lunar gardening

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Permalink Reply by Brook on March 30, 2008 at 3:39pm

A very controversial topic, Val. People either swear by the practice, or swear at it.

Old timers in the southern hills of the United States are in the first category. Almost every plant, according to them, has a preferred moon phase. Roots, for instance, should be planted on a waning moon. But green leafy stuff should be on a waxing orb. There are rationales for why you plant when.

It should be noted that there is no scientific evidence, one way or another. But note that last phrase: one way or another. The absence of scientific studies doesn't disprove something. It just means it remains unproven.

And keep in mind, too, that there is no scientific evidence supporting the idea of companion planting. But we all know that it works.

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Permalink Reply by Penelope on March 30, 2008 at 5:17pm

My former mother in law swore by lunar planting. She experimented planting various vegetables by the moon and by "it's a nice day to plant" and said things planted much later in the right phase of the moon always grew more abundantly.

I do know that we had wild roses that were driving us nuts in the yard. We'd cut them back, dig them out, but they'd return. She told us to cut them out at a certain time and they wouldn't come back. We did and she was right. They didn't return.

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Permalink Reply by Valerianella on March 31, 2008 at 3:50pm

Penelope, that's sounds interesting, wonder if that would help with wild blackberries too. We have masses here growing. Do you by any chance remember in what time you cut the roses?

I didn't pay much attention to the matter until recently when my carrots took 4 weeks to sprout while other times it may take only one week, and it wasn't cold! So there must be something influencing the seeds/plants apart from the obvious things.

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Permalink Reply by Ian on March 31, 2008 at 5:05am

Hi Valerianella, I'm very interested in this topic and am just sarting to learn about it.
I'm trying to plant this year following the guidelines of the synodic cycle as that seems to be the easiest to start with.

I am using the following internet page as one of my resources:

www.the-gardeners-calendar.co.uk/Moon_Planting.asp

Ian

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Permalink Reply by Valerianella on March 31, 2008 at 3:51pm

Great link Ian,
I hope you will write about your experiences here.

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Permalink Reply by Ian on March 31, 2008 at 4:05pm

Well, Valerianella, I planted beans today as the first thing under that cycle and some tomatoes. I also didn't plant lettuce or cabbage, both of which I had intended. So the system has started! We'll now have to wait and see.

I have decided to follow the sidereal cycle rather than the synodic cycle as, although it's the most complex, it seems to be well supported on the internet with daily planting and harvesting guides.

Ian

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Permalink Reply by Deb on April 1, 2008 at 1:52am

I have been working with moon planting for the past 20 odd years as a biodynamic gardener & farmer. My observations tell me it works.
Since all garden activities flow with the seasons and natures own rhythms it’s a vital part of any gardening activity.
All living things are made up of rhythms ... So if we start to look at the living kingdom for our inspiration for gardening practices we can develop an experience of these rhythms .e.g. observe the first signs of spring or what germinates after the first dews.
Reconnecting to these rhythms is vitally important when working with the natural world. We need to fit these cosmic rhythms with our earthly activities and daily lives.
• Yearly cycles SUN seasons Winter most alive
• Monthly cycles MOON water fertility
• daily cycles DAY/NIGHT breathing
To assist us reconnect with these cosmic rhythms there are specific planting calendars. In Australia Brian Keats compiles the Antipodean astro calendar each year. Working with such a calendar can help you learn and observe effects of cosmic rhythms. Once we can begin to develop an understanding we can orientate our farming and gardening activities similar to fine tuning a musical instrument once we have developed our musical ear.
Some of the very influential rhythms are the lunar cycles; there are four cycles all about four weeks long, though none of them are exactly the same, which allows for ever changing relationships.
• WAXING & WANING(29.53 DAYS )
Water is the mediator of lunar forces. Consider the moons effect on tides and since 80% of a plant consists of water, then the effect on sap movement would be significant. Lunar forces are associated with fertility and the power to regenerate species.
It has been found that seeds germinate better & grow faster if planted 2 days before a full moon.
Medicines such as drenches are also more effective on full moon.
Moon affects moisture contents of the plant. e.g.
On a full moon fruit or veggies are juicy .Great for eating now! but not for storing.
So harvest on New moon the fruit & veggies that need to be stored
Hay dries faster if cut on new moon
best timber is cut at winter new moon less sap.
• ASCENSION / DESCENSION (27.2 DAYS )
Just as the sun in the course of the year goes from being high in the sky and close to us and therefore stronger in summer to being low in the sky and further away from us in winter and so weaker, so the moon traces this same path every month. In the 2 weeks it is coming closer to the earth it is in an ASCENDING phase and the 2 weeks it is furthest away is the DESCENDING phase.
Ascending phase is favorable for: grafting, application of Biodynamic preparation 501
Descending phase are favorable applying biodynamic horn manure 500, compost making, transplanting.

• APOGEE / PERIGEE RHYTHM (27.55 DAYS)
The moon varies in its distant from the earth. When the moon is close to the earth (PERIGEE) The lunar forces can be very strong especially if combined with a full ascending moon. During APOGEE terrestrial forces dominate enhancing activities that favor earthly forces. This cycle could be seen as a rhythm of balance between earth and moon.
• SIDEREAL RHYTHM (27.3 DAYS )
From the earth the moon can be seen to pass in front of the 12 regions of the Zodiac. When the moon passes before a constellation, it enables the formative forces from that constellation to work more strongly into plant life, in a qualitative way
The four elements EARTH WATER AIR FIRE (WARMTH)
Parts of the plant ROOT LEAF FLOWER FRUIT (SEED)
Constellations TAURUS PISCES AQUARIUS ARIES
VIRGO CANCER GEMINI LEO
CAPRICORN SCORPIO LIBRA SAGITTARIUS

The ANTIPODEAN ASTRO CALENDAR is produced by Brian Keats www.astro-calendar.com

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Permalink Reply by Ian on April 1, 2008 at 3:08am

Deb, Thank you for this wonderful explanation which is actually clearer than anything else I have found on the internet yet.
As I said above, I am starting to follow this with my own, very new, vegetable gadening. Your reply inspires me to learn and try harder.

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Permalink Reply by Ian on April 1, 2008 at 7:22am

Hmmmmmm OK!!!!
Well, as I said, I'm starting off trying to follow the sidereal cycle so if I need any help, Deb, look out for an email!

Ian

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Permalink Reply by Valerianella on April 3, 2008 at 4:09am

Ian's link says according to the synodic cycle it is not a good time to sow anything right now, but the sidereal cycle says it is a good time to sow various things. Now this is a bit confusing and contradicting. What should I actually do now, if I wanted to follow the moon?
And how is transplanting and pricking out seedlings affected by the moon?

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Permalink Reply by Penelope on April 3, 2008 at 4:17am

I understand what you're experiencing. I have this problem whenever I try following some of these things -- feng shui is another example. There are so many variables and contradictions. These days, I just plant when the weather is nice and I have the time and I'm in tune with frost probabilities.

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Permalink Reply by Ian on April 3, 2008 at 4:18am

Hi Valerianella, - Not just me that was confused by that then!!!! I'm now following the specifc detail on that page for the sidereal cycle and for the moment, concentrating on that and ignoring the others until I learn a bit more.. Perhaps Deb can enlighten us a bit further???

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