Anyone else in the eclipse vortex?

If so, thankfully April is a highlight of the gardening year, providing us with plenty of opportunity to get outside and rebalance.

Eclipses occur at new or full moon, and it’s advisable to steer clear of cultivation during these lunar phases, especially when amplified by the eclipse alignment like the new moon/solar eclipse today. Take some time instead to go slowly, recharge and get prepared for the primary planting windows later in the cycle. Both seed and flower crop windows are slightly longer than usual this month, great for planting winter legumes and spring flowers. The root crop window at the end of the month continues for another couple of days, finishing up on May 2nd.

As always, primary planting windows and aspects follow the sidereal system.

AUTUMN.

Definitely my favourite season. March is tracking as it usually does (hot and dry), but the drop in night temperature is becoming noticeable, as are the seed heads readily forming on summer annuals. With the big autumn plant out in April fast approaching, it’s advisable to start prepping in advance now. As crops turn and finish, aerate, feed and mulch the soil. A month or so of rest before planting out again will go a long way.

Its a lovely month cosmically with a penumbral lunar eclipse kicking off the first eclipse season for ‘24 and the autumn equinox (Mabon). The autumn equinox marks the official shift towards decreasing light in the annual cycle and the slowing down of germination and growth. Mabon is the second of the harvest celebrations in the Wheel of the Year calendar. It’s a time for preserving and storing, giving thanks to the abundance of summer, preparing for the cool months ahead and the general slowing of pace in the natural rhythm.

As always, primary planting window dates and aspects follow the sidereal system (+ tropical aspects alongside the sidereal for new and full moon - purple symbols).

Happy gardening!

With regard to gardening at this time of the year, I find that February can sometimes be a struggle. The late summer switch between heat and humidity brings a wide range of issues to tired crops and plants that can be frustrating. The silver lining to this though is that it is the end of the season, and we can simply lift summer plants and crops that are stressed, diseased or dying back earlier than expected. This will prevent the spread of disease and also provide us with an opportunity to start doing spot soil amelioration in preparation for autumn.

For plants and crops that are doing well, it’s time to enjoy the harvest. This is reflected in the first Wheel of the Year observation for the Southern Hemisphere, Lughnasadh. Lughnasadh is the observance and celebration of ripening fruits, summer grains and of a bountiful harvest season before the upcoming shift towards the cooler seasons of the year.

Planting windows and cosmic dates for the month below. As always, all transits follow the sidereal system.

Happy harvest!

*All aspects and transits follow the sidereal system

Moon Opposite Saturn

In biodynamic practice, the crucial factor that differentiates it from other agricultural practices, is its use of the biodynamic sprays and preparations. These can be either soil, atmospheric, or compost preparations. While you can use these during the descending moon period each month (which is roughly a two week period), when it comes to horn manure (500) and silica (501) in particular, to get peak results its best to spray out when the Moon is opposite Saturn.

Moon opposite Saturn icon used throughout the 2023 Almanac

This opposition occurs once a month, as the moon and Saturn transit to opposite sides of the earth. Its through this polarity (and the alignment of the inner and outer planets), that the opposing energies combine forces and radiate back over the earth, creating a synergy and balance of lime-silica between planets, soil and plants. The moon and its calcium & water influence on plants maximises germination and growth. Saturn, and its silica influence on plants, maximises good structure and form, as well as the ripeness and flavour of crops.

Its ideal to spray out the horn manure preparation (BD500) on the evening of the Moon opposite Saturn, followed by horn silica (BD501) the morning after. When it comes to getting started with using the biodynamic preps, using BD500 & 501 is a great way to start. They’re readily available from reputable biodynamic organisations, easy to use (small amounts go a long way) and incorporating Moon opposite Saturn spray dates encourages even more rhythm to the monthly celestial program of planting, management, harvesting and maintenance. Not to mention thriving crops and very happy soil. Which is after all, the key to success.

Moon opposite Saturn in the January planting grid of the 2023 Almanac

Moon opposite Saturn is a new addition to the 2023 Almanac and all dates are listed on all the monthly planting grids and diary pages for the year.

Horn manure (500), Silica (501) & Equisetum (508)

2023 Almanac : Holistic Cultivation

‘When farming and gardening holistically, the focus is not the end point of harvest, but on the creation of a system that supports healthy life from the soil to the community and environment around it’

The holistic cultivation chapter in the almanac introduces the basic fundamentals of the key holistic agricultural frameworks of biodynamics, permaculture, regenerative ag and first nations agriculture (in particular biodynamics). These frameworks all have one thing in common which is to work with, to nurture and to give back to nature. Personally, I have never really understood the need to ‘definitively’ and only practice one of these frameworks and become exclusive or dogmatic about it (particularly here, permaculture and BD). There are so many wonderful concepts, strategies, tools and theories from all these frameworks that can and should (IMO) be used in harmony with one another. As mentioned above, the end goal here isn’t just about bumper harvests, but rather to work in collaboration with and in deference to, nature and to encourage and welcome others to do the same. While the almanac is a biodynamic resource, the more information and strategies we have on hand to enrich our holistic farming and gardening skills, the better.

The major changes and updates in this years holistic cultivation chapter are found in the biodynamic section. This year I have included information on the biodynamic sprays/preps and how and when to use them. This also ties in neatly with the new addition to the monthly planting grid, which is the inclusion of Moon opposite Saturn dates every month. More on this soon.

Another fundamental change and addition to not only the biodynamic section but to the entire almanac is that the 2023 edition (and beyond) uses sidereal time as opposed to the more commonly used tropical system. Sidereal time is found through the astronomical positions of the planets in relation to the fixed constellations. It also allows for the precession of the equinoxes - often making it more accurate. Throughout the almanac, this will mean that certain lunar transits through the constellations differ slightly from resources that use the tropical system. The sidereal system was used by Maria Thun and as this almanac follows her research, and strategies, switching over to the sidereal system was a logical change.

The recommended resources section has been updated to include plenty of new publications, alongside essential tomes for each category….

Order now to make Xmas delivery!

Interplanting & meadow crops

I’ve been a huge fan of interplanting for as long as I can remember. This started out in my early vegetable cultivation days with the traditional process of using companion plants like basil, marigolds, the three sisters, alyssum, calendula, chives, dill, radishes….

However, as I moved towards floriculture, I needed to start thinking about maximising space and yield while also increasing biodiversity on the farm. Interplanting and ‘meadow’ plantings were the perfect solution. Interplanting is the process of growing two (or more) crops alongside each other in the same bed with one maturing faster than the other and meadow plantings are a mixed planting of beneficial (often native) flowering crops.

Interplanting paradise…

Lets start with the interplanting. I have three beds that I’m using interplanting in and then another three that I’ll use as meadow beds for the upcoming season. With three beds given over to roses and hydrangeas, it means that these shrubs and beds are permanent and essentially, with just two varieties of plants in them, not maximising the space throughout the seasons. By interplanting them with crops that flower during a different season/timeframe (while not interfering with the nutrient needs of the main crop), it means that not only can I add these beds into production when they would otherwise be dormant, but I’m also keeping the soil web thriving and biodiversity/habitat active and accessible throughout the slower months. With both hydrangeas and roses being deciduous, I’ve interplanted them with species that will flower from mid winter through to late spring, with the first of these being my hellebore crop. Usually recommended to grow in shaded, woody areas, I’ve found that having my hellebores exposed to full winter sun has really increased flowering and by next winter after dividing this years crop, I’ll have a steady supply of hellebores throughout winter. The other benefit of this interplanting combo is that by the time the heat and harsh sun of summer rolls in, the roses and hydrangeas will be in full leaf and flower, shading out and protecting the heat sensitive hellebores that will be well on their way to the end of their yearly cycle.

Hyds throwing shade for the hellebores

In the rose beds, I trialled interplanting forget-me-nots last season and I was really happy with the results. I let them self seed last year and they’ve slowly been coming up from just after the solstice and growing on throughout winter. These forget-me-not seedlings act as a living mulch, preventing weeds from infiltrating and also acting as a soil insulator. Forget-me-nots aren’t heavy feeders and wont interfere with or deplete the nutrients in the soil that the roses need for a good flowering season, and they also provide a good source of filler flower I can harvest from as they reach maturity/flowering. The other thing I love about using forget-me-nots in this way is that they attract in beneficial and predatory insects, helping to protect the fresh juicy growth of the roses from pests.

Roses & forget-me-nots teaming up early in the season

Now onto meadow crops. Meadow planting is often done using native grasses and flowers with the idea being to increase biodiversity, habitat, natural resilience and to store water and carbon. Being a cut flower farm not growing native flowers, I’ve switched up the species but the idea remains the same. In my meadow beds I’ll be planting out flower crops that readily self seed, support one another, provide habitat and of course, provide a mix of flowers I can harvest from. By incorporating self seeding crops, this minimises seasonal tillage (storing carbon) and perennials included in this mix will provide deep root systems that catch and store water in the substrate, while also maintaining aeration and microbial life.

Cosmos & larkspur will be used in the meadow beds again this year

Species I’m using in these beds range from delphiniums and larkspur through to chocolate lace, Queen Anne’s lace nigella, cosmos, scabiosa, chamomile, feverfew, rudbeckia and zinnia. These will all be split into groupings that work well together in terms of soil and water requirements, height and spacing (for both competition and structural support here) and respective flowering windows.

Watch this space….

Self seeded Queen Anne’s lace last season providing the inspiration for more meadow beds this year…

Imbolc & the Wheel of The Year

The Wheel of the year is a traditional pagan and wiccan calendar that celebrates and observes pivotal seasonal moments throughout the year. The first of these being held at the Winter Solstice aka - the gardening New Year. Wheel of the Year dates are brought forward roughly six months for the southern hemisphere to be in keeping with the relevant seasons.

Spring bulbs will be starting to bloom, usually one of the first of the spring flower crops….

Imbolc is the second of the annual celebrations and observes the very beginnings of Spring. Imbolc falls between Yule (the winter solstice) and Ostara (the spring equinox), and is celebrated from August 1st- 7th, although the shadow of the festival continues throughout the rest of the month leading up to Ostara.

Imbolc is a time to celebrate and notice the first of the warm spring winds after the bitter winter squalls, the migratory birds arriving to nest again, the emergence of bud and leaf on dormant plants. With only a month left of winter, soil temperatures are increasing, germination of seed is quickening and the general energy of plants, animals and insects will also be visibly increasing.

The Wheel of the Year is often derided or put in a box that discredits its foundations. There are several other elements that can be celebrated during each observance, but at their very core the festivals and celebrations are all centered around the natural world, the rhythm of the seasons throughout the year and how we can honour and celebrate the intricacies that come with each season.

I find that being aware of these seasonal observances and what they mean is a gentle yet effective way of keeping in touch with the subtle shifts in energy of the natural world and landscape throughout the year. There is a fluidity to the Wheel of the Year that encourages a practice of cultivation that embraces the seasonal energies and patterns and allows for solid and consequently successful seasonal timings.

The Wheel of the Year is included in both the almanac and lunar planting poster annually.

The Wheel of the Year in the 2022 Almanac

AUGUST IN THE GARDEN →

August is probably one of my favourite months of the gardening year. Even though its still cold and wintery, there is a distinct change in energy. Plants will be budding up with the first of the spring blooms starting, birdsong changes, the mornings are lighter and the increase in insect and pollinator life is clearly visible. Abuzz, if you will.

August is the ideal time to get a jump on spring plantings of warm season crops and to get prepared for the months of abundance on the way. The primary lunar planting windows of leaf, flower and seed crops are early and in quick succession this month, within the waxing crescent ingress to waxing gibbous moon phases and root crops are late within the third week of the lunar month (dates found below).

Rogue frost is still a factor at play during August so its advisable to start tender spring annual seed in seed trays where they can be protected and the hardier seed that wont mind the odd frost can be direct sown.

Spring flowers incoming…

Late winter is generally when I’ll give spring flowering perennial crops a feed. During winter when plants and shrubs are dormant, fertilising isn’t necessary and its also counterproductive as it encourages plants to shoot too early and to be susceptible to frost damage and poor growth. Generally by August however, plants are back in bud or leaf again and topdressing these perennial beds is of benefit and will see them through to flowering.

Its important when fertilising to make sure compost is thoroughly broken down and to also keep the influx of nitrogen in balance. Too much nitrogen will result in rapid growth that ultimately weakens the plant, encourages pests and diseases and lessens flowering or fruiting (the plant will put more energy into leaf production if overloaded with nitrogen).

If using a slow release fertiliser, always choose an organic product as these will usually have a lower NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) analysis than the synthetic options. Having a lower NPK analysis is of benefit as a lower, steadier release of minerals to the soil will see regulated growth and mitigation of vulnerability to pests, burn, wilt and disease that can occur with the higher NPK analysis found in synthetic fertiliser.

Don’t over fertilise that juicy new growth!

Along with getting started in earnest with seed sowing and the early spring plant out, August is a good time to get some housekeeping done and to make sure tools are clean and ready for another season. Its easy to forget to keep tools clean but its essential in stopping the spread of disease throughout the garden.

Lunar dates & primary planting windows in August