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Farming by the Moon

Full Moon with Ram shadow in front of it
Written By: Martha White Contributor

The age-old practice of performing farm chores by the Moon stems from the simple belief that the Moon governs moisture.

Pliny the Elder, the first-century Roman naturalist, stated in his Natural History that the Moon “replenishes the earth; when she approaches it, she fills all bodies, while, when she recedes, she empties them.”

The Moon’s Phases

The Moon’s phases guided many a farmer and gardener in the past, and still do today:

  • Moonrise occurring in the evening brings fair weather, says one proverb, harking back to the belief that the waning Moon (full and last quarter, which rise in the evening) is dry.
  • The New Moon and first quarter, or waxing phases, are considered fertile and wet.
  • The new and first-quarter phases, known as the light of the Moon, are considered good for planting above-ground crops, putting down sod, grafting trees, and transplanting.
  • From full Moon through the last quarter, or the dark of the Moon, is the best time for killing weeds, thinning, pruning, mowing, cutting timber, and planting below-ground crops.
  • The time just before the full Moon is considered particularly wet, and is best for planting during drought conditions.

To garden by the Moon in your area, see our “Best Planting Dates” guide on the main gardening page.

Moon Folklore

Folklore is rich among farmers, given their close ties to Earth and her natural rhythms.

  • Rail fences cut during the dry, waning Moon will stay straighter.
  • Wooden shingles and shakes will lie flatter if cut during the dark of the Moon.
  • Fence posts should be set in the dark of the Moon to resist rotting. Ozark lore says that fence posts should always be set as the tree grew. To set the root end upward makes a short-lived fence.
  • Don’t begin weaning when the Moon is waning.
  • Castrate and dehorn animals when the Moon is waning for less bleeding.
  • Slaughter when the Moon is waxing for juicier meat.
  • Crabbing, shrimping, and clamming are best when the Moon is full.
  • Best days for fishing are between the new and full Moon. 
  • Dig your horseradish in the full Moon for the best flavor.
  • Set eggs to hatch on the Moon’s increase, but not if a south wind blows.
Moon Folklore

About The Author

Martha White

Martha White

Contributor

Martha White has been a full-time writer and editor since 1987 and has a broad background in journalism, opinion columns, syndicated features, humor articles, book reviews, essays, and fiction. Her fr...

Read more from Martha White

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Comments

<span>Scott Kistner</span> Thu, 01/23/2014 - 20:12
When is best time of the moon to break a calf to lead
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Mon, 01/27/2014 - 11:18

We're sorry, we don't have information about that (anybody know?). You might try the same dates as weaning, astrologically speaking. For the best days for weaning for the next two months, see: 

http://www.almanac.com/bestdays/timetable

 

 <span>Allen Hiltonfff</span> Thu, 11/07/2013 - 02:53
Thanks for sharing
<span>Kathy Gibson</span> Wed, 05/29/2013 - 17:41
We want to lay bricks for a patio edging. What phase of the moon will keep them from sinking?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 05/31/2013 - 15:19
Hmm. For excavation, laying foundations, or pouring cement, one sometimes waits until the Moon is full and in Taurus, Leo, or Aquarius. Perhaps your task would fall under this category.
<span>Luis Arrondo Cossio</span> Mon, 05/27/2013 - 12:01
Does harvesting lumber during a full moon provide stronger or harder wood than if harvested at other times? I understand that before modern technology and present day demands this was the time when trees were felled for lumber.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 05/29/2013 - 11:36
According to one folklore belief, the best time to cut timber is when the Moon is waning (dark of the Moon), between full and new (some variations refine this to last quarter), when the sap is thought to be lower in the tree. (In general, sap carries water and nutrients to many parts of a healthy tree, but the volume fluctuates in places due to a number of factors, and stem diameter can change slightly). Other variations of this belief say to cut closest to the new Moon, or during the first and last quarters. It was believed that at the time of the full Moon (due to the pull of the Moon's gravity), a larger volume of sap was present in higher sections of the tree, making the wood softer. If one cut timber at this time, it would tend to split, bleed more, and encourage wood-boring insects and rot. As it dried, it would shrink more.
<span>Ian Hacker</span> Tue, 02/26/2013 - 20:15
Has anyone done both, moon cycle and not, and recorded the results like an experiment? All I hear is it works great by the people who haven't done it any other way. I'm new at this, I know nothing, I believe the moon is powerful, and I usually do stuff when I have time, not sure how the moon phases fall on my free time. I would like to know what difference it makes. Can anyone help?
<span>Pow Wow Woman</span> Tue, 05/27/2014 - 18:18
i have much better luck with houseplants when i pay attention to sign of the moon. they never die. if i have to plant when not good sign, many times they die. not sure about garden plants,personally
<span>Anita Greathouse</span> Mon, 11/12/2012 - 15:00
We were wondering about the light of the moon and the dark of the moon, can someone explain this, and when is the best time to plow garden for next year, new to this