Dear biodynamic kin,
This spring proves to be very different from the last two years, when we had at this time very wet weather starting.
We had the driest March in 60 years and precipitation forecast for the British Isles seems sparce and lIttle.
A Rare Spring Phenomena
With intense sunlight and clear skies day and night plants experienced extremes of temperatures and plants which we see flowering sequentially and leaves of trees, which used to come out one after the other all exploded into growth in a few days last week.
This means that a lot of our overwintering crops are going to seed already or will do so very soon and want to be replaced by the new crops.
Luckily temperatures will be average for this time of year of otherwise around 5-14º degrees Celsius.
Another Week of Transplanting, Pricking out and Potting up
Make sure you make use of these next few days to transplant your hardy and half hardy leaf vegetables outdoors where possible and make sure that your tender annuals as in the tomato and cucumber family have extra protection in your greenhouse or coldframe with the very cool night temperatures and possible air frost in exposed locations.
Remediate Seedlings with BD Preps, Plant Extracts and Concentrated Organic Fertilizers
As you might find that you have to keep your seedlings longer indoors which were designated for outdoor transplanting at least make sure you give them regular feeds with liquid seaweed extract or even using the b-d Yarrow or Chamomile Compost Preparations to encourage rooting instead of top growth. This could also be supported by the Valerian preparation. All it needs is the volume of a tiny pinch to soak in water and apply diluted to remediate these extreme conditions.
Where possible add a handful of calcified seaweed, hoof and horn or fishmeal for the cucumber and the tomato family. Leave out the calcified seaweed for tomatoes, as they want a more acid environment, but possibly add a handful of basalt to help prevent blight and other diseases.
What to do about root bound seedlings?
If your seedlings are getting root bound, it might be a good idea to consider potting up the tender annuals into pots, which are 1 inch larger than the previous one just to give them extra root space and to possibly even prick out the half hardy annuals another time into deeper boxes, which is a common practice on the continent with celery, celeriac and leeks to keep them in warm conditions as long as possible.
What to do about leggy seedlings?
You most likely will have sown all your half hardy annuals indoors and also your tomatoes, cucumbers and courgettes under cover for later outdoor planting a while ago, hoping that spring was on the wing. They might even have become a bit leggy by now so make sure you have them as far away from a heat source as possible and give them more bottom heat than heat from the top.
Also, if they are close to a window, having the window popped open for fresh air in the daytime to harden them off, is a great interim solution.
Last Frosts
You might be aware that the last day of frost on average is on the 25 May in the South East of England. If you are near the coasts and particularly on the west coast you have a 2 week head start with warmer weather. In the North and in higher altitudes things are generally
2-3 weeks later.
Apply BD Horn Manure Prep
Make sure each time you prick out or transplant your plants that you give them a richer mix and treat them with the soil activator (Horn Manure/500 preparation) time permitting.
Enjoy at least the increase in light.
Cultivate and Thin out root vegetables from 11-13. April 14:00: Carrots, Parsnips, Beetroot, Turnips and Radishes, Scorzonera, and Salsify
Plant out: Beetroot, Leeks, Onions, Parsley Root, Radishes and Asparagus,
Plant Tubers and roots from 11-15. April (best time for tubers being 13.April after 14:00:
Outdoor: Main crop potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes
Indoor: Sweet Potato and
Transplant:
Hope fully you have managed to transplant your tender annuals from 7. April 17:30 to 9. April from modules or pots into unheated greenhouse:
Courgette, Cucumber, Tomato, Peppers, Aubergines, Basil, French Marigold, Nicotiana
Transplant tender flowers from Sunday 13. April to 15. April: Basil, Oregano, French Marigold, Nicotiana
And prick out tender flowers: Basil, Cosmos, French Marigold, Nicotiana, Zinnia,etc.
Prick out leafy vegetables indoors: Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Kale, Kohlrabi, Lettuces, Land Cress, Celery, Celeriac, Leek, Onions, Mustards, Fennel, Parsley, Swiss Chard.
Transplant leafy vegetables outdoors: Brussels sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Kale, Lettuce, Mustards, Fennel, Parsley, Swiss Chard
Pick On Tuesday 15. April Dandelion flowers for the preparations
Harvest in April indoors
Cauliflower, Early Cabbage, Spinach, Lambs Lettuce, Early Lettuces, Miners Salad,
Mizuna, Early Carrots, Radishes, Rocket, Rhubarb, Spring Onions.
Outdoors: SproutingBroccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Kale, Lambs Lettuce, Leek, Parsnip, Swede, Swiss Chard, Radicchio, Miners Salad (Postulaka), Spring Onion
From storage: Carrots, Beetroot, Black Radish, Carrot, Potatoes, Horse Radish, Scorzonera, Salsify
I trust you will have your hands full this week to action the garden, to get ahead of the game.
I have never seen so many gardens in Southern Britain without any direct sown nor transplanted crops at this time of year in 45 years.
So, let’s catch up and enjoy this Friday 10 and Saturday 11. April strong solar activity that it might speed up the growth process. Btw the second solar maximum is approaching with the northern part of sun having finally caught up and become active with solar flares and CMOs.
Happy Easter week
Hans-Günther
For more info go to the Flourish “Biodynamic wall calendar” or “The Biodynamic Planting Calendar”
