Post by ogeezer on Mar 21, 2007 11:01:36 GMT -6
...this probably wasn't what you expected but...
Moon gardening (gardening following lunar phases) is a long practiced tradition by Old Hands and Greenthumb Gardeners, who tend to their gardens using age old methods. Raising gardens or other crops is somewhat fixed by the changing of the moon, as it goes thru its phases. The waxing moon phase is a good time to encourage plant growth and proliferation. The waning moon phase is a useful time to control plant growth and keep down garden pests, weeds, etc.
A lunar month is divided into two basic moon activities: waxing and waning. The start of each process is connected to the new and full moon. A full moon is when the moon is 180 degrees opposite the sun, in position to receive sunlight over the maximum volume of its surface. A new moon occurs when the sun and moon are so closely aligned that it is impossible for the moon to give off any reflected sunlight. Waxing occurs in the period between the new and the full moon. Waning describes lunar activity between the full and the new moon. When the moon is waxing, it is said to be in its first and second quarters. When the moon is waning, it phases through the third and fourth quarters of the cycle.
Traditionally, gardeners have been advised to sow seeds at the full moon, perhaps because our ancestors discovered that seeds germinated more rapidly then. Many people today sow at the new moon in order to ensure germination before the growth spurt given the plant by the full moon.
The moon moves through a complete cycle every 29 days.
For moon gardening purposes, this cycle is divided into four quarters. Each quarter denotes specific garden chores. The first two quarters are during the waxing phase of the moon and go from new moon to half full and from half full to full moon. The third and fourth quarters are during the waning moon and go from full moon to half full and from half full to new moon. An expert on moon gardening sez, the first quarter is ideal for planting crops that grow underground, such as potatoes, carrots, radishes, and onions The second quarter is for planting crops that grow above ground, such as tomatoes, squash, eggplant and okra.
The first quarter of this period (from new to half moon) is the best time to plant leafy crops with seed heads, such as lettuce and herbs, as the waxing moon also draws water up in the ground, encouraging the leafy growth. The second quarter (from half to full moon) is better for plants with enclosed seeds, such as beans, tomatoes and peas.
Certain crops, including fruits or vegetables meant to be eaten immediately or within a few days are best gathered as the moon waxes. Tomatoes have been found to ripen most satisfactorily on the vine or window sill if harvested at the full moon when water content is highest.
The waning moon phase is associated with harvesting. As the moon wanes during the third and fourth quarters, it is a good time to prune plants, as the water table is diminishing and so less sap will flow out of the cut ends. The fourth quarter is the most dormant period and is good for chores like weeding. Crops that require storage, such as cabbages, potatoes and onions store better if harvest during the waning moon.
For the next several months, the cycle of waxing & waning moons goes something like this, with the peak days falling on the following days:
1st Qtr (half moon) -- Mar25 ... Apr24 ... May23 ... Jun22 ... Jul22 ...
Full Moon -- Apr2 ... May2 ... Jun1 ... Jun30 ... Jul30 ...
3d Qtr (half moon) -- Apr10 ... May10 ... Jun8 ... Jul7 ...
New Moon -- Apr17 ... May16 ... Jun15 ... Jul14 ... Jul14 ...
In between each of these phases determines what chores the Moon Gardener concentrates on.
Gardening by the moon isn't a guarantee for having a flourishing, productive garden anymore than one who keeps a garden according to time availabilities or whim. But what this ogeezer has seen, if a person devotes as much time as is available to the gardening process, using the moon gardening method, including weeding, applying fertilizers, watering, and the other chores associated with it, he/she will in most cases harvest a far better crop of veggies and fruits for a longer period of time than does the gardener who does not.
Moon gardening (gardening following lunar phases) is a long practiced tradition by Old Hands and Greenthumb Gardeners, who tend to their gardens using age old methods. Raising gardens or other crops is somewhat fixed by the changing of the moon, as it goes thru its phases. The waxing moon phase is a good time to encourage plant growth and proliferation. The waning moon phase is a useful time to control plant growth and keep down garden pests, weeds, etc.
A lunar month is divided into two basic moon activities: waxing and waning. The start of each process is connected to the new and full moon. A full moon is when the moon is 180 degrees opposite the sun, in position to receive sunlight over the maximum volume of its surface. A new moon occurs when the sun and moon are so closely aligned that it is impossible for the moon to give off any reflected sunlight. Waxing occurs in the period between the new and the full moon. Waning describes lunar activity between the full and the new moon. When the moon is waxing, it is said to be in its first and second quarters. When the moon is waning, it phases through the third and fourth quarters of the cycle.
Traditionally, gardeners have been advised to sow seeds at the full moon, perhaps because our ancestors discovered that seeds germinated more rapidly then. Many people today sow at the new moon in order to ensure germination before the growth spurt given the plant by the full moon.
The moon moves through a complete cycle every 29 days.
For moon gardening purposes, this cycle is divided into four quarters. Each quarter denotes specific garden chores. The first two quarters are during the waxing phase of the moon and go from new moon to half full and from half full to full moon. The third and fourth quarters are during the waning moon and go from full moon to half full and from half full to new moon. An expert on moon gardening sez, the first quarter is ideal for planting crops that grow underground, such as potatoes, carrots, radishes, and onions The second quarter is for planting crops that grow above ground, such as tomatoes, squash, eggplant and okra.
The first quarter of this period (from new to half moon) is the best time to plant leafy crops with seed heads, such as lettuce and herbs, as the waxing moon also draws water up in the ground, encouraging the leafy growth. The second quarter (from half to full moon) is better for plants with enclosed seeds, such as beans, tomatoes and peas.
Certain crops, including fruits or vegetables meant to be eaten immediately or within a few days are best gathered as the moon waxes. Tomatoes have been found to ripen most satisfactorily on the vine or window sill if harvested at the full moon when water content is highest.
The waning moon phase is associated with harvesting. As the moon wanes during the third and fourth quarters, it is a good time to prune plants, as the water table is diminishing and so less sap will flow out of the cut ends. The fourth quarter is the most dormant period and is good for chores like weeding. Crops that require storage, such as cabbages, potatoes and onions store better if harvest during the waning moon.
For the next several months, the cycle of waxing & waning moons goes something like this, with the peak days falling on the following days:
1st Qtr (half moon) -- Mar25 ... Apr24 ... May23 ... Jun22 ... Jul22 ...
Full Moon -- Apr2 ... May2 ... Jun1 ... Jun30 ... Jul30 ...
3d Qtr (half moon) -- Apr10 ... May10 ... Jun8 ... Jul7 ...
New Moon -- Apr17 ... May16 ... Jun15 ... Jul14 ... Jul14 ...
In between each of these phases determines what chores the Moon Gardener concentrates on.
Gardening by the moon isn't a guarantee for having a flourishing, productive garden anymore than one who keeps a garden according to time availabilities or whim. But what this ogeezer has seen, if a person devotes as much time as is available to the gardening process, using the moon gardening method, including weeding, applying fertilizers, watering, and the other chores associated with it, he/she will in most cases harvest a far better crop of veggies and fruits for a longer period of time than does the gardener who does not.