I’m proud of my garden. For the first time after years of gardening, I practiced moderation, and forethought, and left room between the rows for the little roto tiller to get through. But, let me go back a few steps and explain the magical basis of all of my garden activities.
Picture your first garden miraculously growing in beautiful green abundance. The squash plant foliage is huge with brilliant yellow babies tucked beneath the canopy of its fuzzy leaves.
Next, picture two experienced gardening neighbors standing next to yours scratching their heads. Then imagine the tint of green envy in their voices when they account for your success with two words – beginner’s luck.
It’s been a long streak of beginner’s luck by now. Countless successful garden harvests have come and gone since then. Back then moonsign gardening was a test. Now it’s a practice.
Combined with simple and practical methods, watching the moonsigns, seeing what happens on the different phases and signs does provide some answers as to the why and wherefore of this practice.
Moon phases are important to watch, for example. Everyone learns about gravity in grade school. During the phase after the full moon, the gravitational pull comes from below. When planting leafy crops, this isn’t encouraging for above ground growth.
Observing earth, water, fire and air signs forms the rest of the regimen for best days to plant. Using these days and combining them with the moon phases gives great results.
While in the phase of the new moon and the first quarter, leafy plants and other upward growth will thrive with ease. Yes, these same plants will probably grow just about any time they are planted, but if it’s on the last quarter, it won’t be so easy for them.
Also during this time, the failure rate is increased quite a bit, especially if the moonsign is barren. A tender new plant that sits out in blistering hot sun of a fire sign (usually Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius) for two or three days is getting a rough start in life.
After gardening for many moons, all of the growing things in the garden are almost like people. The following weeds are the most obnoxious. Dandelions, are especially rude, as they emit gases that are deleterious for their neighbors. Foxtail, though pretty, cuts its neighbors every time the wind blows. Thistle pricks people and plants.
I also consult with the garden spirits, and have found out that when you attack every last weed in the garden, they come back even thicker. It’s as if they have some way to signal the others that it’s time for warfare. So, I leave a few weeds, but cut off the seed heads to prevent reseeding.
Mother Nature seems to be influenced by the water signs, and more often than not, she helps out with the blessing of rain somewhere near the occurrence of the water sign days. Transplanting is always a breeze when it’s timed with a water sign.
As far as flowers, the same is true. Annuals are best when planted around the time of Libra (best), Scorpio, Cancer, Pisces or Capricorn. With the abundance of these “good” days, even a hit and miss gardener will often get the right days.
Perennials really need to get a good root system established, so it is often suggested to get these in the ground during the last quarter (when it’s a water or earth sign). Any tubers like Iris, Peony, Tulips, or Daffodils do well on the last quarter of the moon, too. As far as vegetables, the carrots, and radishes get well established during this time, too.
One thing that sounds like a superstition is the advice to stay out of the garden during the full moon. However, rainy weather often occurs during the week of the full moon.
Working in the garden when it’s wet compacts the soil, making it difficult for the roots to expand for one thing. It’s also a good way to spread fungus or potential viruses that are lurking around, looking for an unsuspecting host.
The recommended signs for cultivating succeed in amazing synchronicity with weather conditions. You may look outside and see it’s raining. Or there may have been what seems to be a good soaking rain.
Somehow, mysteriously, the recommended day for cultivating turns out great, anyway. The soil breaks up nicely, and it’s not dry or blowing all your good topsoil into the neighbor’s yard.
In any event, I’m proud that my garden is an endless source of learning new things. It never gets boring since I keep testing out new theories. I’m proud that I feel connected to life and the universe through my garden. I’m proud that I don’t have to use chemical fertilizers or bug sprays (usually bugs attack unhealthy plants.) Last, but not least, I’m proud because I finally achieved an orderly system, too.
Here is a link for moonsign activities – planting days included:
