Gardening using moon phases is an idea as old as agriculture. You can find it in folklore but science also backs it up.  The Earth’s gravitational pull is influenced by both the sun and moon. During a full or new moon, the tides are at their highest levels, which is due to the sun and the moon being in alignment with the Earth. Just as the moon influences the oceans, it also pulls other bodies of water, which caused moisture to rise in the Earth, which in turn encourages growth.  Scientific information also shows the increases in moisture are absorbed by seeds.

Gardening by the moon is based on two periods of the lunar cycle, the waxing of the moon, which is the time between the new moon and the full moon and the waning of the moon, which is the time between the full moon and the new moon.

When planting during the moon phases, here are the guidelines to follow:

Waxing Of the Moon - Period of the new noon to the day the moon is full – This is the time to plant your annual flowers and fruits and vegetables that bear crops above ground (such as tomatoes, corn, watermelon, and cucumbers. The increase in moonlight each night encourages leaves and stems to grow.

Waning of the Moon - Period after the full moon to the day before the New moon -  During this time plant flowering bulbs, perennials, and biennial flowers as well as vegetables that grow below ground (such as carrots, potatoes, and radishes).  The decline in moonlight encourages the plants to grow roots, tubers, and bulbs. 

Some gardeners swear by a Moon Calendar.  If you want to learn what phase we are in right now, The Farmer’s Almanac has a calendar where you can find the current moon phase.  

If you want to buy a Moon Calendar, take a look at this Moon Calendar Guide.  It can help you figure out when to plant your flowers, fruits, and vegetables.  Other great benefits include:

• This one never goes out of date and it is easy to use. You can keep on reusing it.
• It works for any climate in the world.
• It also shows you when to fertilize and apply sprays for pests

Remember with Moon Gardening, timing is a key benefit.  It is a great guideline to assist you in the garden. If you already Moon Garden, let us know your experiences.