Gardening according to the phases of the moon is an ancient practice. Those of us who garden as an expression of our spirituality and our connection with both the Earth and our ancestors may wish to incorporatethe moon phases and the lunar calendar into our gardening.
There are generally two things that are considered when gardening by the moon. The first is the moon phase and the second is the astrological house the moon is in. Read on to find out how they each affect your plants differently.
Gardening by Moon Phase
The New Moon is the best time for starting above ground crops, leafy crops. The moon’s gravitational pull increases moisture at this time and encourages seeds to sprout. The increasing light of the moon encourages the growth of leaves. This provides good, strong, balanced growth both above the ground and below. During this phase, plant spinach, cabbage, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, mustard, celery, dill and other herbs and grain crops.
During the Second Quarter, the moon’s gravitational pull is slightly weaker but the moon’s light is growing in strength. This is the best time to plant above ground fruiting crops like squash, tomatoes, peppers, peas and beans, melons, etc. The best time for planting during this phase is 3-4 days before the full moon.
If you are mowing, trimming or pruning to encourage growth, the best time to