How Do You Plant by the Moon?

Gardening by the Moon is a growing trend, but the technique isn’t anything new. Gardeners and farmers have been using moon phase gardening for ages! Best of all, it’s a fairly simple process.

According to the Garden Media Group, Gardening by the Moon is “more than just a phase. Connecting with the phases of the Moon taps into our deep desire to be in tune with nature.”  (We approve of the pun.) Whatever happens in the world of trends, we’re all in favor of working with nature’s rhythms. 

What Is Gardening by the Moon?

From what we are reading, many of these trend watchers are confused about the idea of Gardening or Planting by the Moon. There is a difference between traditional Gardening by the Moon and gardening by astrological “Best Days.”

Gardening by the Moon

The basic idea behind Gardening by the Moon is that the cycles of the Moon affect plant growth. Just as the Moon’s gravitational pull causes tides to rise and fall, it also affects moisture in the soil.

Therefore, it’s said that seeds will absorb more water during the full Moon and the new Moon, when more moisture is pulled to the soil surface. This causes seeds to swell, resulting in greater germination and better-established plants. 

Moon phase gardening takes into account two periods of the lunar cycle: the time between the new Moon and the full Moon (the waxing of the Moon), and the time between the full Moon and the new Moon (the waning of the Moon). It’s considered best to plant certain types of plants during the waning of the Moon and other types during the waxing.

See more on this in How to Plant by the Moon’s Phases, below.

The Moon also impacts plant growth through geotropism—which is how plants grow in response to gravity. Roots grow downward in the direction of gravitational pull and stems grow in the opposite direction (i.e., upwards). This behavior can be easily demonstrated with potted plants. Lay one on its side and the stem will grow upwards. Or, consider a tulip bulb: if you plant the bulb incorrectly with the pointed end down, it will turn around and send its shoots upward, even though it’s in total darkness.

Astrological “Best Days”

Like Gardening by the Moon, astrological Best Days are based on the Moon. However, instead of depending on the Moon’s phase, Best Days take into account the Moon’s position in the astrological zodiac. When the Moon is in Taurus, for example, it is considered a good time to plant, transplant, or graft. Common gardening activities are associated with certain signs, shown here:

Activity	Associated Signs
Plant, Transplant, or Graft	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, or Taurus
Harvest	Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini, or Aquarius
Build/Fix Fences or Garden Beds	Capricorn
Control Insect Pests, Plow, or Weed	Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini, or Aquarius
Prune	Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius

To see dates of upcoming Best Days, check out our Best Days Timetable.

How to Plant by the Moon’s Phases

To plant by the Moon, follow these guidelines:

• Plant your annual flowers and fruit and vegetables that bear crops above ground (such as corn, tomatoes, watermelon, and zucchini) during the waxing of the Moon—from the day the Moon is new to the day it is full. As the moonlight increases night by night, plants are encouraged to grow leaves and stems.

• Plant flowering bulbs, biennial and perennial flowers, and vegetables that bear crops below ground (such as onions, carrots, and potatoes) during the waning of the Moon—from the day after it is full to the day before it is new again. As the moonlight decreases night by night, plants are encouraged to grow roots, tubers, and bulbs.

Dates for Planting by the Moon

See the Almanac Planting Calendar for planting dates based on 1) average last frost dates and 2) Moon phase. Both are customized to your local postal code (U.S. and Canada)!

The Almanac provides favorable dates for sowing seeds or transplanting in the ground for all popular vegetables and edibles.

You could also calculate planting dates yourself by looking at our Moon Phase Calendar and the guidelines above, though this method won’t take your climate into account.

Finally, don’t forget to check out our library of Growing Guides to learn how to grow all the your favorite fruit, vegetables, and flowers!

Do you garden by the Moon? Do you think the technique helps you grow better crops? Let us know in the comments!

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