Gardening By The Moon

Posted by Marianne Hoesen on Saturday, July 23, 2011 Under: nature

A lot of people in São Marcos da Serra deal with gardening based on folklore and superstition. But some of this old wisdom now has been proven scientifically correct! It is e.g. proven that seeds will absorb most water at full moon. According to many gardeners the phases of the moon are of the utmost importance. If you consider that the moon is responsible for the low-tide and high-tide in the oceans of the world, and that plants consist for a majority of water, you can imagine that the influence of the moon on gardening must be true.

Here is a summary of what can be planted when and why.

New moon:

lunar gravity pulls water up and causes seeds to swell and burst.

This factor, coupled with increasing moonlight creates balanced root and leaf growth.

Time for planting above ground annual crops that produce their seeds outside the fruit, such as lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, grain, spinach.

Second quarter:

less gravitational pull and strong light causes strong leaf growth.

Good for planting, especially 2 days before full moon. Plant annuals that produce above ground, but form seeds inside the fruit, such as beans, melons, peas, peppers, tomatoes.

Full moon:

energy is drawing down. Gravitation pull is high, creating more moisture in the soil. Energy goes in the roots.

Plant root crops such as beets, carrots, onions, potatoes.

Fourth quarter:

decreased gravitational pull and light. This is a resting period.

Time to cultivate, harvest, transplant and prune.

Also: eucalyptus can be harvest best at the first full moon of January and the cork peeling season starts after the first full moon of May.

I found a beautiful and very useful website that gives you day-by-day information on what to do or not to do in the garden, regarding the moon: http://pt.rhythmofnature.net/calendario-jardineiro

If you have any more tips of gardening by the moon, please let me know!

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