moonGROW - Organic gardening by the moon and zodiac signs

Planting (and Harvesting)
Under the Light of the Silvery Moon
Los Angeles Times - July 4, 1998

Should you time your planting with the phases of the moon?

Have you ever noticed that sometimes, for no apparent reason, seedlings take longer than usual to poke through the soil? Or that transplants sometimes get off to a rousing start right after planting, while other times they sit for a while before growing?

Are plants so fickle?

Perhaps it's the moon.

There's an old saying: "Plant potatoes by the dark of the moon."

Some gardeners believe that the best times for garden activities are dictated by the phases of the moon. Not that your garden will be a flop otherwise, but rather, as one moon gardener says, you should "take advantage of the impetus provided by nature."

How moon phase gardening works

For those who choose to plant by moonlight, instructions are more refined today, even taking into consideration the zodiac. And planting is not the only activity covered. There are days (and nights) that are supposed to be ideal for fertilizing, for mowing the lawn, for harvesting--even for making pickles.

If you just want to dabble in "moon gardening," detailed instructions can be distilled into two general rules:

Above ground crops

The period from two days before to seven days after the new moon is best for planting seeds that sprout very quickly or very slowly above ground.

See: Above ground crops - Plants that produce their bounty above the soil

Below ground crops

The time from the full moon to seven days later is best for transplanting and sowing seeds that sprout in a moderately long time below ground.

See: Below ground crops - Plants that develop their fruit beneath the ground

Transplanting seedlings

The moon's influence might come from its gravity, light or magnetism. Lunar gravity is supposed to promote leaf growth and inhibit root growth. That's why seedlings should establish well if transplanted during the third quarter, when decreasing moonlight and tidal pull slows leaf growth and stimulates root growth.

See: Third quarter moon - Roots crops gain strength during the third quarter moon.

Moon phase gardening - fact or fiction?

Is there any scientific basis for reckoning with the phases of the moon when gardening? Yes and no.

Tidal effects in seeds

The theory has basic weak points. Ocean tides occur because gravitational attraction is a function of distance and there is a differential pull of lunar (and solar) gravity between the side of the Earth closest and the side farthest from the moon. But the two sides of a seed are only a fraction of an inch different in distance from the moon, so "tidal" effects in seeds are negligible.

The moon affects barometric pressure, temperature and cosmic radiation

On the other hand, there is no question that the moon affects barometric pressure, temperature and cosmic radiation flux. Carefully controlled experiments have, in fact, detected cyclical uptake of water and shoot growth in plants that coincide with the lunar day and month.

2012 moon phases A chart of moon phases and planting dates for 2012 to help you in your garden planning.

The role of the zodiac

These cyclical responses are rarely in simple harmony with only lunar cycles. There seem to be other cosmic influences also at work. The zodiac perhaps?

Problems arise when trying to translate simple experimental responses into the complex world of the garden.

The whole area of moon gardening seems worthy of further investigation--and perhaps backyard experimentation.

Copyright 2008 Los Angeles Times

See: Zodiac sign gardening - Timing the stages of your garden's growth by the signs of the zodiac

Basic Vegetable Gardening

Planning Your Garden from Scratch - the Planting
Some helpful hints on how to plan your planting.

Planting Zones
Planting zones in the United States, which are also known as Hardiness Zones, can be thought of as the rate of survival to the plant life in that particular region during cold periods, such as winter.

Growing crops by following the lunar calendar
Biodynamic farming (BD) is also a form of organic farming as it not only avoids the use of pesticides and chemical-based fertilizers but also offers advise on the time of crop sowing according to the lunar crop cycle.

Artifical Light for Starting Seeds and Indoor Growing
In starting seeds indoors and growing house plants, light, along with temperature and humidity, can be controlled and thus become a tool for producing luxuriant healthy growth.

The Cultivation of Vegetables
As to weeds, the gardener of any experience need not be told the importance of keeping his crops clean. He has learned from bitter and costly experience.

Companion Planting for the Home Gardener
In nature, where plants grow without cultivation, there is always a mixture of plant types growing in an area. These plants usually benefit each other.

2012 moon phases

A chart of moon phases and planting dates for 2012 to help you in your garden planning.


	\|	Moon Phase Gardening	\|	Zodiac Sign Gardening	\|	Vegetable Planting Guide	\|	Organic Gardening Guide	\|
Copyright© 2012 Rocketface®

Planting (and Harvesting)Under the Light of the Silvery Moon Los Angeles Times - July 4, 1998