Lunar planting

[lsm1066]

Hi all

I was considering experimenting with lunar (moon) planting and wondered if anyone's given it a go and can give me some idea of what to expect. The diary and the ephemeris are out. I have a friend who's the editor of the Astrological Association's members magazine who's keen to see how I get on. I just wondered what it's like.

Thanks
Lynne

[theabsinthefairy]

I lunar plant every year, and have found that it is quite successful, particularly in comparison with our neighbour's yields on a year by year harvest from equivalent sized patches, in addition I only use my own organic fertilisers and complimentary planting and use no insecticides or chemicals.

It is really easy to do and I found that it helps to have the structure and agenda worked out before hand so when it is time, as we have a large area to plant, it helps motivate and reason out our planting and sowing every spring.

Monika

[The Riff-Raff Element]

Despite there not being a single shread of credible evidence to support its being in anyway advantageous, I am a devout lunar planter. If nothing else, it means that I can mark ahead when I am going plant stuff and actually plan it properly.

And there might be something in it, so it does no harm

[Green Aura]

We trialled it a couple of years ago - I sowed cabbages by my lunar diary and OH sowed about 10 days later - not the right time. The first lot were stronger, sturdier plants. I was impressed.

Not got back in the swing yet - but when I'm more organised I'll have another go. I agree Jon, although I am impressed with the results, it would still be a good way of being organised.

[starchild]

I tried it a few years ago and didn't notice any difference, despite really wanting to! I wonder if I did something wrong.

Are there some very basic rules for beginners or do you need to really study it?

[theabsinthefairy]

How far you go with lunar planting is entirely personal.

For a basic rule:

First Quarter (the 7 days following a New Moon (waxing)) - plant leafy, above ground plants, that produce seed (not seeded fruits) i.e. broccoli, cauli, lettuce

Second Quarter (starts 7 days after New Moon and ends with Full Moon) - plants that produce seed in fruits, i.e. beans, peas, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes

Third Quarter (the 7 days following a Full Moon (waning)) - plant flowers, shrubs, trees, berries, rooting vegetables i.e. parsnips, carrots, potatoes

Fourth Quarter (the final 7 days of the cycle) - cultivate, weed, transplant and fertilise

It then gets more involved in terms of which sign of the zodiac is ascending, and this corresponds to the type of vegetable you are planting so there are specific days within each quarter for leafy veg, root veg and fruits.

Fertilising and weeding are also governed by the zodiac sign ascending, and done on specific days.

Even if you dismiss it all as drivel - I find that the drawing up of the planting charts alongside the veg plot planning is a really calming and methodical approach, that allows me to focus on the coming growing season, rotate my plot effectively, and catalogue my seeds and order if required.

And I really need the metaphorical kick up the backside that the scheduling gives me after the slack time of winter when it can be difficult to get yourself going in the morning..

[starchild]

Thanks for that - it's really interesting. I knew more about the signs of the zodiac relating to root, flower, leaf etc.

I need to brush up and draw up a plan

[becks77]

Hi There,
Try this link
http://www.the-gardeners-calendar.co.uk ... anting.asp

I subscribed to the newsletter and every Thursday I get a list of what it would be best to plant that week,
This is my first foray into moonplanting but this is a very helpful site.

[ocailleagh]

Lunar gardening is something I've not yet been able to try out. Not having that much room for growing, it hasn't seemed worth it. One bit of advice though if you're going to try it, regardless of how closely you follow the other rules, never plant anything when the moon is void-of-course (between signs), they'll most likely fail.

I'd be quite interested to try something along biodynamic lines too. I don't know that much about it, but it seems kinda witchy to me :-)

[lsm1066]

I'd be quite interested to try something along biodynamic lines too. I don't know that much about it, but it seems kinda witchy to me :-)

Sounds perfect then

[theabsinthefairy]

I am a biodynamic gardener -so follow the rules of lunar planting, companion planting and make my own preparations. I find it works for me, but I know it's not everyone's cup of tea.

[snapdragon]

I need some organisation in my life - and this seems like a good plan (plus witchy is always good )
Now as onions are swollen stem and neither fish nor fowl (not root, not seed, not leaf) I wonder when I should plant the sets that are the results of last years seed sowing.

[Odsox]

This sounds all very well, but what do you do if you garden in one of the wetter parts of the world (as I do)?
As spring is the main planting time and can also be the rainiest time here, it's a case of get stuff sown when you are able to ... not what the lunar calendar says.
If I waited for the ideal moment to sow my parsnips (apparently a seven day window) there is the probability that I would never eat parsnips again.

[theabsinthefairy]

Odsox

It is not nearly as rigid as you suspect, in actual fact there are several windows within a month to plant differing varieties of vegetable, and root veg can be planted two or three times within a month, you have to find the optimal time that suits you and your weather conditions and your land.

Whilst we are not in the wettest of climes here, we are very cold in our mountinous region here, and can continue to have frosts until well into April, so I have be very choosy when I sow too, and if following a lunar calendar did not suit the weather conditions on that particular day (due to snow mostly in March) I know that I have the freedom to continue through April and May.

snap dragon

bulb planting i.e. sets I usually do when I plant my wintering root veg

In a basic calendar you can plant them with flowers also - seeds not in fruit - and being a close allium family.

Monika

[Odsox]

Odsox

It is not nearly as rigid as you suspect,

Does that mean that the "olde" regime of sowing still has credence then?
That was sow things that grow "down" (roots) when the moon is new (from last quarter to first quarter) and things that grow "up" when the moon is full (from first quarter to last quarter).