Moon Phases & Plants
Before the invention of almanacs, wall calendars, thermometers and pH soil testing, farmers relied on nature to determine when to plant their crops. The early Egyptians and Babylonians planted by the phases of the moon. Planting by the moon's phases is still in practice today. Practitioners believe that the moon influences the development and productivity of vegetation and use the phases to determine what to plant, when to plant and when not to plant. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
-
Waxing and Waning
-
The waxing and waning of the moon is called the synodic cycle and is used to divide the moon into each of its four phases. The entire synodic cycle, from the first through the fourth phase, takes 29.6 days to complete. Waxing and waning are terms that describe the progression of the moon and how it exhibits itself from dark to light. A waxing moon increases in brightness. A waning moon decreases in brightness. Planting during the waxing phase is referred to as planting "by the light of the moon." Planting during the waning phase, as the moon darkens, is called planting "by the dark of the moon." An old farmer's adage advises gardeners to always plant potatoes during "the dark of the moon." Another adage advises gardeners that planting crops at night is the best time of all.
New Moon and Full Moon Planting
-
Dr. Frank Brown of Northwestern University conducted laboratory experiments and concluded that plants absorb more water when the moon is full. Lunar planting "purists" make sure their seeds are planted within 48 hours of a full moon. They also resist planting on the day of a new moon or a full moon, and only plant on the day before or after.
-
First Quarter
-
The first quarter of the moon is the time to plant above-ground crops. They are referred to as "above-ground" because the yield is visible and their seeds are produced outside of the vegetable or fruit. Examples include leafy plants such as spinach, endive, celery and asparagus.
Second Quarter
-
The second quarter of the moon runs from the time the moon reaches its half-full stage to its full-moon stage. It is also a good time for planting above-ground crops, particularly those that grow on vines and those that produce their seeds inside of the fruit. Examples of this category include beans, cucumbers, peas, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers and squash.
Third Quarter
-
The moon enters its third quarter when it is in full moon and begins to wane to its half-full phase. During the third quarter, you should plant varieties, including flowers, that grow as a biennial or perennial along with root crops and flowers that grow from bulbs. Examples of these types of vegetation include onions, potatoes, grapes and berries.
Fourth Quarter
-
Those who plant by the moon phases do not plant during the fourth quarter. Instead, they take this phase of the moon to pay attention to the soil needs. This can include pulling weeds, getting rid of pests, tilling and turning the sod and soil, and adding nutrients and fertilizer to cultivate the soil and make it more productive.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
