We already pass mid year.
Here is July 2013 Moon Calendar for the Biodynamic system.
One of the element in Biodynamic, is the planting calendar, which has to do with the cosmic timing of activities in the garden, as per the movement of the moon through the Zodiac.
July 1st
Leaf day
Sign Pisces
Moon Last Quarter
Synodic:
Dry and barren. Garden maintenance only.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Pisces: Water sign. Sow Leaf plants: Basil, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Celery, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage,Dill, Florence Fennel, Kale, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard,
Do not sow Fruit plants: Beans,Marrow, Peas, tomatoes.....
Sidereal:
Moon in Pisces: This is the best sign for planting soft fruit. It is a time of maximum water intake for plants.Water sign promoting root growth
Moon Gardening Calendar July 2013
July 2013 Farmer's Almanac
1st-2nd A Barren Period.
3rd-5th Root Crops That Can Be Planted Now Will Yield Well. Good Days For Transplanting.
6th-7th Poor Days For Planting, Seeds Tend To Rot In The Ground.
8th-9th Most Favorable For Corn, Cotton, Okra, Beans, Peppers, Eggplant, And Other Aboveground Crops. Plant Seedbeds And Flower Gardens.
10th-13th A Most Barren Period. Kill Plant Pests And Do General Farm Work.
14th-15th Favorable For Planting Peas, Beans, Tomatoes, And Other Fall Crops Bearing Aboveground. Sow Grains And Forage Crops. Plant Flowers.
16th-17th Extra Good For Fall Cabbage, Lettuce, Cauliflower, Mustard Greens, And Other Leafy Vegetables. Good For Any Aboveground Crop That Can Be Planted Now. Start Seedbeds.
18th-19th Seeds Planted Now Will Do Poorly And Yield Little.
20th-22nd Favorable Planting Days: First Two Days Are Good For Planting Aboveground Crops. Last Day Good For Planting Beets, Carrots, Salsify, Irish Potatoes, And Other Root Crop
23rd-24th Good Days For Killing Weeds, Briars And Other Plant Pests, Poor For Planting.
25th-27th Good Days For Planting Beets, Carrots, Radishes, Salsify, Turnips, Peanuts, And Other Root Crops. Also Good For Planting Melons, Cucumbers, Pumpkins, And Other Vine Crops. Set Strawberry Plants. Good Days For Transplanting.
28th-29th A Barren Period.
30th-31st Root Crops That Can Be Planted Now Will Yield Well. Good Days For Transplanting.
July 2 - 3
Fruit day
Sign Aries
Moon Waning crescent
Synodic:
Garden maintenance, weeding, cultivation and harvest. Do not sow anything, check or build a new compost heap.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Aries: Fire sign. Sow Fruit plants like French Beans, Marrow, Peas.....
Do not sow Leaf plants but it would not be a good time to sow Leaf plants likeBasil, Cabbages, Celery, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage,Dill, Florence Fennel, Kale, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard....
Sidereal:
Moon in Aries: Dry and barren. Garden maintenance.
July 4 - 5 - 6
Root day
Sign Taurus
Moon Waning crescent
Synodic:
Garden maintenance, weeding, cultivation and harvest. Do not sow anything, check or build a new compost heap..
Biodynamic:
Moon in Taurus: Earth sign. Sow Root plants Beetroot, Carrots, Chives, Kohl Rabi, Onions, Radish,Swedes, Turnips.
Do not sow Flower plants: Calabrese …..
Sidereal:
Moon in Taurus: Sow Root vegetable crops especially when hardiness in drought conditions is needed.
July 7 - 8 - 9
Flower day
Sign Gemini
Moon New Moon
Synodic:
Sow leafy vegetables and annuals that produce above ground. Lettuce, Spinach, Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Sprouts, Sweetcorn, Cucumber also Grains. Vegetables / Fruit harvested now will store for longer.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Gemini: Air sign. Sow Flower plants: Calabrese.... but it would not be a good time to Do not sow Root plants: Beetroot, Carrots, Radish. Produce harvested now will store for longer.
Sidereal:
Moon in Gemini: Barren and dry, this Moon promotes flower growth.
Rudolf Steiner in 1924, after his Agriculture course, that a group of German farmers had commission him to prepare, established Biodynamics, which has organics as its base but which also seeks to moderate and regulate the biological processes in nature (“Bio”) whilst enhancing and stimulating forces that form or shape material substance (“Dynamics”), both on the farm and within the farmer via the use of nine biodynamic preparations, three as field sprays, the other six to be used in compost, all made from natural substances – medicinal flowers and bark, cow manure and our most abundant mineral, quartz, with the goal of making farms self-sustaining living organisms. He saw that plants are connected through their roots and soil life not only to every surrounding plant but also to celestial bodies in the far reaches of the cosmos.
These preparation "that he numbered from 500 to 508 will provide the growth and reproductive forces plants need to realise their full potential" (from Lect. # 1). Steiner said that the elements of carbon (earth), oxygen (water), nitrogen (air), and hydrogen (fire) bind together to make food and wine with the help of sulphur and phosphorus, which bear light forces. Potassium, magnesium and the trace elements are also realized as forces and not just substances and the processes of these forces are what Steiner said biodynamic farmers should be interested in.
There are 2 Manure preparation 1 Horsetail preparation that will be used to spray on the farm or vegetable garden in minimal amounts and 6 Six Biodynamic Compost Preparations using:
yarrow blossoms,
chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla [Chamomilla recutita]),
dandelion (Taraxacum officinale),
stinging nettle shoots (Urtica dioica),
oak bark (Quercus robur) and
valerian extract (Valeriana officinalis).
As I said before I cannot find or make the preparations but I do compost most of the herbs in the list,(I do grow them) and I do add cow manure to my compost.
HINT:
--- I make a wonderfully nutritious feed by rotting down nettles in the ground. Chopped a couple of large buckets full of nettles and then buried in a hole in the ground. After a year these are dug up. I have never felt such a soft gentle soil. You could feel the life in this stuff. It make the best ingredient to potting on young seedlings.
---- Chrysanthemums
These beautiful flowers are quite common in flower arrangements, as they come in a wide spectrum of colors.
Chrysanthemums contain a chemical, pyrethin that’s toxic to insects but safe for human and animal consumption. Aside from planting these colorful flowers around your garden bed, you can also make a tea from the flowers and use it on root nematodes and to repel Japanese beetles.
July 10 - 11
Leaf day
Sign Cancer
Moon Waxing crescent
Synodic:
Sow leafy vegetables and annuals that produce above ground. Lettuce, Spinach, Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Sprouts, Sweetcorn, Cucumber. Grains are also good to plant now.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Cancer: Water sign. Sow Leaf plants: Basil, Cabbages, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage,Lettuce.
Do not sow Fruit plants Beans, Peas ….
Sidereal:
Moon in Cancer: Water Signs best for germination.
July 12 - 13
Fruit day
Sign Leo
Moon Waxing crescent
Synodic:
Sow leafy vegetables and annuals: Lettuce, Spinach, Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Sprouts, Sweetcorn, Cucumber, and Grains.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Leo: Fire sign. Sow Fruit plants: Peas.
Do not sow Leaf plants: Basil, Cabbages, Chinese Cabbage,Lettuce ….
Sidereal:
Moon in Leo: Dry and barren. Garden maintenance, weeding, cultivation and harvest. Do not sow anything, check or build a new compost heap.
July 14 - 15 - 16
Root day
Sign Virgo
Moon First quarter
Synodic:
Sow vegetables that produce seed bearing fruits: Tomatoes, beans, peas, peppers, chillis, pumpkins, courgettes.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Virgo: Earth sign. Sow Root plants: Beetroot, Carrots, Radish, Spring Onions, Turnips.
Do not sow Flower plants: Calabrese …..
Sidereal:
Moon in Virgo: Dry and barren. Garden maintenance
Roots days
Roots days are associated with Earth signs (Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo), the energy of the Moon is focused into the roots of the plant. Planting now you will get strong, hardy well-anchored plants.
Root vegetables are divided into : Tap Roots, Tuberous Roots, Corms, Rhizomes, Tubers, and bulbs.
Tubers differ from other roots in that they are swollen underground stems, capable of producing new plants and storing energy for the parent plant. If the parent plant dies, the underground tubers can create new plants. Other roots can take nutrients from the ground, but cannot store energy or use it for reproduction. So while every tuber is a root vegetable, not all roots are tubers.
Tubers = Potato, sunchoke, yam
Tap Roots = beet, carrot, cassava, jicama, parsnip, radish, rutabaga, salsifi, sugarbeet, turnip. Horseradish is a tap root mainly use as condiment.
Tuberous Roots = Sweet potato, yucca.
Corms = Celeriac, eddo, taro, water chestnut.
Rhizomes = Arrowroot, galangal, ginger, ginseng, lotus root, turmeric.
Bulbs = garlic, onion, spring onions ((also known as scallion, salad onion, onion stick, green shallot, or green onion in many countries), shallot, leeks, chives...
July 17 - 18
Flower day
Sign Libra
Moon Waxing gibbous
Synodic:
This is a good time to sow vegetables that produce internal seed bearing fruits. Tomatoes, beans, peas, peppers, chillis, pumpkins, courgettes.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Libra: Air sign. Sow Flower plants: Calabrese....
Do not sow Root plants: Beetroot, Carrots, Kohl Rabi, Radish, Spring Onions, Turnips, Paesnip …..
Sidereal:
Moon in Libra: Sow green manures or cover crops.
July 19 - 20
Leaf day
Sign Scorpio
Moon Waxing gibbous
Synodic:
This is a good time to sow vegetables with seed bearing fruits. Tomatoes, beans, peas, peppers, chillis, pumpkins, courgettes.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Scorpio: Water sign. Sow Leaf plant Basil, Cabbages, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage,Lettuce …
Do not sow Fruit plants: Peas, Beans ….
Sidereal:
Moon in Scorpio: All water sign are considered to be the most productive signs, planting, germination and strong healthy growth will result.
July 21 - 22
Fruit
Sagittarius
Moon Full Moon
Synodic:
Sow root vegetables, berries, bulbs, onions, biennials, and perennials.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Sagittarius: Fire sign. Sow Fruit plants: lPeas …
Do not sow Leaf plants: Basil, Cabbages, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage, Lettuce.
Sidereal:
Moon in Sagittarius: Dry and barren. Good time to plant onion sets and bulbs
July 23 - 24
Root day
Sign Capricorn
Moon Full Moon
Synodic:
Now is a good time to sow root vegetables, berries, bulbs, onions, biennials, and perennials.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Capricorn: Earth sign. It is a good time to sow Root plants : Beetroot, Carrots, Kohl Rabi, Radish, Spring Onions, Turnips...
Do not sow Flower plants: Calabrese,
Sidereal:
Moon in Capricorn: Potatoes and tubers planted now will have a strong growth
July 25 - 26
Flower day
Sign Aquarius
Moon Waning gibbous
Synodic:
Sow root vegetables, berries, bulbs, onions, biennials, and perennials.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Aquarius: Air sign. Sow Flower plants: Calabrese, Broccoli ….
Do not sow Root plants: Beetroot, Carrots, Jerusalem Artichokes, Kohl Rabi, Radish, Spring Onions, Turnips ...
Sidereal:
Moon in Pisces: Best sign for planting soft fruit. It is a time of maximum water intake for plants.
There are plants that will inhibit the growth of others:
Potatoes – inhibit growth of tomatoes and squash
Beans – inhibit growth of onions
Broccoli – inhibits growth of tomatoes
Carrots – inhibit growth of dill
Just make sure not to plant / grow them right next to each other.
Cristina, you are having a birthday! Hope it's a lovely day to celebrate!!!!!
darius, Thanks so much and yes I had a lovely day.
Thanks God I am still enjoying good health so I am ready to continue looking forwards to some few more .... not that I'm greedy, LOL!
July 27 - 28
Leaf day
Sign Pisces
Moon Waning gibbous
Synodic:
Sow root vegetables, berries, bulbs, onions, biennials, and perennials.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Pisces: Water sign. Sow Leaf plants: Basil, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, Celery, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage,Dill, Florence Fennel, Kale, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard.
Do not sow Fruit plants : Peas …...
Sidereal:
Moon in Pisces: This Sign is the best for planting soft fruit. Plants increase their water intake to the maximun.
July 29 - 30 - 31
Fruit day
Sign Aries
Moon Last quarter
Synodic:
Garden maintenance, weeding, cultivation and harvest. Do not sow anything, check or build a new compost heap.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Aries: Fire sign. Sow Fruit plants: Peas,
Do not sow Leaf plants Basil, Cabbages, Chicory, Chinese Cabbage,Lettuce ...
Sidereal:
Moon in Aries: Dry and barren. Garden maintenance.