Tag Archive for: gardening

Gardening by the Moon


Gardening by the Moon

By Serina Marshall

“Moon gardening is simply learning to garden according the moon’s phases. Sowing and harvesting in harmony with the flow of moisture as it is drawn up the plant into the stem and leaves, fruit and seeds. Or down into the root zone with the gravitational pull of the moon.” – Anne Gibson

When it comes to planting, most people think of the ground for doing such. However, those that swear by the moon to plant their crops, also use the sky to help their harvest. Gardening by the moon is a certain blueprint used for over 200-years. Those that garden by this map rely on the position and phases of the moon to plant seeds, weed, and prune. Not only is gardening by the moon an event many, who follow its guidelines in the Farmer’s Almanac, live by, there are also very specific dates they use to do so. All growing zones follow the dates that are intended for planting. Because of this, you can’t really change the moon, so sometimes you have to take in account weather or climate for the best growing environments. Many greenhouses follow these same methods, so if you are unsure of when to begin, you can always check with your local greenhouse to ensure you hit the optimal window for these suggestions.

Lunar planting is something that farmers practice and trust as a science in its own right. Farmers feel that because of these formulas, their crops and harvests are tastier and more plentiful. So, what is it about the phases of the moon that make it so incredibly important to those that plant by it? One key part is that the gravitational pull of the moon causes the soil to increase in moisture during the new moon and full moon. Because of this, it assists in germination and growth. During the new and full moon, the tides are at their peak, and in the way the moon pulls the tides of the ocean, it pulls the water up from the earth so it is closer to the soil. With the increase of the moonlight, the growth of the leaves and roots also increases.

If you are looking to plant flowers by the same moon cycle, you will want to plant your annual flowers, fruits, and veggies that bear crops above ground (such as tomatoes, zucchini, corn, etc) during the waxing of the moon, from the day it is new to the day it is full. When planting flowering bulbs, biennial, and perennial flowers, and veggies that produce crops below ground (such as potatoes, carrots, onions, etc) during the waning of the moon, from the day after it is full to the day before it is new again. Seeds during this time will swell, burst, and sprout. The seeds absorb more water during the full moon and new moon, thus why they are the two main phases followed for lunar planting.

Moon phase gardening follows two specific periods of the lunar cycle: the time between the new Moon and the full Moon (the waxing of the Moon), and the time between the full Moon and the new Moon (the waning of the Moon). It is said that the best to plant certain types of plants is during the waning of the Moon and others during the waxing.

Another way that the moon impacts growth is through geotropism. This is how plants grow in response to gravity. Roots grow into the earth, or downward, in the direction of the gravitational pull, where stems grow upward in the opposite direction. Potted plants are a good way to see this example in action. If you lay a potted plant on its side, the roots will grow upward on the inside of the pot. Tulip bulbs are another example of geotropism. If you plant the bulb with the pointed end down instead of up, the roots will turn around and head upward. Just as the gravitational pull has an impact on the water within the soil rising to the surface, it also has the same effect on roots and stems within the ground, or as we have explained, in pots as well.

The exact amount of moonlight during these waxing and waning phases influences the growth of plants. While the moonlight increases (new moon and second quarter), leaf growth is stimulated. After the full moon, the amount of light decreases, placing energy into the roots of the plants. During this time, the leaf growth above the ground decreases.

Because of this, it becomes a favorable time to plant your bulbs and root crops, due to the increased root activity. Due to these phases, seeds seem to germinate sooner. The plants that grow also appear to be healthier and tend to grow faster. The harvest that is produced with these moon cycles are more plentiful and stronger. Because of this strength, bugs and pests tend to not come around the specific yields as often. This will not only save you money on pest control, but also on frustration and worry.

To get the most out of lunar planting, there is a calendar that you can use that gives you the dates for the best times to plant various things. The Moon Calendar divides the 28-day lunar cycle into 6 separate gardening periods. It explains the optimal days for planting different crops, when to harvest, propagate, prune, fertilize, and cultivate. The Farmers Almanac provides the best days for your specific area and region. It will provide you with when you should plant different flowers, fruits, veggies, and crops. Not only that, it will also tell you when to start the seeds indoors and when to transplant them and move them outside. All you do is enter your zip code and it will give you day by day instructions for what to plant and when. To utilize this calendar, go to https://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-calendar/zipcode.

Lunar planting is a trend that has been around for decades. If it didn’t work, farmers and others would not swear by the phases and the cycles. The proof of its success is in the crops and flowers themselves. They are stronger, healthier, and just tend to look and taste better. If you are looking for a better way to produce what you enjoy, look to the moon.

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Gardening by the Signs


Gardening by the Signs

By Serina Marshall

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Gardening has become a trend that many use as a way to relax, be one with nature, and live off the land. There are various ways to take care of the crops you decide to grow. One such way is to do your gardening by following the signs. Astrological signs are typically used for horoscopes and the like. However, using them to garden actually has many successful effects, and those that implement the methods swear by them. In order to apply this method correctly, there are specific guidelines and information you may want to pay attention to as you begin your new gardening journey.

The moon passes through the twelve different signs throughout the year on its trip around the Earth. Each specific sign of the zodiac is associated with one of the four elements; earth, wind, fire, or water. Water signs include Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces; The Earth signs are Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus or Cancer are best for planting and transplanting of above ground bearing crops.

Air signs include Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius; And under the Fire sign are Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. Air and Fire signs are considered to be barren. During this time, one should skip planting and place their focus on weeding and pruning. The Libra sign, however, is semi-fertile and a time for blooming herbs and flowers, vines, tubers, and roots. Fruit trees should be pruned under a fire sign; seeds won’t sprout during Leo, so do your weeding then. Harvesting should be done during a fourth-quarter fire sign in order to preserve fruit and vegetables for future storage.

Following the Lunar calendar, root crops such as potatoes, carrots, and turnips produce the best yields if planted when the moon is in the sign of Capricorn. Crops that are above ground, such as annual flowers and vegetables, are best planted while the moon is in Cancer.

When you are gardening by the signs, you want to plant when the moon is both waxing and in a fertile (water or earth) sign; weeding, harvesting, and tilling should be the focus when the moon is waning and in a barren sign. It is also suggested to not plant on Sunday. This day is considered a barren day, and not acceptable for planting despite the sign. Each one of the signs holds a different set of characteristics. These include masculine, feminine, airy, dry, barren, moist, fiery, earthy, watery, fruitful, and non-fruitful. Planting requires moisture, so it should be done during one of the moist or fruitful signs. The best time to plant should be during a fruitful moon phase, as well as productive sign. Fruitful signs are Scorpio, Pieces, Taurus, and Cancer. If you are looking to plow, cultivate, or till, do so during Aries. NEVER PLANT DURING THE BARREN SIGNS! And always set your plants out in a water or earth sign.

If you are looking to graft, make sure you do so right before the sap begins to flow, while the moon is in its first or second quarter, also while it is passing through a fruitful watery sign, or Capricorn. Never graft or plant on Sunday as this is a barren and hot day. Thus, why it is called the sun’s day. Flowers should be planted in the sign of Libra because it is an airy sign. Libra also is a sign of beauty, which is thought to produce beautiful flowers. Be sure to plant them while the moon is in the first quarter. However, if you need the seeds, use the period between the moon’s second quarter and full status.

It is also said that if you plant your corn crops in Leo, they will hard, round stalks. If you are wanting to ensure that your crops will withstand droughts, you will want to plant them in Taurus and Cancer signs. Root flower cuttings, vines, cuttings, limbs, and setting out trees and flower bushes should be done in the months of November and December. If you are looking to have a large vine and stalk that produces little fruit, you will want to plant in Virgo. You will also want to plant all things which produce above ground during the moon’s increase, and all things which produce below the ground when the moon is decreasing. You also never want to plant on the first day of the new moon, or on a day when the moon will be changing quarters. Turning sod and pulling weeds should occur in the fourth quarter.

Picking and gathering fruit also has its own set of guidelines. Apples and pears should be picked in the old moon. By doing this, it is said that it will cause the bruises to dry up and not rot. If you pick during the increase of the moon, the fruit is sure to rot.

When the moon is decreasing, you will want to harvest most of your crops. This will help them to stay better longer. To keep your root crops drier and longer, you will want to dig the root crops for seeds during the third quarter of the moon. You will then want to gather the root crops in the last quarter of the moon.

To know when to enact certain gardening habits, you can pick up a Planting Calendar. These can be found at your local hardware, auto, and seed/feed store. The zodiac signs and moon phases are clearly marked to make it easier and more accessible to follow. Each method gives its own set of specific guidelines to follow to produce the desired type of crop, harvest, and garden. But the best results come from combining very distinct sets of moon phases and zodiacs. If you are searching for a new and proven way to yield the best your land has to offer, check out the sky for more information.