Biodynamic Gardening Notes 7 - 13 December

The moon continues descending until Sunday 11th – The earth is breathing in and drawing growth forces back down below the soil surface.  The lower parts of the plants, especially the roots, are activated.  Activities that take advantage of the descending moon include making and spreading compost, transplanting seedlings and trees, taking and planting cuttings, and cultivating soil. On Sunday, the moon begins its ascension – The earth breathes out.  We see this as growth activity above the soil.  Growth forces and saps flow upwards more strongly and increase the plants vitality. This is the time to spray horn silica preparation 501, cultivate at the appropriate constellation before sowing, harvest on an air constellation plants for medicinal purposes, flowers and plants for preparation making and field crops such as silage and hay (Biodynamic Resource Manual, 51-53).

Saturday night is also the full moon and a chance to witness a full lunar eclipse if you live in Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia.  In Melbourne, the partial eclipse will begin at 23:46 with the moon turning red by 01:32.

A Moon node will occur on Saturday at 17:02.  Moon nodes occur where the moon’s path crosses the path of the Sun.  The influence of the node lasts for approximately 2 hours on either side of the node.  The effect is similar to that of an eclipse of the Sun by the Moon and it is best to avoid any agricultural or horticultural work for this brief period (Biodynamic Resource Manual, 53).

With the moist spring that we have had, we have been spraying Casuarina tea, seaweed brew and/or witch’s brew weekly to fortnightly to give support  to the plants and help them to overcome any fungus, mildews and/or rusts which may be starting.  Pay careful attention to cucumbers, grapes, melons, pumpkins, tomatoes, and zucchini and summer squash plants.  Full moon ia also a stress time for plants because it brings a watery influence to the earth.  Spray with Casuarina tea before and after the Full Moon.

We also find that keeping up the plants health with seaweed brew and biodynamic preparation 501 is the best way to help a plant grow through the damage a pest may do.

The best time to apply liquid manures is just before the Full Moon in the afternoon.  Saturday is an earth sign as well.  The energy of the plant will be in the roots which is a perfect time to feed the whole plant.

Maria Thun emphasized that planting and/or cultivating (weeding) on the constellation in which the plant you are trying to encourage lies, emphasizes that plant’s qualities.  Based on her research, weed around your cabbages in a water sign, around your broccoli in a flower sign, around your carrots and root crops in an earth sign and around your corn in a fire sign.

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday until 02:48, the moon is in a fire sign.  Warmth or fire signs are favourable for fruit plants.  These include all plants whose seed fruit we harvest: beans, peas, grains, cucumbers, squashes, lentils, corn, capsicums, rice, soya, tomatoes, zucchini, strawberries and fruit trees. You can take advantage of the descending moon on these days and summer prune your fruit trees.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday until 13:38, it is in an earth sign. Earth signs are favourable for root plants.  These included all plants whose roots we harvest: carrots, parsnips, radishes, beetroot, celeriac, swedes, potatoes, onions and garlic.

The moon is in an air sign on Sunday afternoon, Monday and Tuesday until 22:23. Air signs are favourable for flower plants.  These include all the plants, which are grown for their flowers, and where we want a long flowering time: garden flowers, medicinal and preparation flowers, bulbs and broccoli. With the ascending moon, these are good days to harvest flowers for preparations or medicinal purposes.

-Gardening Notes are compiled using Brian Keats Antipodean Astro Calendar; Maria Thun’s Gardening for Life; Biodynamic Agriculture Australia’s Biodynamic Resource Manual; Peter Prctor’s Grasping the Nettle, Peter Cundall’s The Practical Australian Gardener; Louise Riotte’s Astrological Gardening; and the experiences and farm practices on Transition Farm

Links for more information

For more information about our Biodynamic Gardening Notes, visit our previous post About our Biodynamic Notes.

For more information about liquid brews for plant health, visit our Seasonal Notes page and click the tag “liquid brews” .

For more information about Biodynamics and to purchase biodynamic preparations visit Biodynamic Australia at http://www.biodynamics.net.au.

For more information about the Antipodean Astro Calendar, Biodynamic Planting and research and more visit Brian Keats’ website at http://astro-calendar.com/index.htm.