Learn How to Garden by the Moon's Phases
Gardening by the Moon is a great way to plan your garden. Many of our readers follow the age-old practice of planting by the Moon’s phase for a healthier, more productive garden.
Gardening by the Moon isn’t anything new. Gardeners and farmers have been using moon phase gardening for ages! Best of all, it’s a fairly simple process.
According to the Garden Media Group, Gardening by the Moon is growing in interest again and is “more than just a phase. Connecting with the phases of the Moon taps into our deep desire to be in tune with nature.” (We approve of the pun.) Whatever happens in the world of trends, we all favor working with nature’s rhythms.
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What Is Gardening by the Moon?
From what we are reading, many trend watchers are confused about the idea of Gardening by the Moon.
Gardening by the Moon
The basic idea behind Gardening by the Moon is that the cycles of the Moon affect plant growth. Just as the Moon’s gravitational pull causes tides to rise and fall, it also affects moisture in the soil.
Therefore, it’s said that seeds will absorb more water during the full Moon and the new Moon, when more moisture is pulled to the soil surface. This causes seeds to swell, resulting in greater germination and better-established plants.
Moon phase gardening considers two periods of the lunar cycle: the time between the new Moon and the full Moon (the waxing of the Moon) and the time between the full Moon and the new Moon (the waning of the Moon). It’s considered best to plant certain types of plants during the waning of the Moon and other types during the waxing.
The Moon also impacts plant growth through geotropism—how plants grow in response to gravity. Roots grow downward in the direction of gravitational pull and stems grow in the opposite direction (i.e., upwards). This behavior can be easily demonstrated with potted plants. Lay one on its side, and the stem will grow upwards. Or, consider a tulip bulb: if you plant the bulb incorrectly with the pointed end down, it will turn around and send its shoots upward, even though it’s in total darkness.
How to Plant by the Moon’s Phases
To plant by the Moon, follow these guidelines:
- Plant your annual flowers and fruit and vegetables that bear crops above ground (such as corn, tomatoes, watermelon, and zucchini) during the waxing of the Moon—from the day the Moon is new to the day it is full. As the moonlight increases night by night, plants are encouraged to grow leaves and stems.
- Plant flowering bulbs, biennial and perennial flowers, and vegetables that bear crops below ground (such as onions, carrots, and potatoes) during the waning of the Moon—from the day after it is full to the day before it is new again. As the moonlight decreases night by night, plants are encouraged to grow roots, tubers, and bulbs.
Dates for Planting by the Moon
See the Almanac Planting Calendar for planting dates based on 1) average last frost dates and 2) the Moon phase. Both are customized to your local postal code (U.S. and Canada)!
The Almanac provides favorable dates for sowing seeds or transplanting in the ground for all popular vegetables and edibles.
You could also calculate planting dates yourself by looking at our Moon Phase Calendar and the guidelines above, though this method won’t take your climate into account.
Astrological “Best Days”
Some of our readers follow a different approach called the “Best Days.” This is astrological, not astronomical. Let’s explain: Like Gardening by the Moon, astrological Best Days are based on the Moon. However, instead of depending on the Moon’s phase, Best Days consider the Moon’s position in the astrological zodiac. For example, when the Moon is in Taurus, it is regarded as a good time to plant, transplant, or graft. Everyday gardening activities are associated with certain signs, shown here:
| Activity | Associated Signs |
|---|---|
| Plant, Transplant, or Graft | Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, or Taurus |
| Harvest | Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini, or Aquarius |
| Build/Fix Fences or Garden Beds | Capricorn |
| Control Insect Pests, Plow, or Weed | Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini, or Aquarius |
| Prune | Aries, Leo, or Sagittarius |
To see the dates of upcoming Best Days, check out our Best Days Timetable.
However you plant, check out our library of Growing Guides to learn how to grow all your favorite fruits, vegetables, and flowers!
Do you garden by the Moon? Do you think the technique helps you grow better crops? Let us know in the comments!
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Tried & true method. Going by the phases of the moon has helped out immensely. Before this method I was questioning my green thumb.
What activities are a VIRGO good for?
According to one tradition, gardeners would plant the seeds of flowers during the “Blooming Days,” when the Moon was in Virgo. Even though Virgo is a barren sign, and is not good for planting in general (especially food crops), planting flowers, as well as vines, during this time may help to promote healthy growth and flowering of these types of plants. Medicinal plants also are said to do well when planted when the Moon is in Virgo.
Semi-unrelated but then again; may help support moon+gardening concept even more for those less inclined to trust age-old wisdom for the sheer fact it seems bogus and/or based off of things under the category of, “non-real-scientificy stuff” 😂: but there is in fact even best days per the moon phases for laying gravel in a driveway in order to ensure it stays put! The moon 🌙 looks like a crescent horseshoe in the sky for this particular phase (I’m unsure of which it is specifically) but at any rate…tested more than once in more than one area of Va and - holds true. Thanks!
*as in the crescent 🌙 shape is basically like a smiling Cheshire Cat - two ends are pointing upwards and the bow of the moon is downwards.
I'm new to gardening but have become a devotee of fruit and vegetable growing using only organic methods. I have not yet tried planting by the moon but have noticed some seeds sown just do not germinate. This does not seem to me to be a soil quality or watering issue. So this coming spring (in the Northern hemisphere) I intend the same experiment described by @Todd. As the saying goes, the proof of the pudding ....
Our family has been planting, harvesting, and growing food using the Moon's sign and phase for decades. Just to "make sure" we have duplicated experiments with testing germination, transplanting, and direct seeding in the garden on wrong dates, and wouldn't you know it? Yep, the experiments proved that following the wisdom of Moon gardening works~~~~ every time.
I come from a farming background and my people used the almanac moon phases fir all asoects of grain oroduction and anomal husbandry. I use it in my city garden and my success achieved using the moon ohases has far outweighed my results when I didnt follow it. Vast difference! If you want to get rid of weeds, do ut in Leo, they will not come back!
Planting by the phases of the moon is so in tunning and in timing with the natural laws of nature. It's easy to see how God's hand is in the midst of Everything!
Explain more to me best days to plant
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