Gardening by the Moon

I am happy to report that our little seedlings are thriving well, we had a few casualties, but for the most part we have some great starter plants that are now garden ready. Cody and I also purchased the rest of the seeds over the weekend that need to go directly into the garden such as carrots, beans, peas and lettuce. You can also buy these all as starter plants for easy no fuse gardening, although they tend to be bit more expensive. So now the obvious question: How do you know when is the right time to plant?

I don’t think there really is a set answer for this question; every gardener seems to have their own theory. So this year we choose to rely on a little instinct and the moon. I realize this may sound a little weird. However after a little research I learnt that gardening by the moon is the oldest gardening tradition. Long before watches or calendars everything was governed by the phases of the moon. If you haven’t put in your garden yet you are in luck, because the next full moon is this Thursday!

This type of practice is referred to as moon or lunar gardening, and it is centered on the moon's gravitational effect on the flow of moisture in both the soil and plants, similar to how the mood effects ocean tides. Understanding these effects and timing your garden accordingly is the basis of moon gardening. This practice goes very in depth, but here are some basic guidelines to be mindful of:
First Quarter Phase (First quarter up to 12 hours before full moon)

The energy is rising- this is a good time to plant anything. Planting and transplanting any plants that produce above ground, especially vine-type vegetables that produce seeds inside (such as beans, peas, peppers, squash and tomatoes). This is also a great time to plant all cereals and grains.

Full Moon Phase – (12 hours after full moon up to last quarter)

There is a peak of electromagnetic energy of all living things during the Full Moon and a slow withdrawal of downward energy for the next 2 weeks following it. This is the best time to plant perennials, biennials, bulb and root crops and anything that produces below the ground. So think carrots, beets, garlic and potatoes. The energy flow is shifted downwards into the roots during this time. This is also the best time for pruning and harvesting. Medicinal herbs are also most potent if picked during this time.

I will include some photos next week of the newly planted garden. How are your gardens going? I’d love to hear about how you decided when the best time is to plant.

Happy Full Moon Everyone!

Marcie Brown