Oberlix , relatives had a French farm house for many years inland from LaRochelle and they had an old well opened up to water garden , had a couple of really nice holidays there in the past
We're an hour to the north of La Rochelle GWRS and not supposed to have droughts or heat like we've had recently. There is a well but it has long since dried up. It's in the deeds that we share the water with our neighbours but there hasn't been any for years apparently. There are streams and ponds and lakes about and we're at the northern edge of the Marais Poitevin so being this dry is just not normal.
I have ordered a copy of Beth Chatto's Dry Garden which has just arrived and will be having words with our neighbours about all their spare horse poo. The plan is to make raised beds all over the potager and use the poos and other organic matter tp beef up moisture retention and fertility.
We had 8mm of rain over the weekend in two doses but I still couldn't get my spade deeper than 4 inches in one of the small beds where I have already put a 3 inch layer of MPC compost. Things are better in another, larger ornamental bed that received such a layer but it is now riddled with bindweed coming up from deep below. Win some lose some.
Our farmer neighbours have a very traditional potager so I'll arrange t go and see how they get stuff to grow and I've noticed some very lush plantings in public beds in La Roche-s-Yon so it is possible. Just need loads of muck and mulch plus some patience and probably adjustments to sowing and planting times. View from upstairs across to newly cleared potager with neighbour's cattle sheds behind. As you can see, the potager grew a fine crop of weeds after being leveled, ploughed and harrowed!
Last edited: 26 July 2017 17:10:55
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)."
Don't mention weeds! All that rain has woken them all up and I have been working overtime hoeing. Knapweed galore in lawn. Pesticides and Weedkillers being banned in France from 1st January, which is good, so O/H getting blowtorch! - Yesterday's visit was a delight, and I shall write about it over w/e as have Farmers Market this afternoon. Just time to re-inspect Brocolli where baby green caterpillars have arrived. Will fill dish for robin on compost heap. Have made Plum Duff and Rock Cakes for hungry tourists!! - Delighted with my uploaded photo -Will try to do some more showing progress of raised beds.
That photo was early May. All brown and crispy now except for a planting of sweetcorn and the pumpkins which have woken up a bit in recent rain and the brassicas. OH has been weeding those patches and putting in more edging for raised beds.
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)."
Staggered out of bed this am having been laid low since Friday afternoon with Tonsolitis type bug. Stuffed full of anti biotics, and have just made courgette and camomile cakes for Farmers Market tomorrow, and now collapsed back in chair Your view is lovely GWRS. It has rained solidly all day today which is good because it is a no gardening day as Moon apogee (Moon at furthest point from Earth in cycle and forces weaken plant growth so weeding recommended) - I am NOT going out in this lot!!
So August Weather is apparently going to be over all hot and dry. with cloud rain and a general change in weather 14/15th of the month. Sharp rises in temperature expected 16/17th and after 18th general good weather. I think that we can agree that the heavy rains and storms were accurate for July. How do you feel about the way it has worked out this year? I reserve judgement a little.
Just to the end of the week:-
3 rd August - Leaf Day Prepare new parcels of land for lawn to be sown in September. Keep weeds under control.
4/5th and 6th August - Moon ascending in Sagittarius so Fruit Days. Take a gamble on planting some more Beans and Peas for harvest in October (Perhaps in pots to bring into greenhouse?) Graft Fruit Trees.
7th/8th August -Gardening not recommended due to Eclipse on 7th after 2pm and no gardening on 8th before 5pm as noued descending. Between these times Root Days -Sow white or red onions.
Will get back in the swing of things again soon.
O/H Rescued a bat swimming around in a bucket of water yesterday. Luckily he/she was fine and once dried in the sun flew away -He did not touch it as potential Rabies threat here. We suspect Pushkin may have something to do with why it was in a bucket -remember I told you he was jumping high at dusk trying to catch bats?! -However this was lunchtime which seems strange. Anyway happy ending.
Posts
Bio , Boots is obviously escorting you in case Tom cat attacks you
Enjoy the bio garden Hope it becomes clearer
Oberlix , relatives had a French farm house for many years inland from LaRochelle and they had an old well opened up to water garden , had a couple of really nice holidays there in the past
We're an hour to the north of La Rochelle GWRS and not supposed to have droughts or heat like we've had recently. There is a well but it has long since dried up. It's in the deeds that we share the water with our neighbours but there hasn't been any for years apparently. There are streams and ponds and lakes about and we're at the northern edge of the Marais Poitevin so being this dry is just not normal.
I have ordered a copy of Beth Chatto's Dry Garden which has just arrived and will be having words with our neighbours about all their spare horse poo. The plan is to make raised beds all over the potager and use the poos and other organic matter tp beef up moisture retention and fertility.
We had 8mm of rain over the weekend in two doses but I still couldn't get my spade deeper than 4 inches in one of the small beds where I have already put a 3 inch layer of MPC compost. Things are better in another, larger ornamental bed that received such a layer but it is now riddled with bindweed coming up from deep below. Win some lose some.
Our farmer neighbours have a very traditional potager so I'll arrange t go and see how they get stuff to grow and I've noticed some very lush plantings in public beds in La Roche-s-Yon so it is possible. Just need loads of muck and mulch plus some patience and probably adjustments to sowing and planting times. View from upstairs across to newly cleared potager with neighbour's cattle sheds behind. As you can see, the potager grew a fine crop of weeds after being leveled, ploughed and harrowed!
Last edited: 26 July 2017 17:10:55
Nice view Bio
Oberlix , it all looks green , weeds always seem to grow on our allotment as well
Don't mention weeds! All that rain has woken them all up and I have been working overtime hoeing. Knapweed galore in lawn. Pesticides and Weedkillers being banned in France from 1st January, which is good, so O/H getting blowtorch! - Yesterday's visit was a delight, and I shall write about it over w/e as have Farmers Market this afternoon. Just time to re-inspect Brocolli where baby green caterpillars have arrived. Will fill dish for robin on compost heap. Have made Plum Duff and Rock Cakes for hungry tourists!! - Delighted with my uploaded photo -Will try to do some more showing progress of raised beds.
That photo was early May. All brown and crispy now except for a planting of sweetcorn and the pumpkins which have woken up a bit in recent rain and the brassicas. OH has been weeding those patches and putting in more edging for raised beds.
Spent day at allotment got home at 5-30 and it started raining at 6-00 , very lucky ?
Oberlix sorry to hear everything is crisp and brown , everything green and growing well generally hear
O/H made a courgette cake ? today and it was very good , she has never made one before
Hello , thought I would put picture of view from side conservatory
Hope alls well
Staggered out of bed this am having been laid low since Friday afternoon with Tonsolitis type bug. Stuffed full of anti biotics, and have just made courgette and camomile cakes for Farmers Market tomorrow, and now collapsed back in chair Your view is lovely GWRS. It has rained solidly all day today which is good because it is a no gardening day as Moon apogee (Moon at furthest point from Earth in cycle and forces weaken plant growth so weeding recommended) - I am NOT going out in this lot!!
So August Weather is apparently going to be over all hot and dry. with cloud rain and a general change in weather 14/15th of the month. Sharp rises in temperature expected 16/17th and after 18th general good weather. I think that we can agree that the heavy rains and storms were accurate for July. How do you feel about the way it has worked out this year? I reserve judgement a little.
Just to the end of the week:-
3 rd August - Leaf Day Prepare new parcels of land for lawn to be sown in September. Keep weeds under control.
4/5th and 6th August - Moon ascending in Sagittarius so Fruit Days. Take a gamble on planting some more Beans and Peas for harvest in October (Perhaps in pots to bring into greenhouse?) Graft Fruit Trees.
7th/8th August -Gardening not recommended due to Eclipse on 7th after 2pm and no gardening on 8th before 5pm as noued descending. Between these times Root Days -Sow white or red onions.
Will get back in the swing of things again soon.
O/H Rescued a bat swimming around in a bucket of water yesterday. Luckily he/she was fine and once dried in the sun flew away -He did not touch it as potential Rabies threat here. We suspect Pushkin may have something to do with why it was in a bucket -remember I told you he was jumping high at dusk trying to catch bats?! -However this was lunchtime which seems strange. Anyway happy ending.
Happy Gardening!