I recently paid attention to an old gardening adage that goes like this: “As the moon grows, the earth exhales. With the waning of the moon, the earth breathes in. “
If you live here at the Outer Cape, it’s easy to see how the moon controls the ebb and flow of the ocean – our tides are visible evidence of those ebb and flow. But what this saying refers to is the way the moon also affects the water in the earth.
That’s part of the idea of moon gardening: working in harmony with this natural cycle means planting on the days when the water is drawn closer to the surface of the earth and the moonlight is strong. Some gardeners go a step further and also follow the astrological sign of the moon and notice its influence on gardening.
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The moon moves through the 12 astrological signs of the zodiac every two to three days. Each sign is associated with an element – water, earth, air or fire – that is supposed to give the days special properties. Water and earth signs are considered to be the most fertile – so these are the times for planting, while the air bodes well for the harvest. And interesting right now, when the moon is in a fire sign, this is the time to weed.
As the moon moves through the signs of the zodiac, it does so in phases. As it increases, the moonlight increases, and as it decreases, the light decreases. So, when using an astrological calendar to determine when and what to plant or do in the garden, you need to refer to both the sign and the phase of the moon.
A perpetual calendar is a convenient way to keep all of this information in one place. Cut out three circles of heavy paper, each about an inch or so larger than the last. Stack the three circles and use a paper clasp in the middle to secure them in place.
Garden notes by stage
Divide the smallest circle of your calendar into four sections, one for each phase of the moon (two waxing and two waning quarters) and note the new and full moons. Add notes for each stage:
First quarter: Increasing light initiates healthy leaf growth. Keep planting above-ground plants, especially those that produce seeds outside of their fruits: broccoli, spinach, lettuce, cauliflower.
Second quarter: Strong moonlight leads to healthy leaf growth. Good for annuals bearing above ground with seeds that form in the fruit: tomatoes, melons, peppers, peas, beans, pumpkins.
Full moon: The gravitational pull is still strong, but waning moonlight forces energy into the earth. Transplanting or planting onions, shrubs, root crops.
Third Quarter: Complete all plantings before the final quarter begins.
Last quarter: Diminished moonlight and lower attraction. Time to prune, harvest, cultivate, fertilize. Mow the lawn. Weeds in a fire sign.
New moon: plant above-ground plants during this phase. The moon’s strong gravity pulls water to the surface.
Garden notes from Sign
The largest circle is for the astrological signs and their properties. Write your garden notes on the outside edge of the circle. A little research in the Small Farmer’s Journal and other almanacs can provide more details, but these are the basics:
The water signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are the most fertile signs to plant. Best for leafy annual crops above ground: lettuce, chard, spinach, cabbage.
The earth signs Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn are said to promote root growth, so they are good for planting underground plants and for transplanting.
The air signs Libra, Gemini and Aquarius are also considered to be flower signs. Flowers and herbs love a Libra moon. Cultivate, reap, can and keep in these signs.
The fire signs Aries, Leo and Sagittarius are considered sterile. During these signs, plant crops grown for their seeds, pruning fruit trees. And with Leo weeds.
Finally, the middle circle acts as a calendar; number these from 1 to 30 along the outer edge of the circle. To use your perpetual calendar, line up the date, moon phase, and sign to reveal the gardening work for that day.
