That's great !
I love Maria Thun calendar ... so easy ...
My friend didn't believe me and she planted her carrots on LEAF days ... ah ah ... funny shaped carrots !!
Moon Gardening Experiment 2012
drthor ~ Will you please post your BD calendar either and/or here and under cristina's calendars?
Thanks, Evelyn
Evelyn,
I think I will break copyrights rules if I scan and post Maria Thun's Calendar in DG.
The calendar comes in a book and I dunno want any troubles.
Didn't you already post the one for last month. I saw the color-coded calendar, and I thought that you had posted it. But, you are probably right about the copyright. You might try to contact Maria Thun and ask her permission. she might like that and allow you to do it, as it might encourage more people to buy her books and calendars.
Darius ~ Do you make a lot of potato and leek soup? My husband likes to make it. I have not yet grown any leeks. Maybe I will give them a try. Especially since I will be growing potatoes. I have some seeds, but I do not recall the variety.
Yes, I do. I use a LOT of leeks so I always grow them. They are SO expensive to buy. Same for shallots. I seldom grow onions, but garlic, shallots and leeks always get planted!
I clean, slice and many dehydrate leeks too; they don't store a long time like garlic and shallots.
I just read online today that Maria Thun (The Biodynamic Planting Calendar) died in February of this year, 2 months short of her 90th birthday.
Her son and daughter have worked with her for many years and will continue her work.
Just catching up reading here. Thanks for the info Darius. I think it's really a great tribute to their mom that they are continuing with her work. Sad to consider how much knowledge is lost when older folks pass with no one to pass along that experience to.
Today, March 29th, with the Moon in Taurus, being a "root day" on the byodynamic calendar I put 11 cal-Organic (sprouted) potatoes, that were ready to plant for quite a while now. I was waiting for the right time, and of course, not when it was snowing, LOL!! It rained yesterday and the night before last with a lot of wind.
Those potatoes have been covered by compost 3 times already as they are growing vigorously.
The peas have yet to sprout, but the seedlings are doing well. Our weather has been variable to say the least. It has been cold and windy today, and they are predicting a "chance of rain". And then another warm-up for the next few days after that. It is a miracle that any plant knows what to do. So far the apple trees have not yet shown any buds or blooms. Not sure if they will or if they already got knocked off. The companion plants for apples is nasturtiums. I hope I remember to do this this year. When spring comes, there are SO many things to do all at once.
Some of the spinach has bolted due the warm weather, and some has not...go figure!
I think it is too late to plant any more of it, but since I have seedlings not yet up to size, I will plant them in the shady side of corn and/or tomatoes. Same thing with my lettuce seedlings. The parsley and cilantro seedlings are coming along nicely as I have recently pricked them out into pots and/or cell packs.
It is almost time to start squash, beans and melons as well as corn. I will wait for the appropriate moon sign and go from there. If the weather continues to be variable, I could start a few inside. I think we are frost free now, but we still could get rain and cold, windy weather. I know they all like the warmth. I have been thinking of a portable greenhouse. I have tomato starts ready to put out as well, though some are farther along than others.
May is here already! Where does the time go? I will try and catch up with posting my sowings and results on the other thread. Feel free to share with us your results as well.
Evelyn, I have been keeping track of my seedlings, cuttings and transplants... just haven't had much time to post. Of the telling of the tale will be when everything fruits!
Yes I suppose that would be the way to do it. Also, if you sow or cut any in a different sign of the moon than the others and how they fare. I need to erect a spread sheet as my notebook is filling up quickly. I have not included enough details in the book, but I have saved the sheets from the website so I can transfer the info there.
Evelyn, I am new to growing potatoes. Having managed to keep the cutworm/army worms from completely eating their tops off, I am wondering how I will know when they are ready to dig up. Is there some way to know without actually digging up a plant (potatoes)? This last week the weather turned hot (highs in the upper 90's and low hundreds) so the plants are looking rather rough. They were so beautiful couple of weeks ago before the caterpillars got on them. I welcome any advice you may have (or anyone else too.)
I think that they are ready when the tops die down. Anyone else? I will dig mine in fall this year, since last year they did not get large enough. I have some in square foot gardens and some in a raised bed in the ground. I am also curious to see which does better.
You can start harvesting potatoes when they are flowering as an early early crop, 2 to 3 month after planting, the main harvest is when the plant have turned brown, 4 month after planting and or the brown plants are removed.
Remember, some varieties do not flower.
Potatoes needs to be harvested when the vines are killed to permit the skin to set and need to be harvested at certain temperatures to maximize the length for optimum storage. If the temperature is too warm, the pulp deteriorates before cooling can occur. If temperature is too cool, the potatoes are bruised during harvest.
If there is not danger of heavy or lots of rain, you can leave them in the ground for a couple of weeks providing the soil / bed have good drainage and there is not danger of damage cause by feral animals.
Hope this help!
Okay, thank you Evelyn and Cristina