phases of the moon

 

Does anybody here garden by biodynamics or the phases of the moon, I'm
thinking of giving it a try.

--
Mark Hamer
www.another-way.co.uk

I don't want to arrive at my grave in an attractive and well preserved body,
hopefully I will be skidding in
sideways, Gin and Tonic in one hand -- Cigar in the other screaming YAHAAAY!

 


If you, for example, sow plants by the phase of the moon, that means
that there's a 4 week variation in the time of year that you sow the
plants. While the optimal time for sowing varies from year to year, for
most crops I doubt that the variation at one location amounts to this
much. In any one year the optimal time for sowing varies according to
location (it's not the same in Penzance as in Peterhead). So apart from
the lack of positive reasons to hold that the phase of the moon is a
predominant determinant of the optimal time for sowing, there are
negative reasons leading us to doubt the efficacy of the practice.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley

 

On Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:09:42 +0100, Stewart Robert Hinsley


One explanation I heard for sowing by the phases of the moon was that,
just as the height of tides varies with the lunar cycle from neap to
spring tides, so the height of groundwater varies likewise. By
choosing the right part of the cycle (whatever that might be), the
water table will be higher so the seedlings are better watered.

My neighbour has an old well in his garden, and the water level tells
him where the water table is. For a couple of years when he first
moved there he measured the depth to the water surface on a daily
basis, out of interest. Whilest it varied significantly through the
year, as you would expect, there was absolutely no sign of a monthly
'tidal' variation. I imagine a lot of the biodynamic stuff is
similarly unsubstantiated.

--
 
Chris

Gardening in West Cornwall overlooking the sea.
Mild, but very exposed to salt gales

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net

 

Thanks for those replies, yes I am aware of many of the issues and
critiques. However I am looking for people who actually do it.
--
Mark Hamer
www.another-way.co.uk

 


While understanding that you wish local UK input - which will probably
be forthcoming - I would suggest that you may consider asking any
gardening (especially vegetable gardening) friends you may have in, for
example, Italy, France or Spain. I have never actually tried to harness
the "powers" of the lunar cycle so much followed by many friends I have
in the countries I mention. Certain of these would no more dream of
planting out of this cycle than fly to the hub of their plan :-))

I do hope you get helpful responses from others as, if I can get myself
organised and get my head around the principles, I would be very happy
to test the theory next year in part of my veg beds.

Thank you for raising an interesting point .... it's probably been
discussed before but not that I can recall, although I have been lurking
only for a few years.
--
Gopher .... I know my place!
Deepest Dorset