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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2006 10:47:23 GMT
As we haven't been long in the area, I don't want to appear rude or dim to one of our neighbours.
She insists on gardening using the phases of the moon and seems hell bent on me doing the same. She says that I would have to mow the lawn a lot less (OH does that anyway) but is there anyone who has had any experience of this?
I do have a friend that only goes to the dentist at certain times of the year - whichever moon phase it is - but I never quite realised that things grew slower or better depending on the moon.
BB
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Post by Plocket on Dec 4, 2006 11:26:45 GMT
I think it's a load of tosh! They'll be doing horoscopes for the plants next!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 4, 2006 11:26:49 GMT
I don't see why there shouldn't be some influence on plantlife - it affects animal and bird behaviour for sure and they're more 'connected' to natural influences than we are... there's a lot of info if you google 'moon phases gardening'.... though that could all have been placed by lunatics, I suppose...
SS, your easy flippancy is amusing (sometimes) but can rather kill a thread, you know...
perhaps you might bear in mind the old "gentleman" definition: "someone who knows how to play the bagpipes - but doesn't" it would help inform you better as to when to 'contribute' to gardening threads. I really couldn't care less what nonsense you get up to in 'anything goes'.
DD
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Post by sweetleaf on Dec 4, 2006 11:47:35 GMT
I seem to remember Obelixx was looking into that, perhaps she may have some input when she logs on, I have had conversations on the beeb about it. which were ridiculed I believe by 1CA and MikeyToon, both professional gardeners.
This does not necessarily make it irrelevant though, in my view.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2006 11:42:14 GMT
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Post by 4pygmies on Dec 5, 2006 18:09:47 GMT
Sleepy, sshh, sugar plum! I think this is interesting. Makes a certain amount of sense to me although I do think it's carried to extremes by a lunatic fringe (see, Sleepy?). I have met people who swear by it particularly an old chap who'd been gardening for several decades using the moon calender- and he was a very successful gardener. I think it's extremely likely that the moon does influence plant in ways which we have no idea about yet. And if Sleepy starts calling me a lunatic I shall don my teflon pants, load the flamethrower and defend myself vigorously! ( You wouldn't like me when I'm angry....)
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Post by sweetleaf on Dec 5, 2006 18:54:08 GMT
It may well be that full moons give enough light to kickstart germination, some of those moonlit nights are pretty light after all!
As Rita`s link said, it only takes a moment and theyre off!
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Post by obelixx on Dec 6, 2006 15:41:46 GMT
Sowing and planting by the moon has been going on since man first started to cultivate his own food and is based on observing its effect on water tables, and water content in seeds, plants and the soil. It is clear to anyone that the moon's phases influence tides so if whole oceans can be affected, why not water available in the ground to roots. Some people take it further and relate moon phases to zodiac signs to give fruit days, veg days, flower days and do nothing in the garden days. The days when the moon passes through Aries, Gemini and Leo for example, are supposed to be particularly barren days when you should concentrate on weeds and hoeing and only harvest roots and fruits. There's a stack of info out there in books and on the web. I like this one as a basic guide - www.gardeningbythemoon.com/phases.html and will, initially, just use the waxing and waning to influence my sowing, cuttings and planting next spring. I did take some emergency cuttings from a clematis my OH decapitated this autumn on a waning day and they have both taken. And for all who scoff - just remember that the organic movement after the 2nd world war was seen as the lunatic fringe and now it's mainstream. Any system which can reduce our dependency on tap water and chemicals has to be worth exploring. |
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Post by 4pygmies on Dec 6, 2006 15:43:58 GMT
Hear hear. Quite right Obelix!
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Post by oldmoleskins on Mar 2, 2007 20:33:30 GMT
well, is this a resurrection or is this a resurrection - I guess some of you must have seen the Kew 'trial' tonight, and the strong indication that seed sowing at waxing moonphase produces more of a harvest...
OM.
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Mar 2, 2007 21:13:12 GMT
Speaking as a lunatic I am willing to give it a go...seeing as we're about to embark on the 'CPB's Mad Veggie Plot Adventure' (thread to come no doubt once we've started in earnest).
I love the idea of being guided by the same influences as our forefathers....and don't forget Mother nature...mind you I HAVE had 4 tequilas and it IS Friday night....
If anybody else has tried it I'd be grateful of advice...now where's me glass....?
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Post by oldmoleskins on Mar 2, 2007 21:24:34 GMT
Go Cheery, go Cheery...
OM.
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 3, 2007 9:01:41 GMT
Has anyone got a link to the Kew Trials please.
I couldn't find it.
Thanks
RF
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Post by oldmoleskins on Mar 3, 2007 9:10:27 GMT
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Post by 4pygmies on Mar 3, 2007 12:31:00 GMT
I thought it was a very interesting bit of the programme. Unfortunately I was invaded by returning children just as it got to the results so I'm looking forward to seeing the link. I still think it's very likely to have an affect on plants. Many of those old ways are now proving to be based on scientific principles which we are only now discovering. What a surprise...Cheers OM.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 4, 2007 18:30:49 GMT
For my own point of view i can't see how the moon can fail but to have an effect on anything on the earth even if it is just about timing. Long before we had mechanical time pieces man used the sun and moon as his watch, for days, months, season's and years....so maybe plants use the very same thing to tell time and guide them what they should be doing next.  How many still plant their garlic on the shortest day and harvest on the longest? |
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Mar 4, 2007 18:40:18 GMT
You know...I'm quite keen now I've read a bit more about it. I'm not a believer in hocus pocus (altho Focus were a great band  ) but I agree with Ziggy's appraisal of the practice...I'm gonna give it a go me ;D |
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 5, 2007 12:29:46 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Mar 7, 2007 15:27:45 GMT
I saw the trial and I am open minded but the difference in the moon phased gardening and "normal" gardening was too minimal to make it a definate result for me.
Maybe it does work but I would need to see a trial in a bit more detail and a wider gap in the results to prove it.
Each to their own I say, it would be a boring place if we all did the same thing ;D
Focus - yep great band. Sylvia and "the other one I can never rmemeber" were great tunes.
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) but I agree with Ziggy's appraisal of the practice...I'm gonna give it a go me ;D