from catching blight from nearby potato fields. It was such a long cold wet start to spring and summer that I have only had a few flowers and no sign of any toms yet. My brassicas, fennel and beets have been decimated by slugs and the salads struggled then bolted. The courgettes finally got going 10 days ago and turned into marrows in our absence last week. I give in on veggies this year.
Soft fruits have been good though - apart from the pheasants nicking all the blueberries on dawn raids - and the rhubarb was wonderful.
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 came across this forum whilst looking for information on moon planting.
Last year I created a schedule on what tasks should be carried out when, using various information I had gathered. Like others I found that life/weather can interfere with best laid plans and also found it frustrating waiting for quarter days and planets to line up again.
That said, I have had some success and so intend to continue to follow the theory and increase my small knowledge base. I didn’t get into the biodynamic side of things this year as found some of the detail a bit too extreme at the moment. Maybe that will change, as I understand more.
The weather predictions are totally new to me and I look forward to finding out about that as well.
Thank you biofreak for the work you have put in, it certainly is a huge subject and frequently confusing, so an opportunity to share thoughts and ideas would be welcome.
Welcome Somerset Stroller - Hope to hear lots more from you!
Covered peas with fleece and no more ravaging - so birds must have been the culprits. 33 degrees here yesterday! - Threw washing up water over everything flowery (Don't use this at all on veg) - Roses said 'thank you' - Missed one, dowsing Boots the Bengal during the procedure- One very angry cat!
Raspberries have nearly finished, scavenging fields for blackberries now. Exhibiting at Garden Fair south of Rouen again this w/e, Interesting Bio Lectures on Saturday and Sunday re alternative composting and new Brews I have not heard of before - Will slip off the Stand leaving O/H in charge (not wise as he eats the profits!), listen and report back next week.
-Oh thank goodness - it's raining! Talk about contrairy weather!
Happy Gardening - Oh Obelixx - Have you moved yet? and GWRS did you go on the French Hols?
Posts
Hello , I have decided to grow radish at home in trays with compost rather than at allotment
Just planted swede & turnips
Cauliflowers have done very well this year
Pumpkins and squashes doing well
looking forward to August calendar
Welcome to August! French and English Bio Dynamic Calenders agree that this month will start hot and dry with warm windy conditions mixed with storms particularly between the 11-13th, the weather will be particularly unstable between the north & south regions but rain is forecast for all particularly between the 20th-25th. Following this there will be cooler automnal conditions (already?) with colder and wetter periods leading us into September. Pluto brings warmth in addition to the Sun in Leo followed by Mercury and Venus which move to Virgo after the 27th bringing coolness. Mars in Scorpio brings the stormy conditions strengthened by Saturn particularly around the 13th. I note looking at the sky that we can see Mars and Saturn all night and Mercury, Venus and Jupiter in the early evening. The collision of magnetic forces with most of the Planets at cross aspects -this month sees it as a wild, warm and stormy period. Let's see what happens!
This is the month for gathering seed that should be harvested on the relevant days. (Flower seed - Flower Days. Leaf Seed - Leaf Days etc) Be sure to sow Green Manures immediately you have vacant space in the Potager.
Here is the Lunar Calender for 1st-16th August.
1st Aug. - Moon descending in Gemini - Flower Day. Take cuttings from Flowering shrubs in particular Roses
2/3 Aug - New Moon on 2nd (so you won't see it in the sky) - Leaf days Trim evergreen hedges and brush moss from walls and terraces to weaken second growth in Sept/Oct.
4/5th Aug - Moon and Mercury in alignment encouraging Light Forces - Fruit Days - Cut Raspberry Canes to the ground if they have finished fruiting . Plant new strawberries and keep well watered.
6/7/8/9th Aug - Root Days Choose beetroot/carrots/turnips/celeriac to eat now as they will be at their very best on these days. Lift potatoes and onions.
10/11th Aug - No gardening on the 10th due to adverse effects of Sun entering Leo. Flower Days - Harvest Flower seeds, Plant or divide Day Lilies and Irises. Plant Autumn Bulbs. Prick out bi-annuals sown 22-23rd July.
12/13th Aug - Moon in Scorpio - Leaf Days Start blanching chicory and endive. (Allow 10-15 days for process to complete) Thin out Salad crops to allow light to enter between plants particularly into the Autumn.
14/15/16th Aug - Moon Rising in Sagittarius - Fruit Days. Harvest Beans to dry (Tip: After podding pop them in the freezer for a few hours to kill grubs etc that might be lurking inside grain) Harvest Summer Apples and Pears (Would these be ready yet?- If so what varieties? - Does anyone know??) Keep picking raspberries and strawberries. Harvest tomatoes for seed. . Harvest Aubergines Cucumbers and Courgettes.
17th/18th August will be Root Days so buy in Autumn Onion Seed if you have not done so already.
Well that's plenty to be going on with. - I don't like the idea of stormy predictions, but at least I won't have to worry about water supplies! - Keep your comments coming. We need other Bio contributers to share experiences on this Thread. Have just bought myself a natty little book about infusions/concoctions and other treatments in the garden. Will pass on any tips we don't know about already once I've read it.
Happy Gardening!
Many thanks for update , hope your are keeping well
Yes, all well here - hot wet and windy! - Struggling to keep roof on greenhouse and tomatoes upright! Must go back outside now and tend to outdoor toms, as they are about to tumble down as well!
Happy Gardening.
Hello , got apple trees on allotment but not ready yet
Our cauliflowers where starting to blow so o/h harvested them and put in freezer
Allotment going well , have planted kale ( first lot got eaten) ,turnip , winter radish ( these in past not done well ) , broccoli & spring onions all now with nets over
Pruned out old summer fruiting rashberry canes yesterday afternoon
Going to plot on Sunday , 2nd early potatoes need digging up
Potted up some cape gooseberrys , never grown these before , will need to overwinter them and hopefully get some fruit next year
O/H to pickle shallots this weekend and make gooseberry and rhubarb jam not done it before , made some gin & gooseberrys jam for first time last week , fabulous
off to a garden sculpture exhibition shortly
Hope alls well with you
Note your keen on the old gin!! - Blight has struck my outdoor tomatoes. Poor little 'Glacier's succumbed within the week, as have all tom crops in our area. Plus Market Gardeners Potatoes hit too, so prices of both high in the shops. Back to imports! - However - Tomatoes themselves seem OK at the present and ripening fast in this heat. First time I have tried this Canadian Tom, really tasty and sweet - Stems like tree trunks and no pruning needed as Bush Variety. very similar to Sungold, but I think have the edge so I shall certainly grow them again (60days it said on the packet and it was correct!) Huge crop of standard size toms. Some Mini four legged Monster munching pea sprouts - Sent Boots the Bengal down there but he came back with another of the neighbour's baby rabbits from their garden not mine! Have I got more voles do you think - or could it be birds? Lots of empty snail shells on plot so very busy birds.
Anyway despite storms (as predicted) brewing -here is the Lunar Calender 19th-28th August.
19/20th August - Try not to garden on 19th as Full Moon descending and stormy weather predicted.Moon adverse with Neptune.- Flower Days - Sow outside hardy annuals and in nursery bed Pansies/violas/forget me nots and primevera. Graft climbing roses.
21/22/23 August - Leaf Days Sow Winter Salads resistant to cold weather to harvest in the Spring. Sow Spinach and Lambs Lettuce. In mild regions sow Spring Cabbage. Don't forget to sow Green Manure crops on vacant plots. On 22nd don't garden before 7.25am as Moon at nearest point to Earth so harmful force to plants.
24th August - Fruit Day - Cut away leaves from Grapevines and Tomatoes to encourage further ripening.
25/26/27th August - Moon in Taurus - Root Days - Sow Leeks and when sprouted thin them to 5cm apart - Do not prick this batch out as at this time of year it will weaken growth contrary to earlier leek sowings. These will be ready to harvest next May if left in peas and well earthed up. Carry on sowing radishes for late salad crops. In mild areas sow japanese Onions for harvest next Spring - (I sowed under Cucumber Frame and overwintered them there - Best crop I have ever had. Failed miserably with onions before.
28th August - Flower Day - Take cuttings from Evergreen Shrubs. Protect them in Winter. Blanche Celery for harvest in 2/3 weeks time.
Happy Gardening!
Last edited: 17 August 2016 15:43:38
Hello , thanks for update
Sorry to hear about potoatoes , pleased to say not had any problems
Your toms sound good , ours not very good but that could be down to us and holidays
Pea sprouts would have thought birds , as I assume off the ground
Hope you are keeping well
Thanks for the continued updates BF. I have to confess I haven't been doing much apart from basic maintenance for weeks and tending pots and potting up babies and divisions for moving to a new garden. Handy to know which are the best days for the divisions but sometimes needs must and I just do it when I can.
Sorry about your blight. I don't bother with potatoes as we eat so few and I grow toms in the greenhouse to protect them from catching blight from nearby potato fields. It was such a long cold wet start to spring and summer that I have only had a few flowers and no sign of any toms yet. My brassicas, fennel and beets have been decimated by slugs and the salads struggled then bolted. The courgettes finally got going 10 days ago and turned into marrows in our absence last week. I give in on veggies this year.
Soft fruits have been good though - apart from the pheasants nicking all the blueberries on dawn raids - and the rhubarb was wonderful.
Hi biofreak and others.
I came across this forum whilst looking for information on moon planting.
Last year I created a schedule on what tasks should be carried out when, using various information I had gathered. Like others I found that life/weather can interfere with best laid plans and also found it frustrating waiting for quarter days and planets to line up again.
That said, I have had some success and so intend to continue to follow the theory and increase my small knowledge base. I didn’t get into the biodynamic side of things this year as found some of the detail a bit too extreme at the moment. Maybe that will change, as I understand more.
The weather predictions are totally new to me and I look forward to finding out about that as well.
Thank you biofreak for the work you have put in, it certainly is a huge subject and frequently confusing, so an opportunity to share thoughts and ideas would be welcome.
Welcome Somerset Stroller - Hope to hear lots more from you!
Covered peas with fleece and no more ravaging - so birds must have been the culprits. 33 degrees here yesterday! - Threw washing up water over everything flowery (Don't use this at all on veg) - Roses said 'thank you' - Missed one, dowsing Boots the Bengal during the procedure- One very angry cat!
Raspberries have nearly finished, scavenging fields for blackberries now. Exhibiting at Garden Fair south of Rouen again this w/e, Interesting Bio Lectures on Saturday and Sunday re alternative composting and new Brews I have not heard of before - Will slip off the Stand leaving O/H in charge (not wise as he eats the profits!), listen and report back next week.
-Oh thank goodness - it's raining! Talk about contrairy weather!
Happy Gardening - Oh Obelixx - Have you moved yet? and GWRS did you go on the French Hols?