Good to hear from you. No it does not take time - just a problem getting my brain into gear to work out how to 'treat' each plant and how to 'use' which plant! Will add more info tomorrow. Just rushing today to get last tomatoes/courgettes/cucumbers out. Keep getting side tracked by stray weeds and new self seeded goodies that just 'must' be popped somewhere else. Eating last Broad Beans and 1st Crop Peas tonight. Never seem to grow enough broad beans, will have to try harder!
Received invite to wonderful Bio Potager Fair in September this morning. Have sowed some of their Heritage Tomato Seeds this year with great results.
Here is second part of info re treatments for plants without chemicals:-
Plants used as macerations/decoctions or purins:
Wormwood - strongest insecticide wear gloves during preperation as Decoction. (We would say Infusion) - Used against Cabbage white butterflies/aphids & greenfly
Tomato Leaves - Very strong insecticide use as Purin to spray against ants/moths on leeks/Cabbage white butterfly/mosquitos
Tagetes - Stronger than insecticide use as decoction (Infusion) Spray tomatoes against whitefly and cabbage family against caterpillars
Santolina - Insecticide use as Decoction (Infusion) Spray Fruit trees/potager and roses against red & white spider aphids and caterpillars.
Rue - Stronger than insecticide wear gloves during preperation as Purin against slugs/weevils/aphids.
Chillies - Maceration for use against red spider and whitefly plus aphids
Turnips - Insecticide use leaves only as Decoction (Infusion) spray around tomatoes (not on leaves) against whitefly and aphids.
Lavender - Stronger than insecticide use flowers and stalks as Purin against ants/aphids/greenfly
Bracken - Insecticide use as Purin and spray all plants against slugs/snails/click beetles/vine beetle & aphids
Begonias -Stronger than insecticide use leaves only in maceration on all plants against slugs and aphids.
Rhubarb - Stronger than insecticide use leaves only as decoction (Infusion) Spray Ornamental shrubs and roses against greenfly/Snail and slug larvae and caterpillars.
Ivy - Insecticide as a purin use against greenfly & Aphids on Fruit Trees
ONLY ONE POINT to bear in mind, these concoctions are used as insecticides and they do not differentiate between good and bad insects, so target pests carefully. So much to absorb in this biodynamic list of info. At least it means that we don't have to throw spent leaves on the compost heap all the time. There are other uses! I'm surprised to find that you can use Broom/Cabbage/Wild Sorrel/Dandelions/Meadowsweet & Silver Birch leaves for all sorts of things. Precise recipes available.
Do let me have your comments. Have just pottered round the Potager with a much needed cup of coffee and am thrilled with transplanted beans/courgettes/cucumbers & tomatoes from yesterday. Before Lunar Trials I used to find that transplants looked a bit limp the 1st day and appear to struggle to meet new environment from pot to soil. Is it because I chose Fruit Days as instructed I wonder.
Hi there - Kennelled myself indoors against the heat. Up at 5am (4am UK!) to attend to Potager and Flower Garden having been away for 3 days. Gosh how things have grown even in that time! Now 37C outside - not nice. Great surprise last night when I went to water plot - Found dozens of raspberries had ripened plus red gooseberries/white currants and 1st strawberries. Such a treat - Pudding sorted with home made ice cream!
Anyway here is Lunar Calender 1st-20th July to give you choices to choose when to do what according to the heatwaves we seem to be getting!
Moon Ascending
1 -3rd July - Fruit Days. Take graftings from Apples/pears and plums. Sow Courgettes outside in pockets of 3 - keeping healthiest plant that comes up - These should be ready for cropping from September until 1st frosts. Only water at the roots to avoid mildew.
4-5th July - Root Days Sow Winter Turnips. Keep them moist and place in light shade against direct sun. You can always finish them off under cloches if early frosts strike. On 5th do not garden after 2.50pm as Moon at highest point so weak forces.
6th July (Plus late afternoon evening 5th July) - Flower Days In nursery bed sow pansies and other spring flowering flowers. Sow lupins where you wish them to flower to avoid transplanting in early Spring - They will be stronger for it.
7/8/9th July - Leaf Days - So Lambs Lettuce/ Spinach and/or Rocket plus more Chard in patch previously used for peas or broad beans. thety will benefit from the Fixed Nitrogen. Harvesting should start from September. Chinese Cabbage can also be sown now and a final sowing of Pak Choi. Sow the last endives to guarantee a successful autumn crop.
10/11th July - Fruit Days - Sow Dwarf or Climbing Beans in sunny but sheltered spot. Choose early varieties to guarantee Autumn Pickings.
12/13/14th July - Root Days - )This only applies to the morning of the 14th as Moon changes to Descending half way through this day).Sow Winter Radish and Winter Carrots.
Moon Descending from 4.30pm 14th July so changes to Flower Day.
15/16th July - Flower Days - Take cuttings from fuschias and buddleas in particular. Prick out Bi-annuals and perennials sown 8-9th June.
17th July - Leaf Day - If Dry & Sunny start blanching endive. You should be able to cut them 10 days later.
18/19/20th July - Fruit Days - Prune Fan Apples & Pears hard. Cut down to the ground Fruited Raspberries. Cut back feeding tomatoes to encourage ripening of fruit. Take out courgette & pumpkin tops to concentrate energy into existing fruit.Prepare new strawberry beds for new stock to be planted in August.
NOW - Just a few biodynamic Notes to finish (Please ask for more info) HARVEST SEEDS :- Flowers on Flower Days up to 16th July. SLUGS - Spray leaf plants early in the morning with relevant bio sprays (see notes on macerations etc on this thread) during Leaf times for best results. If burning slugs to create slug ash best dates are between 16th-18th July.
Weather Prediction. Warm Rain Showers forecast from 20th July when Sun moves from Gemini into Cancer. Prior to this strong heat periods are foreseen in first half of month due to 3 Light Influences reinforced by Neptune while retrograde in Aquarius primarily 1st (ironically today!) 8th & 13th July being key hotspots.There are 2 Water Trines in 21st/22nd July making the second part of July wetter.
As I said last month I have hesitated to enter weather forecasts to date - BUT every month up to now according to Biodynamic Calender has actually been accurate so for those interested I have put July in.
Happy gardening - Please ask questions and do make comments. All are valued.
Hi - Short break last week and garden gone berserk with rain and winds. So much to do in between showers which I note were predicted in Biodynamic weather forecast. Just did not think that they would go on forever! Good news though NO caterpillars at all on brassicas having sprayed with Tansy Brew - Have any of you tried these preperations?
Weather -The Sun moves into Leo from 11th August so warmer weather predicted after a wet end to July. Prime days for harvesting seed are 14th-17th August. Immediately after harvesting crops sow green manures like field lupin/phacelia /mustard or flax.
Here is Calender for 26th July-18th August
26/27th July - Leaf Days Moon Descending - Just time 26th as end of Flower Days to lift and divide plus replant Irises.Prepare soil for sowing new lawns in September -Thin out endive/lambs lettuce and other salad leaves sown 7-9th July.
28/29/30th July - Fruit Days Start grafting fruit trees and prune cherries plus peaches and apricots (The latter two pruned will allow air to reach hidden fruit and encourage ripening) Cut back fruited raspberries to allow new growth to form well before Winter.
31st July 1st Aug - Root Days Moon Rising - Sow Winter Radish again and Turnips, keeping both moist to ensure even sprouting.
2nd August - Flower Day and I'm afraid that no gardening advised before 4.10pm as Moon at highest point above earth so no strength in forces.Tie in and graft Climbing Roses, Sow Forget me nots/pansies/violas and other spring flower seeds in nursery bed.
3/4/5/6th August - Leaf Days (No gardening on 3rd until after 8.55am) Sow Winter Varieties Lettuces and other leaf crops including Spinach to ensure autumn cropping before first frosts.
7th August - Fruit Day Harvest beans to dry, Leave them hangingin bunches in a dry outhouse with good airflow. Gather Strawberries and Raspberries - Afraid mine have finished as started really early this year and need to start off new strawberry plants next year I think.
8/9/10th August - Root Days - In mild areas sow red onions like Brunswick and yellow late sowing varieties. Also Spring Onions, for early crops next Spring.( 10th August at 12.08 pm Moon starts descending, hence reason sowing recommences)
11/12th August - Flower Days -Take cuttings from Roses. Prick out bi-annuals and perrenials sown 5-6th July.
13/14th August - Leaf Days- Prune evergreen hedges and tidy up topiary and box hedges again. The growth would have been enormous with the wet warm weather in July.
15/16th August - Fruit Days - Plant new strawberry plants remembering to soak pots first, or if bare root soak in wet mud. After harvesting prune peaches and apricots again.
So there we are - Happy gardening and do let me know how things are going.
I crush up tansy leaves in my hands and scatter them over heads of all brassicas - Really works. Tansy Brew was new to me and at present no sign of eggs or caterpillars on baby broccoli or Black Kale. Fingers and toes crossed!
Tagetes does work also if you grow it alongside beans and peas - apparently it deters slugs and snails but I have to say that I hadn't noticed this.
Where is my thinking !? Don't answer that ! Tagetes now transplanted, leaves scrushed and scattered on red cabbage (suffering from grey fly) . So busy 'watching ' the moon : forgetting the companion plants.
Noticed that my second planting of peas looked happier planted on a fruit day, as do sprouts and broccolli for waiting for the root day ( protected from the wind).
No tips as yet, still getting to grips with the recommended concoctions
Interested in what you said about sprouts and broccoli as 1st classified as 'leaf' and second as 'flower' - Somehow I also think of them as 'roots' because they have to be so well anchored. I think that 'gut feeling' has to come into the equation somewhere.
In fact bought a book on individual plant reactions to the moon last w/e and it says that if you transplant brassicas during a descending moon period the roots will anchor better. With this in mind I think that any transplanting can be looked at according to ascending and descending periods, so it may not matter if it is a 'root' 'leaf' or 'flower' day in this context, although choosing a 'leaf' or 'flower' day when the moon is descending would appear more beneficial for brassicas. Just re-read this and hope it makes sense! Off to check tomatoes now - Just beginning to show some fruit , as are cucumbers in lasagne bed- How are yours?
Well I can't say that I'm impressed with Tansy Brew as far as green caterpillars go, keep picking the pesky beasts off the brassicas BUT I do have to say that I have only found one yellow/black cabbage white caterpillar as opposed to a mass on the untreated plot ( I still run 2 traditional patches to compare Biodynamic treatment methods) The tomato crop is not coming to much, perhaps the low light wet Summer has not helped. Sungold as ever shining through but heritage varieties in some cases have not even set. Peas/Beans have been great though, as too have all salad crops. Will certainly grow Chard/Coriander and mixed leaves again.Ridge Cucumbers also doing really well outside whilst courgettes an unmitigated disaster! Tried a climbing variety and none setting at all.
So - here is Lunar Calender for 17th - 31st August. Just one thing to look out for - On Saturday 29th August there will be a magnificent Full Moon at it's nearest point to the Earth it will look magnificent. Keep an eye out for this.
17/18/19/20th August Moon descending- Root Days. Harvest beetroot/celeriac/carrots/turnips and radishes. They will be at their best during this period. Lift the last potatoes & onions. Avoid gardening on 18th before 8.40am as Moon at lowest point and futile to expect any magnetic forces to aid plantings or sowings.
21/22 August - Flower Days Plant paeonies/irises and new day lilies or divide old clumps.
23/24th August - Leaf Days Start blanching celery and expect to harvest in 2/3 weeks time. Blanche scarole for 10 days then harvest.
25/26th August - Moon ascending - Fruit Days Harvest Beans for drying. Start harvesting apples & pears and autumn fruiting strawberries & raspberries. Gather tomato seed.
27/28th August - Root Days Sow leeks for harvest in May next year. Do not thin them out between sowing and harvest. Growing closely together will keep ground covered during the Winter and avoid disturbing soil by thinning and allowing frost pockets to form.
29/30th August - Flower Days For early flowering next year. Sow in situ hardy annuals. Don't garden after 11.15am on 30th - Moon at highest point so weak forces. NOTE MOON ON 29th.
31st August - Leaf Day Sow green manure crops on spare parts of veg plots to provide ground cover for Winter, to be dug in in the Spring.
So there we are - Summer nearly over, and for some not much of one. But I prefer cool and damp anytime to heatwaves and no full water butts!
How are you getting on - and how have your crops been?
Just a footnote on treatment for mildew - Spray affected leaves with milk diluted with 10% water (Use skimmed milk if you don't like the idea of a sour smell on the veg plot for a few days!) Do this religiously for 3 days. It does work.
Posts
Good to hear from you. No it does not take time - just a problem getting my brain into gear to work out how to 'treat' each plant and how to 'use' which plant! Will add more info tomorrow. Just rushing today to get last tomatoes/courgettes/cucumbers out. Keep getting side tracked by stray weeds and new self seeded goodies that just 'must' be popped somewhere else. Eating last Broad Beans and 1st Crop Peas tonight. Never seem to grow enough broad beans, will have to try harder!
Received invite to wonderful Bio Potager Fair in September this morning. Have sowed some of their Heritage Tomato Seeds this year with great results.
Here is second part of info re treatments for plants without chemicals:-
Plants used as macerations/decoctions or purins:
Wormwood - strongest insecticide wear gloves during preperation as Decoction. (We would say Infusion) - Used against Cabbage white butterflies/aphids & greenfly
Tomato Leaves - Very strong insecticide use as Purin to spray against ants/moths on leeks/Cabbage white butterfly/mosquitos
Tagetes - Stronger than insecticide use as decoction (Infusion) Spray tomatoes against whitefly and cabbage family against caterpillars
Santolina - Insecticide use as Decoction (Infusion) Spray Fruit trees/potager and roses against red & white spider aphids and caterpillars.
Rue - Stronger than insecticide wear gloves during preperation as Purin against slugs/weevils/aphids.
Chillies - Maceration for use against red spider and whitefly plus aphids
Turnips - Insecticide use leaves only as Decoction (Infusion) spray around tomatoes (not on leaves) against whitefly and aphids.
Lavender - Stronger than insecticide use flowers and stalks as Purin against ants/aphids/greenfly
Bracken - Insecticide use as Purin and spray all plants against slugs/snails/click beetles/vine beetle & aphids
Begonias -Stronger than insecticide use leaves only in maceration on all plants against slugs and aphids.
Rhubarb - Stronger than insecticide use leaves only as decoction (Infusion) Spray Ornamental shrubs and roses against greenfly/Snail and slug larvae and caterpillars.
Ivy - Insecticide as a purin use against greenfly & Aphids on Fruit Trees
ONLY ONE POINT to bear in mind, these concoctions are used as insecticides and they do not differentiate between good and bad insects, so target pests carefully. So much to absorb in this biodynamic list of info. At least it means that we don't have to throw spent leaves on the compost heap all the time. There are other uses! I'm surprised to find that you can use Broom/Cabbage/Wild Sorrel/Dandelions/Meadowsweet & Silver Birch leaves for all sorts of things. Precise recipes available.
Do let me have your comments. Have just pottered round the Potager with a much needed cup of coffee and am thrilled with transplanted beans/courgettes/cucumbers & tomatoes from yesterday. Before Lunar Trials I used to find that transplants looked a bit limp the 1st day and appear to struggle to meet new environment from pot to soil. Is it because I chose Fruit Days as instructed I wonder.
All thoughts please welcome.
Hi there - Kennelled myself indoors against the heat. Up at 5am (4am UK!) to attend to Potager and Flower Garden having been away for 3 days. Gosh how things have grown even in that time! Now 37C outside - not nice. Great surprise last night when I went to water plot - Found dozens of raspberries had ripened plus red gooseberries/white currants and 1st strawberries. Such a treat - Pudding sorted with home made ice cream!
Anyway here is Lunar Calender 1st-20th July to give you choices to choose when to do what according to the heatwaves we seem to be getting!
Moon Ascending
1 -3rd July - Fruit Days. Take graftings from Apples/pears and plums. Sow Courgettes outside in pockets of 3 - keeping healthiest plant that comes up - These should be ready for cropping from September until 1st frosts. Only water at the roots to avoid mildew.
4-5th July - Root Days Sow Winter Turnips. Keep them moist and place in light shade against direct sun. You can always finish them off under cloches if early frosts strike. On 5th do not garden after 2.50pm as Moon at highest point so weak forces.
6th July (Plus late afternoon evening 5th July) - Flower Days In nursery bed sow pansies and other spring flowering flowers. Sow lupins where you wish them to flower to avoid transplanting in early Spring - They will be stronger for it.
7/8/9th July - Leaf Days - So Lambs Lettuce/ Spinach and/or Rocket plus more Chard in patch previously used for peas or broad beans. thety will benefit from the Fixed Nitrogen. Harvesting should start from September. Chinese Cabbage can also be sown now and a final sowing of Pak Choi. Sow the last endives to guarantee a successful autumn crop.
10/11th July - Fruit Days - Sow Dwarf or Climbing Beans in sunny but sheltered spot. Choose early varieties to guarantee Autumn Pickings.
12/13/14th July - Root Days - )This only applies to the morning of the 14th as Moon changes to Descending half way through this day).Sow Winter Radish and Winter Carrots.
Moon Descending from 4.30pm 14th July so changes to Flower Day.
15/16th July - Flower Days - Take cuttings from fuschias and buddleas in particular. Prick out Bi-annuals and perennials sown 8-9th June.
17th July - Leaf Day - If Dry & Sunny start blanching endive. You should be able to cut them 10 days later.
18/19/20th July - Fruit Days - Prune Fan Apples & Pears hard. Cut down to the ground Fruited Raspberries. Cut back feeding tomatoes to encourage ripening of fruit. Take out courgette & pumpkin tops to concentrate energy into existing fruit.Prepare new strawberry beds for new stock to be planted in August.
NOW - Just a few biodynamic Notes to finish (Please ask for more info) HARVEST SEEDS :- Flowers on Flower Days up to 16th July. SLUGS - Spray leaf plants early in the morning with relevant bio sprays (see notes on macerations etc on this thread) during Leaf times for best results. If burning slugs to create slug ash best dates are between 16th-18th July.
Weather Prediction. Warm Rain Showers forecast from 20th July when Sun moves from Gemini into Cancer. Prior to this strong heat periods are foreseen in first half of month due to 3 Light Influences reinforced by Neptune while retrograde in Aquarius primarily 1st (ironically today!) 8th & 13th July being key hotspots.There are 2 Water Trines in 21st/22nd July making the second part of July wetter.
As I said last month I have hesitated to enter weather forecasts to date - BUT every month up to now according to Biodynamic Calender has actually been accurate so for those interested I have put July in.
Happy gardening - Please ask questions and do make comments. All are valued.
Hi - Short break last week and garden gone berserk with rain and winds. So much to do in between showers which I note were predicted in Biodynamic weather forecast. Just did not think that they would go on forever! Good news though NO caterpillars at all on brassicas having sprayed with Tansy Brew - Have any of you tried these preperations?
Weather -The Sun moves into Leo from 11th August so warmer weather predicted after a wet end to July. Prime days for harvesting seed are 14th-17th August. Immediately after harvesting crops sow green manures like field lupin/phacelia /mustard or flax.
Here is Calender for 26th July-18th August
26/27th July - Leaf Days Moon Descending - Just time 26th as end of Flower Days to lift and divide plus replant Irises.Prepare soil for sowing new lawns in September -Thin out endive/lambs lettuce and other salad leaves sown 7-9th July.
28/29/30th July - Fruit Days Start grafting fruit trees and prune cherries plus peaches and apricots (The latter two pruned will allow air to reach hidden fruit and encourage ripening) Cut back fruited raspberries to allow new growth to form well before Winter.
31st July 1st Aug - Root Days Moon Rising - Sow Winter Radish again and Turnips, keeping both moist to ensure even sprouting.
2nd August - Flower Day and I'm afraid that no gardening advised before 4.10pm as Moon at highest point above earth so no strength in forces.Tie in and graft Climbing Roses, Sow Forget me nots/pansies/violas and other spring flower seeds in nursery bed.
3/4/5/6th August - Leaf Days (No gardening on 3rd until after 8.55am) Sow Winter Varieties Lettuces and other leaf crops including Spinach to ensure autumn cropping before first frosts.
7th August - Fruit Day Harvest beans to dry, Leave them hangingin bunches in a dry outhouse with good airflow. Gather Strawberries and Raspberries - Afraid mine have finished as started really early this year and need to start off new strawberry plants next year I think.
8/9/10th August - Root Days - In mild areas sow red onions like Brunswick and yellow late sowing varieties. Also Spring Onions, for early crops next Spring.( 10th August at 12.08 pm Moon starts descending, hence reason sowing recommences)
11/12th August - Flower Days -Take cuttings from Roses. Prick out bi-annuals and perrenials sown 5-6th July.
13/14th August - Leaf Days- Prune evergreen hedges and tidy up topiary and box hedges again. The growth would have been enormous with the wet warm weather in July.
15/16th August - Fruit Days - Plant new strawberry plants remembering to soak pots first, or if bare root soak in wet mud. After harvesting prune peaches and apricots again.
So there we are - Happy gardening and do let me know how things are going.
I always plant tagetes with tomatoes in green house and grow chillies at the same time and unlike a niegbour I never have problems
I wonder if you grew tagetes with cabbage it would keep the white fly away , might try it next year
great beliver in companion planting
as always like reading your thread
I crush up tansy leaves in my hands and scatter them over heads of all brassicas - Really works. Tansy Brew was new to me and at present no sign of eggs or caterpillars on baby broccoli or Black Kale. Fingers and toes crossed!
Tagetes does work also if you grow it alongside beans and peas - apparently it deters slugs and snails but I have to say that I hadn't noticed this.
Has anyone else any tips?
Where is my thinking !? Don't answer that !
Tagetes now transplanted, leaves scrushed and scattered on red cabbage (suffering from grey fly) . So busy 'watching ' the moon : forgetting the companion plants.
Noticed that my second planting of peas looked happier planted on a fruit day, as do sprouts and broccolli for waiting for the root day ( protected from the wind).
No tips as yet, still getting to grips with the recommended concoctions
Thanks for this thread, always good reading.
Interested in what you said about sprouts and broccoli as 1st classified as 'leaf' and second as 'flower' - Somehow I also think of them as 'roots' because they have to be so well anchored. I think that 'gut feeling' has to come into the equation somewhere.
In fact bought a book on individual plant reactions to the moon last w/e and it says that if you transplant brassicas during a descending moon period the roots will anchor better. With this in mind I think that any transplanting can be looked at according to ascending and descending periods, so it may not matter if it is a 'root' 'leaf' or 'flower' day in this context, although choosing a 'leaf' or 'flower' day when the moon is descending would appear more beneficial for brassicas. Just re-read this and hope it makes sense! Off to check tomatoes now - Just beginning to show some fruit , as are cucumbers in lasagne bed- How are yours?
Well I can't say that I'm impressed with Tansy Brew as far as green caterpillars go, keep picking the pesky beasts off the brassicas BUT I do have to say that I have only found one yellow/black cabbage white caterpillar as opposed to a mass on the untreated plot ( I still run 2 traditional patches to compare Biodynamic treatment methods) The tomato crop is not coming to much, perhaps the low light wet Summer has not helped. Sungold as ever shining through but heritage varieties in some cases have not even set. Peas/Beans have been great though, as too have all salad crops. Will certainly grow Chard/Coriander and mixed leaves again.Ridge Cucumbers also doing really well outside whilst courgettes an unmitigated disaster! Tried a climbing variety and none setting at all.
So - here is Lunar Calender for 17th - 31st August. Just one thing to look out for - On Saturday 29th August there will be a magnificent Full Moon at it's nearest point to the Earth it will look magnificent. Keep an eye out for this.
17/18/19/20th August Moon descending- Root Days. Harvest beetroot/celeriac/carrots/turnips and radishes. They will be at their best during this period. Lift the last potatoes & onions. Avoid gardening on 18th before 8.40am as Moon at lowest point and futile to expect any magnetic forces to aid plantings or sowings.
21/22 August - Flower Days Plant paeonies/irises and new day lilies or divide old clumps.
23/24th August - Leaf Days Start blanching celery and expect to harvest in 2/3 weeks time. Blanche scarole for 10 days then harvest.
25/26th August - Moon ascending - Fruit Days Harvest Beans for drying. Start harvesting apples & pears and autumn fruiting strawberries & raspberries. Gather tomato seed.
27/28th August - Root Days Sow leeks for harvest in May next year. Do not thin them out between sowing and harvest. Growing closely together will keep ground covered during the Winter and avoid disturbing soil by thinning and allowing frost pockets to form.
29/30th August - Flower Days For early flowering next year. Sow in situ hardy annuals. Don't garden after 11.15am on 30th - Moon at highest point so weak forces. NOTE MOON ON 29th.
31st August - Leaf Day Sow green manure crops on spare parts of veg plots to provide ground cover for Winter, to be dug in in the Spring.
So there we are - Summer nearly over, and for some not much of one. But I prefer cool and damp anytime to heatwaves and no full water butts!
How are you getting on - and how have your crops been?
Just a footnote on treatment for mildew - Spray affected leaves with milk diluted with 10% water (Use skimmed milk if you don't like the idea of a sour smell on the veg plot for a few days!) Do this religiously for 3 days. It does work.
Happy Gardening.
Hello , ment to ask you before what is Tansy ? You mentioned earlier you crushed the leaves
The allottment has gone really well
particularly Broad beans which I planted under cloches last winter , where as the one I planted this year didn't do as well
peas did not do well , I forgot to net first lot and they got nibbled and did not recover and secound didn't do that well
potatoes - first earlies , Maris piper , scabby and not very good , just dug up 2nd earlies Nadine and they are fine , the way it goes
just realised didn't grow enough garlic
agree tomatoes which we grow at home some in g/h and some outside not done as well this year , where as cucumbers have been brill
we are spraying brassicas for white fly
it has been a good sunny summer so far