Gardening
Moon phase gardening is an idea as old as agriculture, popular in folklore and superstition. Planting by the phases of the moon maintains a rhythm with the alternating gravitational pull of the moon. (Read more at Gardening By The Moon). The best days for gardening by the moon in 2019 are as follows:
January
- Plant above ground crops: 5, 6, 9 – 11, 14, 15, 18, 19
- Plant root crops: 1, 4, 24 – 28, 31
- Transplant: 1, 27, 28
- Plant seed beds: 1, 18, 19, 27, 28
- Plant flowers: 18, 19, 24 – 26
- Kill plant pests: 2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 13, 16, 17, 20 – 23, 29, 30
- Harvest: 2, 3, 29, 30
- Pick Apples and Pears: 2, 3, 21, 29, 30
- Prune Trees: 1, 4, 27, 28, 31
February
- Plant above ground crops: 5 – 7, 10 – 12, 15, 16
- Plant root crops: 1, 2, 21 – 24, 28
- Transplant: 23, 24
- Plant seed beds: 15, 16, 23, 24
- Plant flowers: 15, 16, 21, 22
- Kill plant pests: 3, 4, 8, 9, 13, 14, 17 – 20, 25 – 27
- Harvest: 3, 26, 27
- Pick Apples and Pears: 25 – 27
- Prune Trees: 1, 2, 23, 24, 28
March
- Plant above ground crops: 6, 10, 11, 14, 15
- Plant root crops: 1, 5, 20 – 24, 27, 28
- Transplant: 5, 22 – 24
- Plant seed beds: 14, 15, 22 – 24
- Plant flowers: 14, 15, 20, 21
- Kill plant pests: 2 – 4, 7 – 9, 12, 13, 16 – 19, 25, 26, 29 – 31
- Harvest: 2 – 4, 29 – 31
- Pick Apples and Pears: 25 – 26
- Prune Trees: 1, 22 – 24, 27, 28
April
- Plant above ground crops: 6, 7, 10 – 12, 17, 18
- Plant root crops: 1, 2, 19, 20, 23 – 25, 28 – 30
- Transplant: 1, 2, 19, 20, 28 – 30
- Plant seed beds: 10 – 12, 19, 20
- Plant flowers: 10 – 12, 17, 18
- Kill plant pests: 3 – 5, 8, 9, 13 – 16, 21, 22, 26, 27
- Harvest: 3, 4, 26, 27
- Pick Apples and Pears: 3, 4, 21, 22
- Prune Trees: 19, 20, 23 – 25
May
- Plant above ground crops: 4, 8, 9, 14 – 17
- Plant root crops: 3, 21, 22, 26, 27, 31
- Transplant: 3, 26, 27, 31
- Plant seed beds: 8, 9, 16, 17
- Plant flowers: 8, 9, 14, 15
- Kill plant pests: 1, 2, 5 – 7, 10 – 13, 18 – 20, 23 – 25, 28 – 30
- Harvest: 1, 2, 28 – 30
- Pick Apples and Pears: 1, 2, 18 – 20, 28 – 30
- Prune Trees: 21, 22
June
- Plant above ground crops: 4, 5, 10 – 14
- Plant root crops: 1, 17, 18, 22, 23, 27, 28
- Transplant: 1, 22, 23, 27, 28
- Plant seed beds: 4, 5, 13, 14
- Plant flowers: 4, 5, 10 – 12
- Kill plant pests: 2, 3, 6 – 9, 15, 16, 19 – 21, 24 – 26, 29, 30
- Harvest: 2, 25, 26, 29, 30
- Pick Apples and Pears: 24 – 26
- Prune Trees: 17, 18
July
- Plant above ground crops: 2, 8 – 11, 14, 15
- Plant root crops: 1, 16, 19 – 21, 24 – 26, 29
- Transplant: 1, 19 – 21, 24 – 26, 29, 30
- Plant seed beds: 1, 2, 10, 11, 29, 30
- Plant flowers: 1, 2, 10, 11, 29, 30
- Kill plant pests: 3 – 7, 12, 13, 17, 18, 22, 23, 27, 28, 31
- Harvest: 27, 28
- Pick Apples and Pears: 22, 23
- Prune Trees: 16
August
- Plant above ground crops: 4 – 7, 11, 12, 31
- Plant root crops: 30
- Transplant: 15 – 17, 21, 22, 25, 26
- Plant seed beds: 6, 7, 25, 26
- Plant flowers: 4, 5, 25, 26, 31
- Kill plant pests: 1 – 3, 8 – 10, 13, 14, 18 – 20, 23, 24, 27 – 30
- Harvest: 23, 24, 27 – 29
- Pick Apples and Pears: 18 – 20, 27, 28
- Prune Trees: No good days
September
- Plant above ground crops: 1 – 3, 7, 8, 12, 13, 28 – 30
- Plant root crops: 15 – 17, 21, 22, 25, 26
- Transplant: 17, 18, 22, 23
- Plant seed beds: 2, 3, 22, 23, 30
- Plant flowers: 1, 22, 23, 28, 29
- Kill plant pests: 4 – 6, 9 – 11, 14 – 16, 19 – 21, 24 – 27
- Harvest: 21, 24 – 27
- Pick Apples and Pears: 14 – 16, 24, 25
- Prune Trees: No good days
October
- Plant above ground crops: 1, 4, 5, 9 – 11, 27, 28, 31
- Plant root crops: 17, 18, 22, 23
- Transplant: 14, 15, 19, 20
- Plant seed beds: 1, 19, 20, 27, 28
- Plant flowers: 19, 20, 25, 26
- Kill plant pests: 2, 3, 6 – 8, 12, 13, 16 – 18, 21 – 24, 29, 30
- Harvest: 21 – 24
- Pick Apples and Pears: 13, 21, 22
- Prune Trees: No good days
November
- Plant above ground crops: 1, 2, 5 – 7, 10, 11, 28, 29
- Plant root crops: 14, 15, 19, 20, 25, 26
- Transplant: 12, 15, 16, 24, 25
- Plant seed beds: 15, 16, 24, 25
- Plant flowers: 15, 16, 21 – 23
- Kill plant pests: 3, 4, 8, 9, 13, 14, 17 – 20, 26, 27, 30
- Harvest: 19, 20
- Pick Apples and Pears: 17, 18
- Prune Trees: 24, 25
December
- Plant above ground crops: 3, 4, 8, 9, 26, 27, 30, 31
- Plant root crops: 12, 15, 16, 21 – 25
- Transplant: 12,13, 21, 22
- Plant seed beds: 12,13, 21, 22
- Plant flowers: 12,13, 19, 22
- Kill plant pests: 1, 2, 5 – 7, 10, 11, 14 – 18, 23, 24, 28, 29
- Harvest: 18, 23, 24
- Pick Apples and Pears: 14 – 16, 23, 24
- Prune Trees: 21, 22, 25
Source: Farmer’s Almanac
Moon phase gardening is an idea as old as agriculture, popular in folklore and superstition, but there are scientific ideas to back it up.
The Earth is in a large gravitational field, influenced by both the sun and moon. The tides are highest at the time of the new and the full moon, when sun and moon are lined up with earth. Just as the moon pulls the tides in the oceans, it also pulls upon the subtle bodies of water, causing moisture to rise in the earth, which encourages growth.
The highest amount of moisture is in the soil at this time, and tests have proven that seeds will absorb the most water at the time of the full moon. Planting by the phases of the moon will keep in rhythm with the alternating gravitational pull.
Moon phase gardening considers four phases or quarters lasting about seven days each. The first two quarters are during the waxing or increasing light, from the new moon and growing up to the full moon.
New Moon
At the new moon, the lunar gravity pulls water up, and causes the seeds to swell and burst. This factor, coupled with the increasing moonlight creates balanced root and leaf growth.
The first quarter is the best time for planting above ground bearing annual crops that produce their seeds outside the fruit. Examples are lettuce, spinach, celery, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and grain crops.
2nd Quarter Moon
In the second quarter the gravitational pull is less, but the moonlight is strong, creating healthy leaf growth. It is generally a good time for planting, especially two days before the full moon.
The types of crops that prefer the second quarter are annuals that produce above ground, but their seeds form inside the fruit, such as beans, melons, peas, peppers, squash, and tomatoes.
Plant just before the full moon to get the benefits of peak moisture.
Full Moon
The third and fourth quarters are after the full moon when the light is waning or decreasing, and the energy is drawing down.
The gravitation pull is high, creating more moisture in the soil, but the moonlight is decreasing, putting energy into the roots. This is a favorable time for planting root time for crops, such as beets and carrots.
It is also good for perennials, bulbs and transplanting because of the active root growth. Prune in Scorpio.
4th Quarter Moon
In the fourth quarter there is decreased gravitational pull and moonlight, and this is considered a resting period.
This is also the best time to cultivate, harvest, transplant, fertilize and prune. Mow lawns in the third or fourth quarter to retard growth. Use the water signs for deep watering of shrubs and trees.
Source: Gardening By The Moon
People have been planting by the moon’s phases for centuries, in the belief that something in the lunar light or gravity affects the way plants grow.
The Simplest Rule For Moon Planting is as follows:
The moon planting rule says to plant crops that produce above the ground during the increasing light of the moon (from new moon to full moon) and to plant crops that produce below the ground during the decreasing light of the moon (from full moon to new moon).
A More Detailed Set of Moon Planting Rules:
- New Moon To Full Moon: Sow, Transplant, bud and graft.
- Full Moon To New Moon: Plow, Cultivate, weed and reap.
- New Moon To First Quarter: Good for Planting above-ground crops with outside seeds,
- flowering annuals.
- First Quarter To Full Moon: Good for planting above ground crops with inside seeds.
- Full Moon To Last Quarter: Good for planting root crops, bulbs, biennials, and perennials.
- Last Quarter To New Moon: Do Not Plant
Called Feriae Sementivae, this one or two day Roman festival was moveable, but generally began between January 24 and January 26. Sacred to Tellus, and Ceres, this festival was for the protection of seeds, either those sown the previous fall, or those to be sown in the spring. During Sementivae plowing oxen were decorated with garlands, and puppets or masks were hung from tree branches.
This is an excellent time to begin to think about planting a “Witch’s Garden” and to do spellwork involving seeds. Spiritually and metaphysically, this is an optimum time to sow the internal seeds of what we hope to bring forth as the year unfolds.
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