GARDEN IDEAS
Gardening by the Moon
Gardening by the moon isn't a new idea. In fact new ideas tend to have driven out the traditional ways of gardening that have been feeding generations before us.
Choosing the right time to plant your vegetables can be tricky, but using the moon as your guide will help solve those problems.
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Keep a moon chart with your gardening calendar
If you are going to be gardening by the moon this year, I would recommend grabbing a reference book and then perhaps downloading a moon chart for the year.
I found this book on Amazon - I haven't read it myself but it's on my wishlist!
Moon Gardening: Ancient and Natural Ways to Grow Healthier, Tastier Food
General Gardening By The Moon
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*Sowing: always choose a constellation appropriate to the crop you are sowing (i.e. favourable to fruit, root, flower or leaf plants) and preferably sow in the morning.
*Planting and pricking out: choose days when the Moon is descending and also, if possible, when it is opposite a constellation appropriate to the crop that you are growing (i.e. favourable to fruit, root, flower or leaf plants) and preferably in the afternoon.
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*Weeding In wet weather: if possible, weed in the morning in a Fire or Air sign when the Moon is waning. In dry weather: weed in the evening, if possible, and in an Earth or Water sign when the Moon is waxing.
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*Watering: To avoid plants developing shallow roots, instead of watering little and often, water them generously but less frequently. The ideal time to water is when the Moon is in the descendant and in the constellation of Virgo, Gemini or Libra.
*Mulching: mulch helps to fertilize and protect the soil, and limits the evaporation of moisture and weed germination. It is best to mulch when the Moon is waxing and in an Earth or Air sign.
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*Aeration of the soil: This should ideally be carried out when the Moon is ascending Soil decomposes and breaks down more easily (via worms and micro-organisms) when the Moon is descending.
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Vegetable gardening by the moon
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Green Salad:
Until July, sow in a Water constellation when the Moon is waning in order to prevent the plants from going to seed.
During the autumn, sow green salad in a Water constellation, but when the Moon is waxing.
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Potatoes:
Plant on a day favourable to ‘root’ plants.
To raise seed potatoes, plant when the Moon is in the sign of Taurus.
To avoid producing Green Potatoes, earth up when the Moon is in an Earth constellation and when it is waning.
To remove the eyes (buds) from potatoes that have been lifted and stored so that they will keep longer, choose a time when the Moon is waning and descending.
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Cultivating the Soil:
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The work of ploughing, planting, pricking out and spreading compost or manure is best carried out when the Moon is descending
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On light, sandy soil, if possible, combine the descending Moon with the waxing Moon.
On heavy clay soil, if possible, combine the descending Moon with the waning Moon.
"All these gardening by the moon gems are taken from my copy of 'In Tune With The Moon 2013' - worth it's weight in gold!" But of course, these kind of books are annuals so a more general approach may be easier (see the book above) and then acquire a chart like this one... (again at Amazon!)
Moon Gardening Calendar 2020 with Lunar Gardening Guide Booklet