Hi Everyone. Just back from Brittany and fabulous fair where I succumbed to 4 beautiful Bearded Irises to add to my collection. The joy of exhibiting is that you do get discounts so really pleased to find exactly what I wanted at a fair price for my new border. Champagne/Oysters and a Hog Roast were laid on for the exhibitors too, so a very merry w/e!
Anyway, getting ready now for Salon des Fleurs at Le Vaudreuil in the Eure south of Rouen so here is the Lunar Calender taking us to 1st May, when I shall start new Thread having attended a couple of extra B/Dynamic Lectures whilst O/H mans our Stand.
24/25th April - Moon ascending in Sagittarius so Fruit Days. No gardening on 25th until after 10.55am as descending Noeud. Sow Courgettes/Melons/Pumpkins/Potimarrons and Cucumbers in pots under cover. Pop 3 seeds in each pot and whilst I normally save 2, you should really save the strongest (I also save No 3 as I feel sorry for it if it is a nice chunky one!) Keep out of direct sun as this could crisp the seedling as it pops through. Water from underneath to avoid damping off, and just use a fine spray once sprouted so as not to soak surface. If growing on outside, pop out mid-May for first harvest in July. Sow Dwarf and Climbing wrinkled Peas where they are to crop.(At this time of year I still start mine off in pots as they grow on so well this way, especially if we have sharp frosts.
26/27/28th April -Moon ascending in Capricorn so Root Days. Sow Turnips and Sow Carrots next to Leeks to confuse Carrot Fly. On 28th No gardening before 2.20pm as Moon apogée.
29/30th April -Flower Days as Moon ascending in Aquarius. Sow Hardy Annuals where they are to flower, keeping them well watered. and to deter pussycats like mine, cover area with light twigs like Silver Birch until sprouted when you can gently lift them off. Plant Dahlias/Cannas/Lilies and Gladioli around your Potager to attract Bees and other beneficial insects.
Once again the month is rushing past, but isn't it nice to see hedges and trees greening up. O/H already complaining about mowing lawn! Says I can create another flower bed Hurray!!
Hello , thanks for update and your Fair sound fabulous Currently in Tenby at moment came hear last week , weather not to good , wet & windy Best wishes
1st May and Bank Holiday here in France as we have the Bank Holidays on the date not on the nearest Monday like UK. Garden Fair last w/e disaster as most exhibitors lost their tents in the storms on Saturday and went home as plants badly damaged and new garden furniture for sale badly damaged plus greenhouses (glass ones new here) broken. It really was a humdinger and of course no visitors because quite frankly they had more sense!!
Anyway damp and dejected we returned home yesterday but garden cheered me up alot with Irises in full bloom in the rockery and most seedlings sown last week sprouted. Now have to work out how to plant out carrots in planned bed that has been adopted by cats as dust bath!! Pushkin as ever being the main culprit, followed closely by Bipsy Boo Ba. I must create a cunning plan methinks!
Anyway writing this first thing this am as want to make the most of the day outside as rarely a day off for us, and off to another Fair this w/e so no time to garden much.
The weather prospects for May according to Bio D Diary are not too bad.
With wind from the North East to start it is definately chilly but beautiful days predicted for 3-6th of month although pockets of rain 7-8th. 9-12th May Nice days but tumble in temperature on 10th with risks of frost everywhere. 13-20th Getting warmer with warm winds arriving from the South with possibility of local storms. From 21st I'm afraid lower temperatures again with very variable and unpredictable stormy periods, particularly around the 27th. Sow Summer Salads 20/28 and 29th May for good crops and sow Flowers 18th May for late Summer success. I don't know how April weather panned out for you but in general it seemed accurate here.
Here is the Lunar Calender for 1-8th May
1/2/3/and 4th May up to 5.15pmMoon ascending in Pisces so Leaf Days. In fleeced nursery bed sow celery/Bulb Fennel and Leeks. Finish sowing herbs to guarantee Summer crops and pop some lettuce in if you want to save their seed. (Ie let them bolt) Bio D Diary says sow some more Broccoli/Celeriac/Romanesco and Brussel Sprouts as with cold spell comng again they will take.
4/5th May New Moon 11.05pm on 5th. Fruit Days. Sow where they are to harvest Sweetcorn/Runner Beans/Haricots and Peas. If you want to grow the Beans up the Sweetcorn as in Mexico (and Southern Europe) sow the Sweetcorn 10 days before the Runners. -I'm going to try this. - Take grafts from Fruit Trees -Prune Peach branches not affected by Peach Leaf Curl to encourage the sprouting of healthier new growth more resistant to this fungus. Sow some Melons if you haven't already plus Cucumbers and Pumpkins.
6/7/and 8th May up to 10.46am Moon ascending in Taurus so Root Days. Sow Salsify and Scorzonora. Sow Beetroot and Chicory. Bio-D Diary says plant some Jerusalem Artichokes in a corner of the Potager as their flowers attract bees. Do not harvest this batch but let it come up each year to benefit pollination.
the 8th is a Bank Holiday again here so looking forward to another day off gardening before I go off to Evreux south of Rouen for a major Chelsea like Show. Sold out of Rosemary & Chocolate and Beetroot & Chocolate Cakes last w/e so must make more for this one as really popular. Dandelion & Orange Cupcakes plus Lemon & Thyme Cookies also a success.
Despite being another Bank Holiday today in France, weather awful and I must prepare for Plant Fair this w/e so chained to oven! - Found lovely recipe for Geranium Rosata Cake and have made my own Nettle Syrup for the first time as well. Potted on 3 Courgette Polka plants and One Spaghetti Squash yesterday. Unexpected frost has tipped leaves of Runner Beans/Dahlias and Potatoes but seem OK. So here is the Lunar Calender9-16th May
No gardening recommended on the 9th after 2.45pm due to ascending Noued. Before this Plant out begonias and pelargoniums sowed 6/7th February and Cauliflowers & Broccoli sown 5/6th March and prick out annuals sown 2/3rd April. Bio Dynamic Diary says Harvest Nettles to make fermentations.
10/11th May - Moon descending in Cancer so Leaf Days. Plant out Herbs around Potager to deter pests. (I hope to buy some more unusual ones in this w/e) Pot on Basil seedlings to mix with Tomatoes on final planting out.
12/13th May - Moon descending in Leo so Fruit and Seed Days. Pot on Aubergines/Chillies and Peppers sown 1/2nd March. Plant Melons sown 7/8th April (I have 2 ready to pot on) and Courgettes/Pumpkins and Squash 23/25th April. Do not garden after 5.45pm on 13th as Moon Perigee.Bio D Diary says hang up Cherry Fly Stickers to trap them and glue bands around apple trees to stop ants climbing and feeding aphids (Trying this for first time this year) Take cuttings from Red and Black Currants. Place canes against Raspberries or finish building Fruit Cages.
14/15/16th May - Moon descending in Virgo so Root Days. Plant out Leeks sown 12-14th March. Thin out Parsnips sown 9/10th April and Carrots and Turnips sown 27/28th April. Thin out Celeriac sown 12/14th March to final spacing of 12cms to allow for good root growth.
Hello , thanks for updates , weather today hear is rain all day , however , garden & allotment need it and yes everything has greened up nicely , cut lawns yesterday , need to trim Hawthorn Edges and plants & seeds in greenhouse growing nicely
Went to a National Trust property in Pembrokeshire when on holiday and the colours of the Azaleas and Rhodudendrons where stunning , had a piece of Courgette & lime cake 🍰 very nice there
Hope the weathers is ok for the Chelsea type garden show , your cakes 🧁 sound fabulous as well I would abandon the planned carrot 🥕 bed if cats have adopted it
I heard on a garden radio programme about putting Rhubarb leaves in water , weighed down and use it to spray for white fly , wondered if you had come across this ?
No gardening here. It's blowing a hooly and I'm exhausted after a week of in-laws - OH's elder brother and his wife plus their younger sister. Great to see them but hard work being on parade all day and cooking fresh food.
I did get some help from senior SIL planting strawberries with me and she has treated me to some shrubs on sale in a nearby nursery/plant shop - cercidiphyllum, purple cotinus, white azalea and a variegated cornus - all now potted on with fresh compost so they can grow on while we get new beds prepared.
All tomatoes and squashes are safely tucked up in the polytunnel along with the Japanese maples, hostas and fuchsias who still need to be out of the wind and safe from frosts. My two nectarines have a bad case of leaf curl but not the apricot so I shall probably plant them permanently in the PT where they'll be safe as long as I keep them watered.
I shall try carrots one of these days but they'll be in tubs or raised beds 20" up to keep off the carrot fly and make it easy to keep off the cats tho, TBH, we don't have problems with either cats or dogs pooing in inappropriate places. Next time OH builds even normal raised beds it will be to my specifications as he does not include enough supports to hold the planks and no posts to which I can attach nets or use to keep hoses off the crops.
Good luck with the plant fairs. We have a big heritage tomato fair to go to this weekend and Vouvant is coming up soon with professional and amateurs vendor selling perennials, shrubs, trees, herbs and all sorts.
Don't forget to start a new thread now you're at the 1000 limit!!
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)."
Bio , hello , we had a few nice days and a some rain , perfect gardening weather How is it going with you ( and cats ) in France 🇫🇷 ? Driving to Scotland on Monday , then a cruise to Sweden 🇸🇪 for 10 days Allotment going well , just known weeds are ready to pop up will we are on holiday Have cut lots of asparagus, o/h has been cooking it usually as a starter with Parma ham & Parmesan cheese Pleased with garden as well Only problem so far has been aphids on fruit trees
Posts
Currently in Tenby at moment came hear last week , weather not to good , wet & windy
Best wishes
Went to a National Trust property in Pembrokeshire when on holiday and the colours of the Azaleas and Rhodudendrons where stunning , had a piece of Courgette & lime cake 🍰 very nice there
Hope the weathers is ok for the Chelsea type garden show , your cakes 🧁 sound fabulous as well
I would abandon the planned carrot 🥕 bed if cats have adopted it
I heard on a garden radio programme about putting Rhubarb leaves in water , weighed down and use it to spray for white fly , wondered if you had come across this ?
I did get some help from senior SIL planting strawberries with me and she has treated me to some shrubs on sale in a nearby nursery/plant shop - cercidiphyllum, purple cotinus, white azalea and a variegated cornus - all now potted on with fresh compost so they can grow on while we get new beds prepared.
All tomatoes and squashes are safely tucked up in the polytunnel along with the Japanese maples, hostas and fuchsias who still need to be out of the wind and safe from frosts. My two nectarines have a bad case of leaf curl but not the apricot so I shall probably plant them permanently in the PT where they'll be safe as long as I keep them watered.
I shall try carrots one of these days but they'll be in tubs or raised beds 20" up to keep off the carrot fly and make it easy to keep off the cats tho, TBH, we don't have problems with either cats or dogs pooing in inappropriate places. Next time OH builds even normal raised beds it will be to my specifications as he does not include enough supports to hold the planks and no posts to which I can attach nets or use to keep hoses off the crops.
Good luck with the plant fairs. We have a big heritage tomato fair to go to this weekend and Vouvant is coming up soon with professional and amateurs vendor selling perennials, shrubs, trees, herbs and all sorts.
Don't forget to start a new thread now you're at the 1000 limit!!
Allotment is going well , decided to cover g/h and use it as a sitting / shelter
Membrane on beds has been very positive at stopping weeds
How is it going with you ( and cats ) in France 🇫🇷 ?
Driving to Scotland on Monday , then a cruise to Sweden 🇸🇪 for 10 days
Allotment going well , just known weeds are ready to pop up will we are on holiday
Have cut lots of asparagus, o/h has been cooking it usually as a starter with Parma ham & Parmesan cheese
Pleased with garden as well
Only problem so far has been aphids on fruit trees