Gardening with the Moon

We all dream of having a garden like Grandma and Grandpa did.  Lush. Green. Loaded with fresh food.  Our memories take us back to visions of Grandma snapping beans on the porch.  And we ask ourselves, “How did they do it?” One way was with tools they couldn’t hold them in their hands.  Those tools were the moon and stars. 

Listen in to learn more about this time-honored (but often questioned) way of using the very essence of creation to grow a healthier, more productive garden!

Raising with the Moon

You and the Man in the Moon

Transcript

We all dream of having a garden like Grandma and Grandpa did.  Lush. Green. Loaded with fresh food.  Our memories take us back to visions of Grandma snapping beans on the porch.  And we ask ourselves, “How did they do it?”

One way is they more than likely used compost.  Chemical fertilizer wasn’t available until the late 40’s, so Grandpa used traditional gardening techniques, such as compost and rotational planting. Another way was constant care.  The Country Boy tells of his grandmother keeping a hat and a hoe by the back door.  Every morning, she grabbed both and headed to the garden. But they also had other tools, even if they couldn’t hold them in their hands.  Those tools were the moon and stars. 

Now, just bear with me. It may sound complicated at first, but there is also a lot of information being thrown at you in a short amount of time. But at the very least, it’s still something to think about if you want your garden to have as many advantages as possible. 

Planting by the moon phases and signs is as old as creation.  Our ancestors didn’t have an Almanac, so they just looked up. Each phase of the moon dictated what they would plant or do. New moon? Plant tomatoes. 3rd Quarter? Plant root vegetables. They honed their knowledge and skills with each planting. 

For many of us, this is a new concept to growing a garden. We may have heard about it before, or even toyed with the idea of trying this method. But our knowledge and understanding doesn’t extend too much further than that. So, for us to plant using the moon phases and signs, we need to start with at least a basic understanding of what that means.

The very first thing you need to know about gardening with the moon and signs is that not everyone agrees it’s beneficial. And the second thing is that some of the information you will read about is ambiguous. Some accounts suggest it’s best to plant root crops during the 3rd and 4th quarters, as there isn’t as much of a gravitational pull. Others feel as if these 2 quarters should be left for other gardening tasks, such as pruning – but not planting. 

The best way to decide is to do your research, try it for yourself, and determine which way works for you. This podcast outlines what I’ve found works for me. A second thing to know is gardening with the moon stays true to course of an age-old rule: There is an exception for everything.

Now, for the basics.

We all know the moon circles the earth.  One complete ‘circle’ equals a full cycle and takes 29-1/2 days to complete.  The cycle begins with the New Moon and ends the day before the next New Moon. Between the New Moons, the cycle is broken down into phases, also called quarters – 1st, 2nd, Full Moon, 3rd and 4th.  Each quarter affects plant growth differently.

As the moon moves through its cycle, its position in space affects the earth’s water.  The most common example of this is oceanic tides. These are the moon phases:

First Quarter – the gravitational pull of the moon is greatest during the first quarter.  This is the time to plant leafy greens, grains, and other crops that produce seeds outside the plant.

Second Quarter – there is still a strong gravitational pull.  This is the optimal time to plant crops that produce seeds inside the plant, such as tomatoes, squash, and peppers.

An exception to this rule is broccoli.  Although broccoli produces its seeds outside the plant, it is best to plant it during the second quarter.

Full Moon – this is the period where the light and moisture is at its full peak and is good for planting.

Third Quarter – Although still strong, the gravitational pull is beginning to wane, which makes it a great time to plant root crops.

Fourth Quarter –works the same as the third quarter.

To make it a bit easier to remember, I think of the first and second quarters as ‘Lift Off’ – plants and seeds begin to grow ‘up’.  The third and fourth quarter I think of as ‘Settle Down’, or better for root crops. 

During each cycle, the moon also moves through the 12 astronomical signs.  Each sign lasts for approximately 2-1/2 days.  The signs offer advantages, as well as disadvantages to gardening.  For instance, all of the signs are either masculine or feminine, and have a fruitful, barren, or semi-fruitful designation. Masculine signs are all considered barren, with the exception of Libra.  Libra is a masculine sign yet considered semi-fruitful. 

Feminine signs are considered to be fruitful, and again with the exception of Virgo, which is a feminine sign, yet considered barren.  Fruitful signs are the best for planting. Semi-fruitful signs are the second-best, and barren signs aren’t good for gardening at all, and should be left to other gardening chores. 

In addition, each sign is also attributed to one of the four elements of Nature: Fire, Water, Earth, and Air. For the most part, Fire and Air are masculine signs, with water and earth being feminine. 

It stands to reason that planting in a fire or air sign may not be your best option.  Considering fire can destroy anything in its path, and air tends to dry things out, neither will help your garden grow by leaps and bounds, either.  Water and earth signs, however, are considered fruitful, which makes it a great time to plant.  And of course, we have that exception to the rule. Libra is a masculine sign, its element is Air, but it’s also a semi-fruitful sign. For me, I see it as a 50/50 chance plants will grow accordingly.

Once you understand the concept of the phases and signs, you can begin to put together the best and worst times to plant.  Planting in the first quarter when the moon is in Scorpio will likely result in better seed germination and plant growth.  Planting in the fourth quarter during Aquarius won’t be very beneficial to your tomatoes.

When it comes to barren days, these are best for cultivating, pruning, getting rid of pests, and other gardening maintenance.  It is the least beneficial for planting, so use these days to tackle other chores.

Gardening by the Moon phases and signs isn’t considered a ‘scientific’ way of gardening in some circles. However, this type of gardening has been in effect since early days. Many farmers swear by it and won’t start their gardens until they consult an almanac or Moon phase and sign calendar.  They also consult it when doing other farming and household chores.

Planting, cultivation and harvesting of gardens using the Moon phases and signs has been around since ancient times.  Historical documents appear to mention farmers in the Nile and Euphrates regions to depend on the celestial bodies to help them produce the best crops possible.  Still, some folks do not believe the evidence today is conclusive enough to claim it actually works.

Just because planting by the Moon seems to improve your garden, that doesn’t mean it is the only time you can plant.  Depending on your climate and weather, you may just have to get the plants in the ground, regardless of the phase or sign.  If we have a forecast of rain on the best days to plant, I have no problem throwing caution to the wind and digging in the dirt on an ‘off’ day.  I know the size of my harvest might be a bit smaller, but I prefer  having food to eat rather than nothing at all!

Even though planting by the Moon phases and signs is definitely a viable plan, you still have to consider your Gardening Zone.  Although the calendar may list the best planting date for February, it will only work for a small segment of the population.  Others may have to chip ice off the ground and use a pickaxe as a shovel.  Consider your planting zone first and then consult the Moon. 

It may not be a scientific fact, but there is at least some evidence that the Moon phases and signs benefit your garden.  Just take a look back and Grandma and Grandpa’s vegetable patch.  Unless there was severe drought or flooding, there was always more than enough to eat fresh, with plenty left over to preserve for the winter.  

And there is a good chance it was your grandmother who started the tradition of leaving a box of zucchini on a neighbor’s porch in the dead of night because of it!

If you are looking to improve your garden, try using the Moon phases and signs. It isn’t difficult at all; it just takes a little bit of knowledge and understanding of how it works. Hopefully, this podcast helped to prepare you. And to give you some extra help, be sure to download my free Worksheets – you can find the link in the show notes. 

If you still aren’t sure about gardening using the Moon phases and signs, or want to read more about it, let me offer some recommendations.

First, consult an Almanac.  I have used several in the past, but my favorite is The Farmers’ Almanac.  Not only does the book itself offer great information, but the Farmers’ Almanac website takes it a few steps further. 

Next, I recommend two books on the subject.  But before I do, just know that these are older books. Both are available as Kindle books on Amazon, but a print book will more than likely have to be purchased used. There are other books on the subject, but these are the two I love the most. You can find the link to my Amazon Shop page in the show notes for both books. Just so you know, this is an affiliate link – if you click and make a purchase, I will make a small commission, but it won’t affect the price you pay. And when you do make a purchase, you will also be supporting me – so Thank you!

The first book is Raising with the Moon, by Jack R. Pyle and Taylor Reese.  In this book, the authors offer detailed information on how to use the Moon phases and signs for gardening and how it works.  It also gives information on how using these celestial bodies can work in other aspects of life, from fishing and working with livestock, to cutting hair, baking, and canning and preserving that great harvest.

The second book is You and the Man in the Moon, also by Jack R. Pyle and Taylor Reese.  This book covers all aspects of how to use an almanac effectively.  Not sure what all those symbols and squiggles are in the almanac?  Don’t worry.  This book covers those Symbols, Drawings & Terms, as well as Weather Forecasts, Moon Phases & Signs, Gardening Guides and so much more.

I have both of these books and refer to them frequently.  They are the best ones I have read and give detailed information on how Moon phase and sign gardening works. Both are perfect for any gardener’s personal library. 

Are you ready to garden like grandma and grandpa? Then look up to the moon and stars. And be sure to let me know how gardening with the Moon phases and signs works for you. Just email me at thevirtualporch@gmail.com. If it helps, we can compare notes and help each other grow the most productive gardens ever!

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Thanks again for stopping in. I will see you next week on Living a Simple Life with a Back Porch View. And while you are waiting for the next episode, grab that glass of refreshment, pull up a rocker, and sit back for a while. It’s time to relax and enjoy.