I completely ignore the moon when gardening, and it works for me, so which method is better? Obviously mine, because it is simpler. Since Lunar gardening (a form of Astrology) is not supported by any solid evidence, only by confirmational bias, and it is based on an erroneous understanding of science, I will continue to ignore it. Life is too short for all that woo!
There are 3 ways to use the moon to guide gardening activities and only one involves the astrological signs. The simplest method just follows the waxing and waning of the moo and is dead simple.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Hello Mother-Goose and Alan Clark2 so great to hear from you although have not seen a Post from Mother-Goose on this Thread before. Point 1 just a gentle correction -Of course the Moon affects the tides, so logically it also affects the water tables under the Earth and Nasa has an interesting piece on the Earth's crust also rising and falling in tune with the Moon. These magnetic forces cannot possibly have no affect on gardening, and I would like to agree with Obelixx on this one, that it is used as a guide in addition to the knowledge that we already have via Gardeners World and other media. Point 2 Astrology has nothing to do with Lunar Gardening. Astronomy however has -Constellations and Planets have been named by man since time began and just happen to have astrological names. That said I would like to hear more from both of you, as this is the whole reason for this Thread to ENCOURAGE debate. If you refer to the very beginning of this Thread you will find many phases of the Moon explained in co-ordination with gardening. Biodynamic Gardening takes in many other constrellations in addition to the Moon, together with theories that I would also debate strongly of a spiritual nature. We need this melting pot of opinions on the thread -So please keep popping in and out.
Hi everyone here is the Lunar Calender for 2-17th April. The weather is supposed to get better after the 8th with rising temperatures and warmer days. From 14-16th however there is a reversion to cool and wet again, with storms foreseen 19-22nd After this at last a brighter period although look out for storms around the 28th.
2/3/4th April - Moon descending in Libra so Air and Flower Days - Plant out shrubs in containers and prune winter flowering shrubs after flowers have died back (Mine have only just started!) Plant Cauliflowers sown 20-21st January.
5/6th April -Moon descending in Scorpio so Leaf Days -Prick out Cabbages and Brussel Sprouts sown 17-18th March. Prick out early lettuces. Plant out Herbs and Cabbages sown 22-25th January.
7/8th April - With Moon waxing and ascending from 3.35pm on the 7th and Fruit Days indicated. take the plunge if your greenhouse is up to 18-20c and sow 1st Courgettes/Pumpkins for first crop from July. Sow wrinkled Peas, and start grafting fruit trees and planting out cuttings from last Autumn of Small Fruit (Currants etc) Watch out on the 8th for the Moon apogee (Moon at furthest point in cycle from the Earth)
9/10/11th April - Moon ascending in Capricorn so Root Days again -The 11th is a good day to finish planting out Potatoes and pop in some turnips which will then be ready for harvest in 2mths time. Remember to sow some carrots next to leeks to confuse onion and carrot fly. Avoid gardening on the 10th before 2.15pm as Noeud descending.
12/13th April - Moon ascending in Aquarius so Flower Days - Sow Annuals and Wild Flower Seeds in well raked soil, scattering to create a natural look. (I'm trying a Wild Flower Meadow Patch as had some free seeds given to me by the Mayor to promote wild life in the commune's gardens) - Seems to be a national environmental promotion. Great idea.
14/15/16th April - New Moon on 16th at 2.57pm -Leaf Days. Under cover or in nursery bed well exposed to light if the soil is more than 11c Sow some Celery and Leeks. Also start off some Bulb Fennel. (I never seem to succeed with this -any tips?)
17th April - Fruit Day - Start off Melons and Cucumbers is warm enough at night as well as day.
Hope you have all had a lovely Easter despite miserable weather. Keep those messages coming in.
Thanks BF. 30C during one sunny spell in the polytunnel yesterday so I shall definitely be sowing squashes and co on the 7th. Plant fair at Angles on the 8th.
Got nearly all the potatoes in over the last 2 days except for 21 Bintjes which I had to put in wee pots as OH was off playing golf. He's chief weed clearer in the potager where we are making new beds as we go. Despite layering cardboard under compost we have a mass of weeds.
Today I have sown baptisia and will do more once the h****work is finished.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Biofreak, The Earth's crust rising and falling due to the moon will have no effect on the water table, because the ground and water table will both rise equally. It is like saying that it would raise the level of water in a bottle. And even if it did, it would work on a twice-daily cycle so it would be irrelevant. Tides are caused by water flowing horizontally, which obviously cannot happen in the soil. They can only affect large bodies of water, mainly the oceans. The Mediterranean has small tides, but lakes have negligible tides. Gardens certainly are not tidal!
As for "Astrology has nothing to do with Lunar Gardening", you wrote "5/6th April -Moon descending in Scorpio so Leaf Days". This certainly is Astrology! (Scorpio is not even a constellation). It certainly has no basis in Science.
Posts
If you're really interested I suggest you start by having a look at this - http://www.the-gardeners-calendar.co.uk/Moon_Planting.asp and then do some more research.
http://www.undeceivingourselves.org/S-plan.htm
2/3/4th April - Moon descending in Libra so Air and Flower Days - Plant out shrubs in containers and prune winter flowering shrubs after flowers have died back (Mine have only just started!) Plant Cauliflowers sown 20-21st January.
5/6th April -Moon descending in Scorpio so Leaf Days -Prick out Cabbages and Brussel Sprouts sown 17-18th March. Prick out early lettuces. Plant out Herbs and Cabbages sown 22-25th January.
7/8th April - With Moon waxing and ascending from 3.35pm on the 7th and Fruit Days indicated. take the plunge if your greenhouse is up to 18-20c and sow 1st Courgettes/Pumpkins for first crop from July. Sow wrinkled Peas, and start grafting fruit trees and planting out cuttings from last Autumn of Small Fruit (Currants etc) Watch out on the 8th for the Moon apogee (Moon at furthest point in cycle from the Earth)
9/10/11th April - Moon ascending in Capricorn so Root Days again -The 11th is a good day to finish planting out Potatoes and pop in some turnips which will then be ready for harvest in 2mths time. Remember to sow some carrots next to leeks to confuse onion and carrot fly. Avoid gardening on the 10th before 2.15pm as Noeud descending.
12/13th April - Moon ascending in Aquarius so Flower Days - Sow Annuals and Wild Flower Seeds in well raked soil, scattering to create a natural look. (I'm trying a Wild Flower Meadow Patch as had some free seeds given to me by the Mayor to promote wild life in the commune's gardens) - Seems to be a national environmental promotion. Great idea.
14/15/16th April - New Moon on 16th at 2.57pm -Leaf Days. Under cover or in nursery bed well exposed to light if the soil is more than 11c Sow some Celery and Leeks. Also start off some Bulb Fennel. (I never seem to succeed with this -any tips?)
17th April - Fruit Day - Start off Melons and Cucumbers is warm enough at night as well as day.
Hope you have all had a lovely Easter despite miserable weather.
Keep those messages coming in.
Happy Gardening!
Got nearly all the potatoes in over the last 2 days except for 21 Bintjes which I had to put in wee pots as OH was off playing golf. He's chief weed clearer in the potager where we are making new beds as we go. Despite layering cardboard under compost we have a mass of weeds.
Today I have sown baptisia and will do more once the h****work is finished.
Hopefully going to be busy in garden & allotment for rest of month
As for "Astrology has nothing to do with Lunar Gardening", you wrote "5/6th April -Moon descending in Scorpio so Leaf Days". This certainly is Astrology! (Scorpio is not even a constellation). It certainly has no basis in Science.