Gardening to the Moon

Gardening to the Moon cycle is one of the most enjoyable things I do with my astrological knowledge. I’ve definitely noticed a distinct growth pattern in certain fruits, vegetables, and flowers and I’ve done especially well grooming my mothers pear tree. Pick up a copy of the old time Farmer’s Almanac and you’ll discover that besides the ads and articles there’s nothing but astronomical alignments and the phases of the Sun and Moon. I was astonished the first time I flipped through that little yellow booklet and I excitedly buy one every year. After a few seasons I’ve had success with pumpkins, cucumbers, nasturtiums, roses, dahlias, tomatoes, and pears. I’ve failed miserably at jalapenos, bell peppers, onions, a couple random flower packets that I can’t really remember. If you’re going to be productive the best philosophy is to stick with what you do best. If I don’t get something close to right the first time then I move on to something new that I might be successful at. Now here are some philosophies that I have learned through my years in the FFA as well as first hand experience.

In order to do anything to the Moon cycle you’ll need to understand the four major phases. The full and new Moon are more commonly known but the quarter Moon phases are just as important. If you’re astute to celestial happenings you can tell the Moon phase by simply looking at it. When Lady Luna is half dark half light that’s the indication of one of the quarter phases. Full Moon’s stand bright at night and the new Moon can’t be seen at all. In astrological terms the full Moon occurs when the Moon and Sun are opposite each other with the Earth in between. New Moons are when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth and quarter phases are the halfway point between each. Once you’ve got the four phases down, here’s the method behind the madness. From the new Moon to Full the flowers, buds, and fruits are developing as the increasing Moon size influences the amount of water being drawn from the ground. Just like the ocean tides are higher during this phase so is the amount of subsurface H2O. Then from the full Moon to full plants are establishing the underground roots as well as the stems or branches of the plant. I believe the three days after the full or new Moon is when you’ll see the most change in the plant's expansion. When it comes to harvesting the same philosophy applies. Pick above ground fruits and veggies under the full phase and underground produce during the new.

When it comes to actually gardening, you’re going to need to figure out where your growing space is and how much direct sunlight it gets. Between four to six hours is usually the minimum requirement and some plants will only function if they get a complete eight or more. Another thing that needs to be considered is the temperature. Frost is a major killer and I’ve definitely been bamboozled by a late year freezing. You really don’t see much plant development until they’re getting a consistent 60+ temperature and you also need to be attentive to the nightly low as well. Wait until the nighttime is in the 50’s until you plant outside and you’ll experience much more success. Starting your seeds inside will allow you to consider earlier planting, but I definitely suggest checking your regional weather forecast before anything goes outdoors. Even a basic window sill can be a great place to germinate some seeds. Another thing to consider is how long your plant takes to develop produce. Set your growing to an actual calendar and plant accordingly. You don’t want your pumpkins finishing up in early September and rotting before Halloween. Also when it comes to corn, plant your seeds early and you want it knee high by the 4th of July.

After you’ve gotten your grow space set and you’ve determined what you’re going to plant, the soil and nutrients are the next things to consider. Every store bought fertilizer comes with something called the N-P-K ratio. Those letters are referring to the elements Nitrogen-Potassium-Phosphorus. You’ll see a number like 10-13-21 or 17-3-14 or whatever printed somewhere on the container. Those numbers are telling you which nutrients are in the fertilizer and what ratio they are in. Some plants require more nitrogen while vegetating and more potassium when blooming. Others don’t like too much nitrogen and won’t grow unless properly balanced. Look at the numbers on your standard bag of miracle grow potting soil and you’ll be surprised how little is actually in it. Which is actually good, I’ve found it easiest to start with sparse nutrients in the soil then add my own. Composting is not something I’ve tried.

Purchasing starts at your local store is somewhat fulfilling and I’ll buy some potted flowers from time to time, but growing something you sprouted from a seed brings a much greater sense of accomplishment. Once you’ve figured the precarious first sprouting step there are multiple ways you can go from there. Remember, plants love growing in warmer climates and the longer you can keep them above sixty degrees the better. For me, germinating seeds is the trickiest step to the process. The moisture and temperature must be right or you’ll fail miserably. I suggest sprouting things inside or at least with a plastic covering and direct sunlight is absolutely vital to have any success. One process I use is simple. I place the seeds in a damp paper towel then seal the wad in a clear plastic sandwich bag and put it in the sunlight. Sometimes I make a window sill germinating table and sometimes I start the baggie outside. Nasturtiums and cucumbers responded well to this basic method. For pumpkins I planted the seeds directly into the soil. I do this process three days before the full Moon and leave them in for a week to 10 days.

Once you have a little seedling you can take a few different directions. Transplanting is very time consuming and the sooner a plant is able to settle into its final growing spot the better. In my personal experience I’ve found that plants grown in individual containers do better than the ones I plant in the ground. Solid black pots that are above ground soak up the Sun’s rays and warm up the roots much better than than the ground. I have a friend with fruit producing nectarine trees growing on his front porch in the temperate climate of Pacific Northwest Washington using this method. If you want to waste time using multiple transplanting steps go ahead. The sooner the process is as easy as simply watering and weeding the better. Somewhere along the vegetating stage you’re going to want to add some nutrients to the soil. Again you’ll need to be familiar with the NPK rating on whatever fertilizer you’re using and what specific requirements your garden needs. You’ll need to get yourself a good watering can and make damn sure you follow the directions for the specific plant food you’re using. There are also multiple additives and different soil mixtures you can look into. Sometimes natural compost or chicken manure type supplements you can pick up at your local feed store. I use basic Miracle Grow. When applying Moon tactics once again I do everything three days after the new or full Moon. Usually I give blooming doses under the new Moon and rooting concoctions for the full. Pruning and garden bed maintenance are performed under the quarter Moon phases which occur about a week before the new or full. Weeds, slugs, and other garden pests are always a constant problem and don’t care what phase the Moon is in. Those buggers will munch your stuff whenever and wherever.

Harvesting is the culmination of all your hard work and effort. According to astrological tradition, fruits and vegetables growing above the ground are best picked under the full Moon phase with underground produce set to the new. This should be taken into consideration way back in the planting stage and if you’ve been diligent you’ll reap your rewards when the time comes. Getting your crops to produce in sync will take some strategy and planning and it’s best to grow things in multiple stages. Have three planting parties two weeks apart and you’ll be able to have fresh food for a longer period. Raising plants in a staggered fashion will also allow you to see the different growth cycles under the different Moon phases. Canning crops like beans should all be planted at once. If long term storage is your plan you want everything done in one final swoop. Always remember the less steps the better. If large scale farming is your goal then crop rotation and ground maintenance will be much more important and difficult than the average backyard garden. At the end of the year there are always winter preparations needed for perennials and annuals alike. Take care all year round and you’ll be surprised how much your production can increase each season.