Before we had watches, calendars, and even Pinterest, everything was influenced by the phases of the moon. Gardening by the Moon has been a practice that’s been passed down through generations across the globe. Could this really be the oldest form of gardening?
The Concept
This practice requires you to be aware of the phases of the Moon and plan accordingly. It’s the idea that plants will respond to the same gravitational pulls that affect our oceans. The end result is seeds that sprout more quickly, faster-growing plants, and much larger harvest.
Lunar Gravity & Moonlight
The two biggest factors that go into this process and that will affect your gardening the most are the lunar gravity and moonlight. So while crops such as lettuce, broccoli, and cauliflower should be planted under a new Moon, other crops such as carrots and onions should be planted under a full Moon.
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, it’s recommended to plant annual flowers and vegetables that result in crops above ground during the light or waxing of the moon. While you should plant flowering bulbs, flowers, and vegetables that bear crops below ground during the dark or waning of the moon.
They also provide a chart of optimal plant dates according to your region and lunar phase which can make learning this process much easier.
Gardening by the Moon Calendar
Whether you’re already a professional “Moon Gardener” or looking to perform an experiment with your crops this year; it’s hard to not be impressed by the details that go into a process such as this.
