Bio dynamic gardening by the moon.

[Andy Hamilton]

I have been planting some stuff bio dynamically this year. Following the exact timings etc. It was not until I looked again that I noticed that I was planting for the moon cycle of the Southern Hemisphere. Der.

Ah well back on track again now and off to plant the last of my onion sets. It will be interesting to see if the red onions planted late but bio dynamically will come off better than the bio dynamically planted brown onions.

[theabsinthefairy]

I experimented with bio dynamic planting last year, and this year have made my own preparations to use in conjunction with lunar plantings.

I have to admit I found some of the lunar detail awkward to follow because of the weather conditions that we experienced last year, so I followed it broadly speaking, and had a good year.

Whilst I did not comparison test on my own land I did do so against my French farmer neighbours traditional methods - and found we did have a greater level of success - which he found very difficult to understand bearing in mind I planted so differently to him and did not follow his advice, and he had dismissed us as city dwellers masquerading as hippy types!

Bio dynamics is not something that you see or hear a lot of in general sites and I find the specialists a bit too narrow minded - it would be interesting to hear what other people have tried and their success rates.

Monika

[Clara]

I planted my tatties on Saturday following the advice of a French neighbour who follows a particular calendar, when I mentioned it to a German friend of mine who trained as a biodynamic farmer he told me the day to do it was today!

It seems there might be a difference between farming by the moon and strict biodynamic principles (which takes the position of other planets in to account too).

So anyhow, potatoes planted after the full moon for root growth - lets see how they fair. I´ve made a small experiment with my parsnips in that I planted a a bed before full moon and a bed after, they are right next to each other and have the same soil etc. But I guess it will be a while before I can feedback on that.

[ina]

I´ve made a small experiment with my parsnips in that I planted a a bed before full moon and a bed after, they are right next to each other and have the same soil etc. But I guess it will be a while before I can feedback on that.

And if you are anything like me, you will have forgotten which one was which by the time they are out.

I keep meaning to get myself one of those calendars; mostly I just have to make do when weather and work allow me to do it.

[Annpan]

Same here Ina... it would be nice if it would stop raining, snowing, hailing or being too darn windy. Then I might get the rest of my onions in and my potatoes planted.

Can someone explain the basic principles please?

I understand the full moon ought to bring moisture to the surface, making sowing seeds more sucsessfull, but is there a time to plant for roots or for leaves or fruit?

[theabsinthefairy]

My April calendar is drawn out on bits of paper and very colourfully illustrated with my daughters felt tip pens. If today is another grotty day I might get round to sticking it on a more readable format for public consumption

[theabsinthefairy]

Has anyone else tried making their own preparations?

[ina]

I understand the full moon ought to bring moisture to the surface, making sowing seeds more sucsessfull, but is there a time to plant for roots or for leaves or fruit?

Yes, there is - but I don't understand enough of it myself... We did use the system most of the time at the market garden where I worked, and the results were good - but I don't know whether that was the reason for it...

MMhh, must get a book on this.

[theabsinthefairy]

Here is a link to a simple lunar calendar .

http://www.astrologie-info.com/mocal.cgi

[snapdragon]

not heard of biodynamics - but I tend to plant for fruit / top growth while the moon is waxing and for root growth while she's waning, including potting on/planting out etc. and weeding (if possible) in the 'dark of moon' phase
It's not a new system though, it's a very ancient one

[frozenthunderbolt]

I believe that seymour has a little green hardcover book that touches on/relates to this . . . what was it called *shuffels off*

[Peggy Sue]

I had great plans for this, following a website claender I found, but the OH just wants to do it when he fancies it- so having amde him wait and wait til Easter when the moon would be right for the carrots and beetroot...it snowed 2" That moon is having a laugh

[Meredith]

I sow my seeds that are meant to grow above round in the waxing moon and the root crops in a waning moon. I am a simple soul and I know there is far more to it than that but that is as far as I have got.

I usually fair pretty well.

[godfreyrob]

A sceptic here, but I think all these unusual growing methods only appear to work because the people using them tend to devote a great deal of TLC to the well-being of the vegetables anyway.

All that’s really required is your presence so that you can; water the crops when its hot and dry, transplant them before they get pot-bound, pull out weeds before they get too big, pick off caterpillars before they strip the plant, pick vegetables early before it gets tough or goes to seed, etc. A bit of knowledge and a lot of love! That’s what gardening is all about!

[Peggy Sue]

Oh I do hope so coz I'm down the lottie every day, and I have suspicion I did far more watering than any of my neighbours last year- I think it really paid off. Especially with the purple sprouting which is a forest!

I am going to try half a row of 'planted at correct time' and half a roww of planted anytime give them equal attention and see what happens- there is a time factor here though unless they are just a few days apart which is possible I guess.