Here's an interesting site, from Austraila
http://backyardbiodynamics.com/
Moon Gardening Experiment 2012
My neighbors have horses and chickens. We do not have any animals at the moment...other than wild animals...!!! (Deer, rabbits,cougars, raccoons, skunks, coyotes, gophers, moles, voles, ground squirrels, tree squirrels, owls and various birds, stray cats, dogs, horses...LOL....)
So I have a couple of piles of well-aged horse manure. I am just not sure if the hay that they ate was sprayed with anything. I will have to research that. I think everything these days is sprayed with Round Up, or another glyphosate product.
I am too far from Virginia. I have emailed them since they did not show the shipping prices on their website. I am used to ordering straight from a website. That does not seem possible there.
This message was edited Feb 16, 2012 10:41 AM
FA:
February 2012 13th -15th Plant Carrots, Turnips, Onions, Beets, Irish Potatoes And Other Root Crops, In The South. Lettuce, Cabbage, Collards, And Other Leafy Vegetables Will Do Well. Start Seedbeds. Good Days For Transplanting.
Leaf Planet: Scorpio MOON: Last quarter
Synodic:
Do not sow anything in the garden. Instead use this time to weed and harvest. It is an excellent time to start building a new compost heap.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Scorpio:Water sign. Sow Leaf plants like Cabbages. Do not sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans, Cucumbers
Sidereal:
Moon in Scorpio: An excellent time for planting, germination and strong sturdy growth will result Plant Carrots, Turnips, Onions, Beets, Irish Potatoes And Other Root Crops, In The South. Lettuce, Cabbage, Collards, And Other Leafy Vegetables Will Do Well. Start Seedbeds. Good Days For Transplanting.
It looks as though whatever we chose to do today, it will be supported by one of these calendars...LOL!! So on this day, Feb 15th, I sowed the following "leaf" seeds:
Celery Utah Lake Valley Seeds 2012
Coriander/Cilantro Confetti Value Seeds 2009
Cilantro Large Leaf Pinetree Seeds 2010
Lemon Balm Pinetree Seeds 2010
Lemon Grass Pinetree Seeds 2010
Lettuce Australian Yellowleaf Seed Saver's Exchange 2012
Lettuce Baby Oak Cherry Gal Seeds 2010
Lettuce Baby Red Cherry Gal Seeds 2010
Lettuce Bibb Ferry Morse Seeds 2008
Lettuce Buttercrunch Value Seeds 2009
Lettuce Butterhead Red Park Seed 2010
Lettuce Esmerelda Park Seed 2010
Lettuce Grand Rapids Ferry Morse 2000
Lettuce Grand Rapids Ferry Morse 2000
Lettuce Grand Rapids Ferry Morse 2007
Lettuce Marveille De Quarte Saisons Cherry Gal Seeds 2010
Lettuce Red Deer's Tongue trade with Mellen 2009
Lettuce Tom Thumb Page Seeds 1991
Parsley Triple Curled Pinetree Seeds 2010
Spinach Bloomsdale Long Standing Pinetree Seeds 2010
Coleus Wizard Scarlet Pinetree Seeds 2010
Dichondra Silver Falls Park Seed 2010
Dusty Miller Chrysanthemum ptarmicaeflorum Burpee 2010
Dusty Miller Silver Dust Senecio cineraria Swallowtail Seeds 2010
Ornamental Millet Purple Majesty Swallowtail Seeds 2010
Plectranthus Silver Shield Park Seed 2010
This message was edited Feb 16, 2012 10:34 AM
Evelyn, they have a toll-free number on their website, give them a call. I know Ron ships because he has shipped to me. S/H has never been outrageous, either.
Darius, Cristina and drthor ~ Have you started anything new since the beginning of the month, other than what you have already reported?
Anyone else following any of the calendars?
Darius ~ Ron has not yet responded to my email. Thanks for the link to the Aussie website. It has finally loaded. (Sorry, it was just slow to download for me.)
This message was edited Feb 16, 2012 1:54 PM
evelyn what is happening is that water sign are very beneficial and Scorpio gives a strong influence.
As you know we are in Summer over here and I do succession planting Now I am preparing my Autumn planting, up to now I already have planted a cool season spring crop that I already harvested I did follow with summer crop and as I said now I am doing my Autumn vegies.
I will put the some cover crop during winter and this year I will put red clover ....
I was born in Scorpio, and I'm definitely a water baby!
Evelyn, pick up the phone and CALL him; it's free. He closes for lunch, 12-1 EST. PS, he's just a small organic grower who sells stuff because no one else around here does, and he has just 1 helper.
I thought the biodynamic tree paste on that Aussie site was interesting.
This message was edited Feb 16, 2012 6:58 PM
Heh, heh...another Scorpio....me too! I guess I can call him tomorrow.
Tomorrow I will start some tomatoes and also some peas.
I will post the list tomorrow here, and on the tomato forum.
Ok, I'm going to jump in here even though I can't swim. All I want is to try to grow some tomatoes here in zone 8a (I think). The more I read, the more confused I become. I would love to try drthor's way, as he's been successful and we're only any hour's drive apart. Are tomatoes flower or fruit? If I can't start indoors now, will another planting time come around? Can I use the calendar to plant seeds in my Aerogerden to start my tomatoes?
I have great success with houseplants, but haven't been able to grow decent tomatoes since I left my chicken tractors on the farm. We have a nice small lot in the city, but I'm sure the previous owner used fertilizers and pesticides, so organic gardening is a bit of a stretch. But, I have dug out 2 circular rose beds appx 10ft diameter and backfilled with organic rose soil from a reputable supplier. And I would like to do the same with a tomato bed.
Any suggestions are appreciated. Maybe there's a dummies book out there for me...lol
kathy, my tomatoes have failed for the last 2 years, mostly from pests. Oh I had LOTS of tomatoes, just bug-eaten. My understanding is that tomatoes should be rotated around the garden, not replanted in the same area.
Tomatoes are a fruit. Plant today and tomorrow, or again on the 27th, according to drthor's calendar. The calendar says fruit can also be started on the 'flower' day Feb 23 and up to 4pm (eastern time) the 24th. I don't see that overlap happen much.
kathy__bee,
tomatoes are FRUIT crop.
TOO LATE to start seeds indoors right now. Sorry.
The biggest problem in our city is that people start to transplant the tomatoes too late.
When temperature are too hot the tomatoes will not set fruits here in the metroplex.
In the past 3 years I always did transplant out my tomatoes in February (under protections). And I have been very successfull.
Yes, we might have a freeze end of March or beginning of April ... so be ready to cover them.
Have a look at the thread I made last year:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1159852/
It is long ... just watch the pictures ...
Now, seriously it is TOO LATE to start your own tomatoes from seeds.
You can play with your Aerogerden ... if you want ...
As a suggestion, in your Aerogerden grow some Basil, because it is a perfect "companion" plant for yout tomatoes.
You are in the same side of town of North Haven Garden, and soon they will have their tomato sale.
Here is the list: http://www.nhg.com/tomatoes.htm
Call them everyday to know when the plants will arrive. I am serious.
People go crazy for their tomato plants.
While you wait to buy plants, just prepare your beds.
You CANNOT grow good tomatoes on our clay soil. Raised beds is highly recomended.
NHG has a fantastic vegetable mix soil, and add EXPANDED SHALES to that mix and you will set for years.
It might seems that I have shared profit of NHG ... I wish I did ...
I love NHG. They were the only one a few years ago to help me with my vegetable bed ... nobody in town could answer the simple question :"which soil shall I use in my vegetabe garden?"
They also thought me what to plant and when. Their classes are fantatstic.
Honestly their soil it is not cheap, but I NEVER had a problem and I always grow fantastic veggies ALL YEAR AROUND. (yes kathy__bee here in Dallas actually the best season is the fall/winter). At the end I saved a lot of money and frustrations.
Here is a picture of my new veggie bed. Just finished.
It will be full of tomatoes for now.
Good luck to you.
if you are interested I could d-mail you the info of my contractor. He did all the heavy work on moving rocks and bricks for me.
kathy__bee
I really recommend you to attend this class (I did attend it 3 years ago)
Randy Johnson at Texas Discovery Garden (teh butterflies house by Fair park) is just amazing. He though me a lot.
Modern Victory Gardens: Spring/Summer Veggie Gardening
March 17, 2012 from 9 am - Noon
Join a growing trend and learn how to create a bountiful organic community or backyard vegetable garden with Director of Horticulture Randy Johnson.
We cover hands-on seasonal gardening topics. $25; $20 for TDG Members. Register in advance.
http://texasdiscoverygardens.org/events_and_classes.php#mar
Oh my gosh! Thank you so all so much! Drthor, your gardens are beautiful! I have never been to NHG, but I'm headed there today to check it out. I may have to start very small with just a few plants in containers, but if successful, it will spur me on to go bigger as finances/time/space permits.
Darius, I agree with you about rotating tomatoes. I do miss my chickens. I had my best veggie gardens with their help.
Drthor, did you provide shading for your tomatoes during last years intense summer heat? I know it was too hot to expect much production in July and August, but did you cut them back to help them onto the latter part of the summer? Any plants I had in full sun and containers seemed to cook in their planters last year. Perhaps my huge glazed ceramic pots held too much heat for their roots to handle.
I'm so excited! I want to get started this weekend!
No shade for tomatoes.
Here in Dallas they will not produce by mid July or August. Too hot.
I normally grow cucumbers underneath the tomato plants by July 4th ...
The tomato plants will shade the cukes and I will cut down the tomato plants by mid/end of july .
I DO NOT do fall tomatoes ... sorry I have tried, they just do not good for me ... in my limited space I need to make choice.
I rather have all the fall greens instead.
Serioulsy ... if you transplant your tomatoes at the right time (end of Feb, beginning of March) you will have so many tomatoes ...
don't even try to waiste your time on tomato plants july and august
When you go to NHG, make sure you will ask where is their "vegetable garden display". It is in the back.
They have different raised beds all constructed in different ways for ideas ...
ps. Okra does fantastic in our summer heat !!
I just got Maria Thun's Biodynamic Sowing 2012 calendar in the mail. There's a surprising amount of information in it. For one thing, sowing seed and transplanting are not the same. Transplanting should be in the correct sign, BUT only in a descending moon. She also addresses cutting scions (for grafting) in separate times from actually grafting or rooting. Too much info to type it all here.
What does she say about sowing seeds?
Sow according to the calendar.
The new thread will be from Feb 15th on for sowing, planting and results. We can continue to chat in a general way and share info on methods, products and anything related here. I am afraid I have made this thread too general and the ones who would like to participate in the calendars and results should be able to refer to it easily, if that is OK with everyone here.
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1243056/
Darius, have you sown your leeks yet? Anyone else sown anything since Feb 15th? Please let's share our sowings and results on the new thread, and we can continue to chat about the various aspects of gardening by the moon and the various calendars here.
Welcome kathy_bee and ErzsebetF to the forum!
I planted the Babington leeks Feb 12 (root day, moon in Virgo). So far one tray (the greenest of the rooted bublets) has tiny sprouts coming up on the tops of a few of the bublets! I just discovered I didn't mark the florence fennel date on the tray, but fortunately I posted it above, the 13th. The broadleaf sage I planted on the 7th (leaf day, moon on a node) is breaking through the potting soil; unfortunately the white ceremonial sage done at the same time isn't doing as well. Only 1 seedling out of 6 seeds... 2 came up very fast, but one has pooped out.
I cut fruit scions for rooting 2 days ago, and today dipped in hormone and "planted" 16 elderberries, 15 Nanking cherries (for the birds), and 12 filberts. I've never tried to do woody cuttings before, so it will be interesting. The biodynamic book I got today says scions should be cut when the moon is ascending, and then planted at the right time. Mine were cut in a descending moon...
I still have Beach Plums and black currants to cut stems for rooting when the signs are right again, and I also need to see what else is still available in the yard or my neighbor's yard. I have Osage Orange and Siberian Pea Shrub seeds stratifying in the fridge (and some ginseng seeds), but those need at least another month in there.
I guess my post above should rightly go on the new page Evelyn started. I'll copy the relevant bits over...
darius,
I have laminated the calendar insert in M. Thun book.
I have attached to my laundry room electric panel with magnets ... so it is easy to look at every day.
I just follow the colors and do not ask many questions.
Good luck to you !
Darius ~ You have been busy. Yes, it will be interesting to see what hardwood cuttings come through. I did some last year with good results, but not with fruit trees, just some small shrubs.
drthor ~ Great idea, about the chart lamination. I keep my charts by my seeds as I have different kinds of charts. Mainly when to sow, as I missed some of the earlies last year. And thanks to you and others, I will time my cole crops a bit better this coming summer.
drthor, that's a good idea, but the insert doesn't include the planetary aspects nor the notes for the month. I'm intrigued by her comments like "seeds sown at times of opposition resulted in a higher yield of top quality crops"... and I LOVE the pictorial pages of the moon through the phases and constellations!
Darius ~ I have a question...does she say that one can plant flowering plants when it is time to plant fruiting plants?
Not really. Just ONE time in the whole year, and that's after 6pm Feb. 22, and until 4pm (all Eastern times) Feb. 23. Look at drthor's photo of the Feb. page above.
darius ... I just follow the colors in the calendar ... it is enough for me.
They have done all the studies and so far the calendar has NEVER been wrong.
Good luck to you !
I agree that is enough for gardening, BUT the notes also mention things like making yogurt, which I didn't see until AFTER I made the last batch for my cat who loves yogurt. She won't touch it, and now I see the notes say I made it on the only time of the month I should NOT have made yogurt. sigh
Darius ~ Have you tasted the yogurt?
drthor ~ I like easy, and color-coded. Your garden is the proof enough that all the things that you are doing, does indeed, work. Have you yet recovered from all your hard work? Every spring I am not prepared for all the pain that follows. Right now it is drizzling outside. Hardly enough to call it a rain, but we need the moisture as we are already into drought if we don't get a lot more rain before summer, as it rarely rains in summer in California. We have had only small amaounts of snow, not anything like last year, but don't want that much either! I guess we gardeners are never happy with the weather. I have a earache and sore throat, so I wouldn't be working outside today anyway.
Cristina ~ Has it been a hot, dry summer for you?
No, I didn't taste it. The texture is grainy, but it smells okay... and I know the milk was good because I did taste it first.
evelyn_inthegarden
today did rain the all day and night ...
My poor tomatoes ... I hope they didn't drown.
I was prepared for wind and cold ... but nor the wet ...
oh well ... let's hope they can make the night ...if they do they will be ok ...
otherwise i will make a trip to the nursery ...
This is a hobby for me and I love challenges ... it is fun ...
drthor ~ You did not sound like it was so much fun. We all have our variables when it comes to weather. I hope you don't have to replace them with store bought nursery starts after all the hard work and patience you put into this project.
My earache and sore throat is just about gone, but now I have bronchitis. I just have to avoid it getting any worse, so I have not been working outside at all for the last few days. I am beginning to feel better, so hopefully this will be it for the year.
Thanks and wish you the best.
also to me and my tomatoes too !
I haven't had all the time I'd like to have, mum has had a relapse and she was in hospital for a couple of days.
The weather has been, as usual, changing and we are on a bit of a drought, also the UV is really bad here, I thought that in Sydney was bad but here is worse, Southern south America is right under the ever growing Ozone hole, making the sun really bad for about 4 to 5 hours when is right on top of us, dry the soil badly so mulch, mulch and mulch and if it gets too hot burn the leaves of some trees, usually the ornamental suffers much more than fruit trees.
I do have few beds under fruit trees and it does work well for lettuce cucumber, cilantro, beets and others leafy vegies.
Sorry to hear about your mother, Christina. Hope she heals quickly!
Prayers for you and your mum. ^_^
Thanks so much, it is appreciated ....
I have started to harvested fennel this week.
I read that if a root crop is planted in the correct date it will look good, otherwise it will have a funny shape.
Look at my first fennel of this year: perfect shape.
Everything I have planted in the garden right now following M. Thun calendar is doing well.
My next large planting date will be MARCH 14th, which it is supposed to be a super good day to start FRUIT crop.
I will start from seeds indoor: okra, zucchini, cucumbers and some beans ..
Yep, I plan to start fruiting things then too. I've had great success with her calendar, and although I've had some damping off, it's my fault and not the calendar!
I gave in to temptation and took up ONE of the elderberry cuttings I stuck recently. It has some nice roots almost an inch long already. Yahoo!