Growing by Moon Phases

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This is intended as a brief overview to the concept of using the moon as a guide to gardening.

Most devotees of this practice are people who believe in astrology.

However you don't have to believe in astrology to believe that the moon has influence over earthly events; after all, the tides are determined by the moon.

Astrological Moon Gardening;

Moon in; What to do;

Aries Fiery and masculine; dry and barren.
Cultivate and destroy pests and weeds.
Good for gathering herbs and pruning,

Taurus Earthy and feminine; moist and fertile. Planting herbs, and root crops such as; horseradish, potatoes.

Gemini Airy and masculine; dry and barren. Cultivate soil and destroy weeds.

Cancer Watery and feminine; moist and fertile. Plant above ground crops!

Leo Fiery and masculine; dry and barren.
Prune to discourage growth.
Weeding and cultivating, and mow the lawn

Virgo Earthy and feminine; moist and barren. Excellent for harvesting root crops.

Libra Airy and masculine; moist and semi-fertile. Plant flowers and vines.

Scorpio Watery and feminine; moist and fertile. Plant root crops and graft rootstocks.

Sagittarius Fiery and masculine; dry and barren. Weeding and pruning

Capricorn Earthy and feminine; dry and fertile. Mend or build structures, fences and beds.

Aquarius Airy and masculine; dry and barren. Good for pest and weed control, and gather herbs.

Pisces Watery and feminine; moist and fertile. Plant above ground crops

Summary;
Planting signs;

1st Choice; Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces.

2nd Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.

To encourage growth, a waxing moon.

To discourage, the waning moon.

Transplanting and grafting;

Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.

Weeding, cultivating and pests;

Aries, Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius or Aquarius.

Pruning;

Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

In its more general form:

Increasing Light: New moon to the full moon

The period in which the light is increasing, is best for planting annuals which provide their yield above the ground.

Decreasing Light: Full moon to the new moon.

When the light is decreasing, is best for planting biennials (those plants on a two-year cycle), perennials, and root and bulb crops.

Plant potatoes during the dark of the moon" is an old adage.

More specifically:

First quarter; or the time from the new moon to about half-full,
Plant annuals with above-ground yields, particularly leafy plants which produce their seed outside the fruit. e.g asparagus, cabbage, celery, endive, and spinach.

Some plants, such as garlic, melons, hay, and grains and cereals, do well if planted in either the first or second quarter.

Second quarter; or the time from the half-full to the full moon, Plant annuals that have above-ground yields which are vining and produce seed inside the fruit, plus beans, peas, peppers, squash, eggplant, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

Third quarter; from the full moon to half-full. Plant biennials, perennials, bulb and root crops any crops which are planted in one season to winter over and produce yields the following year, trees, and shrubs, plus onions, potatoes, rhubarb, grapes, winter wheat, and berries.

Fourth quarter; from half-full to new moon. Cultivate, pull weeds, destroy pests, and turn sod.

About this Site © The Gardener's Almanac 2005 Top of page

Moon in;		What to do;
Aries	Fiery and masculine; dry and barren.	Cultivate and destroy pests and weeds. Good for gathering herbs and pruning,
Taurus	Earthy and feminine; moist and fertile.	Planting herbs, and root crops such as; horseradish, potatoes.
Gemini	Airy and masculine; dry and barren.	Cultivate soil and destroy weeds.
Cancer	Watery and feminine; moist and fertile.	Plant above ground crops!
Leo	Fiery and masculine; dry and barren.	Prune to discourage growth. Weeding and cultivating, and mow the lawn
Virgo	Earthy and feminine; moist and barren.	Excellent for harvesting root crops.
Libra	Airy and masculine; moist and semi-fertile.	Plant flowers and vines.
Scorpio	Watery and feminine; moist and fertile.	Plant root crops and graft rootstocks.
Sagittarius	Fiery and masculine; dry and barren.	Weeding and pruning
Capricorn	Earthy and feminine; dry and fertile.	Mend or build structures, fences and beds.
Aquarius	Airy and masculine; dry and barren.	Good for pest and weed control, and gather herbs.
Pisces	Watery and feminine; moist and fertile.	Plant above ground crops
Summary;	Planting signs; 1st Choice; Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces. 2nd Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. To encourage growth, a waxing moon. To discourage, the waning moon.	Transplanting and grafting; Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Weeding, cultivating and pests; Aries, Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius or Aquarius. Pruning; Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

First quarter; or the time from the new moon to about half-full,	Plant annuals with above-ground yields, particularly leafy plants which produce their seed outside the fruit. e.g asparagus, cabbage, celery, endive, and spinach. Some plants, such as garlic, melons, hay, and grains and cereals, do well if planted in either the first or second quarter.
Second quarter; or the time from the half-full to the full moon,	Plant annuals that have above-ground yields which are vining and produce seed inside the fruit, plus beans, peas, peppers, squash, eggplant, tomatoes, and cucumbers.
Third quarter; from the full moon to half-full.	Plant biennials, perennials, bulb and root crops any crops which are planted in one season to winter over and produce yields the following year, trees, and shrubs, plus onions, potatoes, rhubarb, grapes, winter wheat, and berries.
Fourth quarter; from half-full to new moon.	Cultivate, pull weeds, destroy pests, and turn sod.