Lunar planting use the phases of the moon to determine when to perform certain gardening task. The moon dont provide the light that feeds the plant, but the moon does exert a gravitation pull on the water in the soil. The gravitational pull of the moon create cycles of moisture in the soil, and those cycle of moisture have an effect on the plants that are grown in that soil.
Thus, depending upon the position of the moon and it’s pull upon the soil moisture, a person can determine when to plant certain crop or perform certain gardening task. The lunar cycle consist of four main phase, each of which provide guideline for how a person should manage their garden. During the new moon phase, the energy in the garden is low and the soil is dry; thus, a gardener uses this phase to perform soil work and planning for the garden.
Use Moon Phases to Plan Your Garden
During the waxing crescent phase, the gravitational pull of the moon begin to draw up the moisture in the soil. During this phase, leafy plant and herb should be planted into the soil. During the first quarter phase, the pull of the moon of the moisture in the soil is strongly.
During this phase, annual flower and vegetable should be sown into the ground. During the full moon phase, the soil moisture is the most highest of the lunar cycle. Root crop, bulb and transplant should be planted during the full moon phase.
During the waning phase, after the full moon phase, is when pruning, weeding and planting of crop beneath the soil surface should take place. These lunar phase repeat every twenty-nine and a half day. Thus, following these phase allow for the planning of a garden schedule.
Many gardener use the movement of the moon through the zodiac to determine additional information regarding gardening task. Planet of the earth element are beneficial to the growth of root crop. Planet of the water element are beneficial to the the growth of leafy plant.
Planet of the fire element should not be used to sow crop, but to harvest them. Planet of the air element are beneficial to the growth of flower and herb. Following the lunar cycle allow for individual to perform specific gardening task during the time of year when the soil and the moon exhibit the condition necessary to complete those task.
Most new gardener attempt to plant all of the seed for their garden during the same period of time. However, by ignoring the movement of moisture within the soil created by the pull of the moon, the new gardener may find that their crop dont receive the necessary head start to grow. By spacing gardening task according to the lunar cycle, though, each crop will receive a head start according to its growth habit.
For instance, crop like carrot and beet will settle into the soil better during the waning phase of the moon; the gravitational pull of the moon will assist in the process. Similarly, plant like tomato and pepper will perform better if you transplant them during the full moon phase of the lunar cycle; the soil will contain more moisture during the full moon phase, allowing for the plant to be transplanted more easy. In addition to planting task, the lunar cycle can help to schedule task that require maintenance of the garden.
For instance, task like pruning can be scheduled during the last quarter phase of the moon; the sap of the plant move downward during this phase, which allow for the cut made during pruning to heal faster. Other task, like weeding, can also be scheduled during the last quarter phase; this ensure that the weed cannot re-root into the soil. Task like watering the plant can follow the lunar cycle, as well.
During waxing phase, when the plant are exhibiting growth of their leaf, watering during these phase will ensure that the plant have sufficient moisture for the growth. During waning phase, the root system of the plant can be encouraged to continue to grow deep into the soil. While the lunar cycle provide guideline for gardener to follow, the cycle is flexible; should a gardener miss a lunar phase for planting, for instance, the garden will typically recover from the missed phase.
However, it is important for gardener to note the lunar cycle over the course of several growing season. By keeping note about the crop that were planted and during what phase of the lunar cycle they were planted, a person can recognize which crop are best planted during which lunar phase. Thus, using the lunar cycle dont eliminate the need for good soil and watering the plant, but it may help to increase the success of a gardener’s effort.