Sowing by the moon

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Sowing by the moon
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Green Rosie

Joined: 13 May 2007
Posts: 10498
Location: Calvados, France

Posted: Fri May 14, 10 10:42 am Post subject: Sowing by the moon
Does anyone sow seeds according to the moon phases. My neighbour reckons I should delay any sowings now until a few days after the new moon appears.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Fri May 14, 10 10:47 am Post subject:
Not me. I reckon the seeds will still be there when the new moon appears - if there's any truth in it - and will do their thing when they choose. I've no doubt my neighbour will be out waggling his finger tomorrow however.

Cathryn

Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 19856
Location: Ceredigion

Posted: Fri May 14, 10 10:48 am Post subject:
I sow when I get the opportunity to do so. (Loosely) controlled experiment?

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Fri May 14, 10 10:58 am Post subject:

Cathryn wrote:

I sow when I get the opportunity to do so.

Damn right too.

Quote:

(Loosely) controlled experiment?

If you like.

cassy

Joined: 04 Feb 2008
Posts: 1047
Location: South West Scotland

Posted: Fri May 14, 10 11:09 am Post subject:

Cathryn wrote:

(Loosely) controlled experiment?

I'd be up for this. I was trying to plan a randomised trial. I was thinking of sowing each day for a number of days without consciously knowing what the moon was doing or when the best time to plant supposedly was and keeping a record of the results. There's several flaws in this but for an 'at home' trial, I thought it might be worth a go.

Green Rosie

Joined: 13 May 2007
Posts: 10498
Location: Calvados, France

Posted: Fri May 14, 10 12:31 pm Post subject:
It would be good to do this now with the new moon approaching. Generally I sow when I have time and the soil is OK

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Fri May 14, 10 12:35 pm Post subject:
I will give it a go. I'll sow some rows tomorrow and more rows of the same stuff next week when 'the moon is right'. Same soil, same position. Anything else need considering?

Green Rosie

Joined: 13 May 2007
Posts: 10498
Location: Calvados, France

Posted: Fri May 14, 10 1:03 pm Post subject:
Remembering which row is which?

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Fri May 14, 10 1:04 pm Post subject:
...and of course 'blinding' the trial is hard that way.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Fri May 14, 10 1:35 pm Post subject:

cab wrote:

...and of course 'blinding' the trial is hard that way.

What?

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Fri May 14, 10 1:48 pm Post subject:
Ok, I wikid it. So I don't tell Zoe which are the 'Quinze Mai' and which are the 'Moonies' ? Involves keeping her locked inside for a week though, not sure that would go down too well. I'll plant some stuff and get outside party(ies) to pass comment later in the year without knowledge of the experiment. How's that? Oh, and I will label the rows in code.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Fri May 14, 10 2:02 pm Post subject:

Blue Sky wrote:

cab wrote:

...and of course 'blinding' the trial is hard that way.

What?

Good experimental design. If the person tending the crop knows which row is which then the trial is flawed. For starters.

gz

Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 8980
Location: Ayrshire, Scotland

Posted: Fri May 14, 10 2:37 pm Post subject:
Not necessarily. I'm using the Biodynamic calendar, as far as I can. Colin just put things in whenever. It does seem to be working, as I'm getting better, quicker germination. Things seem to give a spurt in growth when it is the "right" day. as well. There is so much to do it is also good to have a way of dividing the work and focussing on a smaller section of what needs doing

oldish chris

Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Posts: 4148
Location: Comfortably Wet Southport

Posted: Fri May 14, 10 4:42 pm Post subject:

What I can't fathom out is what changes with the phases of the moon? As far as I can make out, the only thing is the tides. On the coast north of Liverpool there is a layer of sand over clay and, if you are lucky, below a layer of silt or peat, consequently, the water table moves with the tides. However, the moisture content of the top 45cm (2 spits) is unaffected. (I've been growing veggies using conventional methods for the past 30 years).

So, what is it?

Vanessa

Joined: 08 May 2006
Posts: 8324

Posted: Fri May 14, 10 5:48 pm Post subject:
The theory is, that ALL the earth's water is drawn by the moon the same way the tides are. You are "meant to" sow roots with the waning moon (it's "going down", so good for root production) and all other crops with the rising moon. The French are VERY hot on lunar planting; even most farmers follow lunar planting.

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