Obviously, seasonal changes in weather have a direct effect on gardening. Less light per day and cooler temperatures will affect all plants from trees to tomatoes. The Fall Equinox is also called the mid season harvest. One ancient name is Mabon. Another is Harvest Home.
It is not the final harvest of the year but most fruit crops are done for the year. Even here in the warm Mid-Atlantic most of the summer plants are approaching the end of their lives. But, this is a great time to plan and winter crops like leafy greens and garlic. It is the best time to plan locations for new tree seedlings. The best time to plant trees is while they are dormant later in the fall but before the first freeze. This is a good time to plant new Mums and see the established Mums flower.
The equinox is the day that all areas of the planet get an even 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark. This normally happens every day at the equator. The rest of the planet only gets to see this twice a year at the first day of Spring and Fall. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we will now see less sun each day until the Winter Solstice. In the Southern Hemisphere, this is reverse. They are entering Summer.
The Astronomy Section on AccuWeather shows there is 12.07 hours of sun today.
http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/midlothian-district-va/23113/astronomy-weather/2111281
Weather.com has some good information on how the equinox works and how it affects Earth and everyone on it.
http://www.weather.com/science/nature/news/fall-autumnal-september-equinox
Powering Down the Chickens in 3....2....1.
Chickens literally go to bed and wake up with the sun. Less hours of daylight will mean less hours awake and fewer eggs laid. We could cheat nature and put a light in their hen house. However, I like giving them the natural downtime on egg production. Over the last few weeks they have been eating more than their usual amount of food. I have noticed that the chicken feeder seems to be getting empty faster. This is natural behavior as they are bulking up for winter. I have added more protein and carbs to their treats by giving them meal worms, cat food, leftover homemade bread, and leftover brown rice.
It is not the final harvest of the year but most fruit crops are done for the year. Even here in the warm Mid-Atlantic most of the summer plants are approaching the end of their lives. But, this is a great time to plan and winter crops like leafy greens and garlic. It is the best time to plan locations for new tree seedlings. The best time to plant trees is while they are dormant later in the fall but before the first freeze. This is a good time to plant new Mums and see the established Mums flower.
The equinox is the day that all areas of the planet get an even 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark. This normally happens every day at the equator. The rest of the planet only gets to see this twice a year at the first day of Spring and Fall. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we will now see less sun each day until the Winter Solstice. In the Southern Hemisphere, this is reverse. They are entering Summer.
The Astronomy Section on AccuWeather shows there is 12.07 hours of sun today.
http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/midlothian-district-va/23113/astronomy-weather/2111281
Weather.com has some good information on how the equinox works and how it affects Earth and everyone on it.
http://www.weather.com/science/nature/news/fall-autumnal-september-equinox
Powering Down the Chickens in 3....2....1.
Chickens literally go to bed and wake up with the sun. Less hours of daylight will mean less hours awake and fewer eggs laid. We could cheat nature and put a light in their hen house. However, I like giving them the natural downtime on egg production. Over the last few weeks they have been eating more than their usual amount of food. I have noticed that the chicken feeder seems to be getting empty faster. This is natural behavior as they are bulking up for winter. I have added more protein and carbs to their treats by giving them meal worms, cat food, leftover homemade bread, and leftover brown rice.
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