We had the first ground frost today in Sussex accompanied by a very beautiful clear night full of northern Lights as far south as Hastings.
The moon is going this Friday 11. October into the constellation of the Goatfish, which is an Earth constellation.
Mercury is going through the ecliptic of the sun’s orbit this weekend.
The weather forecast is predicting possibly frost this Saturday and Sunday all over the British Isles except Ireland.
With the high sunspot activity and the Earth being hit by plasma the last two days I expect more weather extremes over the next couple of days.
Earth constellations
For those who follow the Biodynamic Planting Calendar, you might have noticed that when the moon goes into the constellations of the Virgin (Virgo), Bull (Taurus) and Goatfish (Capricorn) there is more likelihood of ground frost and bright, sunny days and dry weather.
The predominant constellation in which this happens in my experience is the Virgin.
On these days there seem to be less clouds in the sky. During those days there is less dust and moisture in the air, as if the Forces streaming in from those constellations have been modulated to make any earth or water element precipitate to the Earth’s surface.
Worth your observation and taking note when you can to share your insights with other biodynamic practitioners.
How can you protect your garden from frost damage?
I will give you now a few indications on how to protect your plants from the increasing risk of frost danger or damage from cold, wet winds and increasingly cooler temperatures.
Windbreaks and hedges
The first line of defense for the increasingly strong and cold autumn winds are wind breaks with deciduous shrubs and bushes around your growing areas.
Dr. E. Pfeiffer, one of the pioneers of biodynamic agriculture in Holland and the US indicates in his book “The Fertility of the Earth” that a good windbreak raises environmental temperatures in the garden by up to 5 degrees centigrade in the winter half year, if you plant hedges.
Other protection made from natural materials
While you establish your garden and are waiting for the effect of the growing hedges to meliorate temperatures protect your plants with reed, heather or straw woven mats and structures.
You can attach them to poles in the ground for windbreaks or lay them on top of your cold frames or on top of frames you can move from one place in the garden to another to protect your most vulnerable plants from frosts.
If you use them as a cover at night in the day you could take them off and use them as windbreaks.
Protection made from artificial materials
For those, who can’t afford natural materials or don’t have the time and resources to make them for themselves, you might have to fall back on materials, which are environmentally less desirable, like plastic tunnel structures, plastic tubes and frost protection fleeces.
Another alternative is to find old windows and French doors, people throw out and create your own DIY cold frames, which are a happy intermediary solution to all the other suggestions and combines all the benefits and multiple uses.
Other ways to protect your plants when you expect frost:
1 Stir for 10 minutes 2 litres of luke-warm water with 10 drops of bd valerian preparation and spray as mist over your garden the evening before you expect frost the next morning.
Experience has it that it protects plants to minus 5 degrees centigrade.
2 Water the soil liberally the evening before frost.
3 Make a smouldering fire to create smoke that attracts moisture to keep in the warm air in your environment.
4 Install microsprinklers and time them to turn on in the morning before sunrise, when the damage of frost is most prominant.
When are the most likely times you can expect frost?
When you are in a valley of hilltop.
When you have high pressure areas with north-easterly winds that die down at night.
When the skies clear up and there is very little moisture or dust in the air.
So now all you need to do is either chose one or all of these measures to make your garden a more abundant garden during the Winter half year.
Enjoy the bright and delightful Autumn colours
Hans-Günther