I am so pleased that the weather predictions were right for back end January -Snow! We have only had few showers here but there is more to come according to Lunar Weather Calender de Jean Marais. February will be very mixed with much more snow on higher ground between 6-8th Feb then general snowy conditiond 14-16th. More intense snowfall predicted for 19-20th and very stormy particularly coastal regions 21-22nd. From 25th february wetter but still cold. -So it doesn't look as though we can get any tender crops off to a start unless you have a really good heated greehouse or a very sunny heated conservatory when you can set off some Broad Beans this weekend having soaked them first for a couple of hours in warm water (New BioD tip) to soften outer and encourage early shooting. -Bought some Swiss Pompadour potatoes last week, and they tasted just like Jersey Royals used to(Think these are less nutty nowadays -or is it my tastebuds?) Anyway they were stunning and on 'special promo' because date coming up -so they have started sprouting. I shall hold back a dozen and try them in pots for a Spring New Potato Crop. Also tried Purple La Violette, lovely taste- but apparently they don't have a very good crop so have avoided them. -All seeds in shops now, so shall top up next week.
Did you see the Moon yesterday morning? Wonderful diagonal with Venus and Jupiter (Ok it was 5am on my way to Farmer's Market, but it was till there 8am (7am UK) So brilliant in the frosty sky.
Will do Lunar Calender over w/e as must rescue Bread Pudding from oven and first batch Marmelade boiling over on hob!
Garden just too soggy to walk on, lots of slushy rain here.
Wrap up warm and take care! Doesn't look too good in UK on TV.
Hello , no snow hear in Lincolnshire as yet but pleased to say a few frosts Always put Broad Beans in early winter under clouches and coming up nicely Have just bought potatoes they are in Conservatory for chitting O/H bought some Seville oranges and made some chunky marmalade and a batch of mixed fruit , orange , gratefuit & lemon Hoping to go allotment over weekend for pruning / more tidying up
Sorry for 'pause' Socked myself in the eye with a piece of wood when chucking wood ash on compost heap, so could not see anything for a couple of days as bandage over it and lots of bathing needed to get out ash!!
Anyway, better now.
Here is Lunar Calender 6-16th Feb (No gardening recommended yesterday 5th as New Moon apogee)
6/7th Feb - Moon ascending in Aquarius so Flower Days. Under heat min 20c sow geraniums/begonia semperflorens/lemon balm and marigolds. (Do not cover begonia seed with earth as they need light to sprout) -Sow Cauliflowers under cover for Summer harvest.
8/9/10/11th Feb - Leaf Days with Moon ascending in Pisces. Sow cabbages under heat to harvest June/July In Nursery Bed sow lettuces and batavia plus pop in some herbs.
12th Feb - Fruit Day (Sorry only One!) - Sow round as opposed to wrinkled peas/mangetouts and broad beans. Earth up well once sprouted.
13/14/15 Feb - Moon ascending in Taurus -Root Days. Sow red and white onionsfor July/August harvest.
16/17th Feb -Flower Days. Prick out Cauliflowers sown 9-11th January. Plant anemones and Ranunculus. Divide Snowdrops in the 'green' Take cuttings from chrysanthemums/fuchsias and geraniums. 17th -No gardening before 2.50pm Noeud ascending.
GWRS -19th Feb next day for Winter Pruning Fruit trees , but not before 2.10pm as Moon will be apogee (Moon furthest point away from Earth in monthly cycle so weaker influence on plants)Always choose a Moon descending and waning plus in preference during a period of High Tide. Months to Prune: Apples/Pears/Figs/Quince/Peaches and Apricots: Dec-March DO NOT TOUCH PLUMS - These should be pruned between August and November only despite temptation! If you're talking about ordinary trees and conifers then choose Leaf Days 26/27th Feb which is still a descending Moon and still waning. (The sap will be low in the bark and no harm will come by cutting the trunks or branches even severely)
With an icy wind outside and rain alternating with hail, today seems a good day to incorporate our Biodynamic Thoughts with this Thread. I have decided to set down my BioD notes given to me at my weekly BioD Meetings.In essence as gardeners we are all interested in Biodiversity and maintaining the natural balances of our planet. Organic and Biodynamic gardening are certainly not miles apart, and, whilst much of BioD gardening and agriculture has no scientific basics to fall back on, it does certainly appear to show that one's garden and allotment can certainly benefit from holistic assistance. So in very small chunks, I shall set out info to hand to date, and just remind you that we are already 98% there using the Lunar Calender already -We just have a few additions to make that I hope will become clear. So here goes!
Biodynamics has much in common with
other organic approaches – it emphasizes the use of manures and
composts and excludes the use of artificial chemicals on soil and
plants. Methods unique to the biodynamic approach include its
treatment of animals, crops, and soil as a single system, an emphasis
from its beginnings on local production and distribution systems, its
use of traditional and development of new local breeds and varieties.
Some methods use an astrological sowing and planting calendar.
Biodynamic agriculture uses various herbal and mineral additives for
compost additives and field sprays; these are prepared using methods
that are more akin to sympathetic magic than agronomy, such as
burying ground quartz stuffed into the horn of a cow, which are said
to harvest "cosmic forces in the soil."
As of 2016 biodynamic techniques
were used on 161,074 hectares in 60 countries. Germany accounts
for 45% of the global total; the remainder average 1750 ha per
country. Biodynamic methods of cultivating grapevines have been taken
up by several notable vineyards. There are certification agencies
for biodynamic products, most of which are members of the
international biodynamics standards group Demeter International.
Sothis was the first Paper that I was given - There was a whole load of stuff about Rudolph Steiner, but we have already covered him in our previous musings. Check out Demeter International on the Internet, they will fill in more about the Steiner background than I can here.I have found all sorts of interesting News Articles in my Mother's papers, including her BioD Diary that she kept in the late 70's, where she had inserted various comments about Climate Change. Seems we have never ceased to worry about it. After all the rooting up of natural hedgerows in the 60's, it is now obvious that it was a big mistake. The root system of hedgerows takes up water so less flooding occurs. Apart from the obvious loss of bird and small mammal habitat -soil erosion without the natural wind break of a hedge is patently clear when you walk round the huge prairie like fields now, that would originally have been 6-10 enclosures, providing shelter for livestock. I note that it is fairly rare to see a healthy crop reaching the edges of fields and I am still concerned that crop rotation just does not seem to happen, although ironically livestock rotation does! (Cow/Sheep/Horse - and here in France Poultry) Us Gardeners certainly take much more care of our plots and that is why a study of the Biodynamic methods would be a useful addition to this Thread.
Posts
https://www.rhythmofnature.net/gardener-calendar
Always put Broad Beans in early winter under clouches and coming up nicely
Have just bought potatoes they are in Conservatory for chitting
O/H bought some Seville oranges and made some chunky marmalade and a batch of mixed fruit , orange , gratefuit & lemon
Hoping to go allotment over weekend for pruning / more tidying up
Definately Happy gardening
Sorry to hear about your accident , hope your soon back to normal
I have already started but it just occurred to me , I might of missed it , is there any recommended times for winter pruning of trees 🌲 ?
Biodynamics has much in common with other organic approaches – it emphasizes the use of manures and composts and excludes the use of artificial chemicals on soil and plants. Methods unique to the biodynamic approach include its treatment of animals, crops, and soil as a single system, an emphasis from its beginnings on local production and distribution systems, its use of traditional and development of new local breeds and varieties. Some methods use an astrological sowing and planting calendar. Biodynamic agriculture uses various herbal and mineral additives for compost additives and field sprays; these are prepared using methods that are more akin to sympathetic magic than agronomy, such as burying ground quartz stuffed into the horn of a cow, which are said to harvest "cosmic forces in the soil."
As of 2016 biodynamic techniques were used on 161,074 hectares in 60 countries. Germany accounts for 45% of the global total; the remainder average 1750 ha per country. Biodynamic methods of cultivating grapevines have been taken up by several notable vineyards. There are certification agencies for biodynamic products, most of which are members of the international biodynamics standards group Demeter International.
So this was the first Paper that I was given - There was a whole load of stuff about Rudolph Steiner, but we have already covered him in our previous musings. Check out Demeter International on the Internet, they will fill in more about the Steiner background than I can here. I have found all sorts of interesting News Articles in my Mother's papers, including her BioD Diary that she kept in the late 70's, where she had inserted various comments about Climate Change. Seems we have never ceased to worry about it. After all the rooting up of natural hedgerows in the 60's, it is now obvious that it was a big mistake. The root system of hedgerows takes up water so less flooding occurs. Apart from the obvious loss of bird and small mammal habitat -soil erosion without the natural wind break of a hedge is patently clear when you walk round the huge prairie like fields now, that would originally have been 6-10 enclosures, providing shelter for livestock. I note that it is fairly rare to see a healthy crop reaching the edges of fields and I am still concerned that crop rotation just does not seem to happen, although ironically livestock rotation does! (Cow/Sheep/Horse - and here in France Poultry) Us Gardeners certainly take much more care of our plots and that is why a study of the Biodynamic methods would be a useful addition to this Thread.
As ever all Comments welcome.
Happy Gardening!
Had a look at your notes , will need to have a proper read
Hope you are fully recovered
Lovely weather at moment and forecasted to last for the week
Spending day at allotment tomorrow , lots of little jobs I want to do