Lunar Gardening Calendar - February

February is looming large,  time to work out what I need to be doing and when, in February, in my Puglia Garden. It looks like there is going to be a lot of work in February.

Waxing Moon - 1st to 7th February (Full Moon 7th February) and 22nd to 29th February.
In the Vegetable Patch
Sow -  in heated seed trays (between 1st and 7th) : basil, aubergine/eggplant, peppers, tomatoes.
        - in pots in a heated greenhouse :  courgettes, cucumbers, melons, water-melons
        - in the garden, under glass or plastic : thyme, savory, lavender
        - in the garden (between 22nd and 29th) : swiss chard, carrots, peas, parsley, radishes, mustard, agretto, rocket/arugala
Transplanting and Planting - (between 1st and 7th) : transplant into the open garden onions grown from seed
        - in the garden, under glass or plastic (between 1st and 7th) :  lettuce

In the Garden
Sow - In a heated greenhouse or in the house, in heated seed trays (12-18C) : begonia, carnation, snap-dragons, dahlias, petunia, purslane and other flowering annuals.
        - in pots : violets and wallflowers
        - in the garden : annual climbers, sweet peas, convolvulus
Transplanting and Planting -  trees, shrubs, deciduous climbers, roses, hydrangeas and forsythia
Reproduction -  take cuttings for rooting
        - put up dahlia roots in the greenhouse
        - divide and replant perennials

In the Orchard
Transplanting and Planting - if weather conditions permit, and the ground is not frozen, plant and transplant fruit trees and bushes.


Waning Moon 8th to 20th February (New Moon 21st February)

In the Vegetable Patch
Sow - in heated seed trays : celery,
        - in the garden, under glass or plastic  : lettuce, celery
        - in the open garden : shallots, onions, lettuce, radicchio, spinach, valerian, swiss chard, cabbage
Transplanting and Planting - Plant out in the open : garlic, spring onions, shallots, jerusalem artichokes
Pruning - Thin out herbs to rejuvenate (sage, rosemary etc.)
Work - Prepare beds for the next sowing, transplanting of asparagus
          - Carry out basic fertilisation
          - Pinch out and mulch peas and broad beans sown in the autumn
          - set out seed potatoes in a warm dry place for chitting (encouraging to sprout)
Green Fertiliziation - Sow new spinach, mustard cress
          - Dig in the grown green manure crops

In the Garden
Pruning - Prune and trim trees that flowered in December and January
            - Plant out deciduous woody shrubs
            - Trim back existing deciduous woody shrubs, cutting off any dead or unnecessary branches
            - Trim hedges and evergreens (once the cold weather has ended)
            - Prune roses, poinsettias and hydrangeas
Work   - Prepare and fertilise the ground
            - Dig over areas intended for lawn and flower beds
            - Check stored tubers

In the Orchard
Pruning - Prune pears, apple, quince trees and the stone fruits (peach, apricot, almond and plum)
             - Thin out chestnut trees, trimming off suckers
             - Prune soft fruits and grape vines
Grafting - Collect scions and cuttings from stone fruits before the first buds appear to be used for grafting when the trees become dormant. The cuttings should be put into plastic bags and stored in a cold place (in the fridge!)
Work    - Prepare the ground for spring planting
             - Prepare holes for new olive plantings
             - Generally clean up and tidy the orchard


This months Harvest
From the Vegetable Patch : Cabbage, Brussel Sprouts, Radicchio
In the greenhouse or heated beds : Radicchio, Rocket/Arugula, Parsley, Radishes, Valerian

What we actually have this month is loads of Cabbage, a few Cauliflowers left, carrots are ready now and still loads of lettuces Brussel sprout seeds went in much too late and we only have tiny plants at the moment, I'm leaving them for the moment - if they take long enough to grow maybe next winter. If they grow too quickly now they will be coming out as they will be producing in summer and will not form good sprouts.  Peas and Broad Beans plants are strong and flowering now, ready for pinching out.

Lunar Gardening Calendar - January

It's the beginning of a new year, so will 2012 be the year I'm going to get Lunar Gardening nailed? Better figure out what I need to be doing when in January in my Puglia Garden.

Waxing Moon - 1st to 8th January (Full Moon 9th January) and 24th to 31st January.
In the Vegetable Patch
Sow -  in heated seed trays : basil, aubergine/eggplant, peppers, tomatoes.
        - in pots in a heated greenhouse : cucumbers, melons
        - in the garden, under glass or plastic (but not if extreme cold is expected) : radish, rocket, glasswort (agretto)

In the Garden
Sow - In a heated greenhouse or in the house, in heated seed trays (12-18C) : begonia, cineraria, carnation, petunia, salvia and flowering annuals.
Transplanting and Planting - plant, if conditions permit and the ground is not frozen or too wet : trees, shurbs, vines, roses.

In the Orchard
Transplanting and Planting - if weather conditions permit, and the ground is not frozen, plant and transplant fruit trees and bushes.


Waning Moon 10th to 22nd January (New Moon 23rd January)

In the Vegetable Patch
Sow - in heated seed trays : lettuce
        - in the garden, under glass or plastic (but not if extreme cold is expected) : lettuce, radicchio (a variety of chicory), valerian
Work - Prepare the ground for spring crops, fertilize.

          - Create a vegetable patch plan for the year ahead and order seeds
          - Fertilise and weed asparagus and artichoke beds.
Green Fertiliziation - Dig in any green crops grown for fertilisation - mustard, spinach etc.


In the Garden
Pruning - Prune dead branches, thin where necessary, removing broken branches etc.
            - Disinfect cut surfaces.
            - Prune roses
Work   - Remove dry or emaciated trees and shrubs to make way for replacements.
            - Prepare the ground ready for new planting and for replacing old plants
            - When the ground is not frozen work the surface soil to break the crust
            - Remove and replace any uneven mulching disturbed or removed by rain
            - Wash and disinfect pots and seed trays
            - Check, clean, repair, replace garden tools as necessary


In the Orchard
Pruning - Prune pears and apple trees
             - Prune raspberries and currants
Grafting - Collect scions and cuttings for grafting and insert into the stock of the tree
Work    - Prepare the ground for spring planting adding fertiliser
             - Fertilize olive trees after the olive harvest is completed
             - Clean around the base and trunk of adult trees
             - Shake the branches free of snow (maybe not in Puglia!) to prevent breakages

This months Harvest
From the Vegetable Patch : Cabbage, Brussel Sprouts, Radicchio and if the ground is not frozen, Leeks
In the greenhouse or heated beds : Agretto, Rocket, Radishes

What we actually have this month is Cabbage and Cauliflowers, despite the caterpillar infestations both have done exceptionally well, and loads of lettuce! Brussel sprout seeds went in much too late and we only have tiny plants at the moment. Carrots are coming on fine and should be ready for harvest soon. Peas and Broad Beans plants are strong and flowering now, they seem to have benefited well from mulching.