Planting by the Moon - What will happen if I don't?

I have missed the first quarter moon to plant leafy green vegetables, like lettuce. In the past I have planted them late, during the second quarter moon. The second quarter moon is for planting seed pod vegetables, like tomatoes. What happened to my lettuce plants? Well they bolted of course, since they were planted in the week that encourages seed pod growth. Seed pod vegetables planted late, during the week of the full moon, will delay in flowering (thus making food) and spend too much time on unnecessary root growth. Perennials and trees, on the other hand, need this choice rooting time to make it through the winter.

Planting by the Moon - First Quarter Moon

In this moon phase, March 23 until March 29th, when the right side of the moon is lit is the time to plant the seeds for vegetables and plants which thrive best in the heat. This list includes tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, squash and peppers.

Most vegetable plants need almost 100 perfect sunny days to produce to their fullest potential. With this in mind, this might be the perfect time, if not final chance, to start your most valuable food crops from seed. These plants thrive best in full sun. It takes a lot of water for these plants to produce succulent vegetables. They take more nutrients from the soil than other plants. They need lots of room to grow, the more room the more food.

Don't let this seem overwhelming if you are considering a first time garden. Of the vegetables to be planted in this moon phase, I suggest growing peppers and tomatoes. They are easy to grow, produce abundantly and are essential for nutrition. They are can easily be preserved for later too.

It is still too early to buy vegetable plant starts at the store. This moon phase comes next month and when I will be transplanting my seedlings to the garden you can plant your plants from the store.

I found a wonderful planting by the moon posting at "good stuff nw".

This picture is of 1 zucchini squash plant.

Gardening by the Moon - New Moon Phase

We are now experiencing a new moon. It is the week after the week without a moon and it happens every month. This is the best time to plant annual flower seeds. It is the best time to plant annual vegetables like lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower in seeding trays. And the best time to plant seed crops like millet, sunflowers and oats.

The new moon this month is from March 15 until March 22. The plants listed above must be planted before this date so they can mature properly. Here is a general tutorial for starting seeds at home:

Plant Perennials

Every plant has its own nature. Like the needs of birds, reptiles and mammals are different so are annuals, biennials, and perennials. Since this is the last day of the best week of the year to plant perennials I thought I would share with you what secrets I know.

Perennials

Not all seeds will germinate at the same time
Some seeds take 3 years or more to germinate
(germinate = to come to life)
Transplanting plants with roots is the easiest and fastest method of growing
Mature plants self-propagate, from seeds or sending up new plants from the root
The mother eventually dies away after a few seasons so let the new plants develop

The best way I know to start perennials from seed is:

fill 6" or 8" pot with the best soil you have (not potting soil nothing will grow for long in just potting soil must have organic matter like worm castings, very old manure, fish fertilizer, and best of all compost)

dig a hole at the spot you want the plant to grow and bury the pot in the ground up to the brim of the pot, this is the first year

water normally

after the seed sprouts, when it has at least 2 leaves, it can be transplanted into a 4" pot (which is then buried as well), this can be the first, second, or third year

the next spring, after the full moon, you can transplant these hardy plants right into the garden

by fall you will see the plant will have quadrupled in space it takes up, and this will happen each following year of the plant's life - remember the extra space will be needed when planting the hardy plants in the soil, in fact, you will have to remove (or divide) them to keep their growth in check

forever now you will never again have to plant seeds for the perennial

in fact, forever now you will have to remove (or divide) them to keep their growth in check

many nutritious herbs grow this way and are a more efficient way to get nutrients to your table - mint, lemon balm, oregano, rosemary, lovage, thyme, sage

perennial vegetables are low maintenance and reappear each year - here ins the north we can grow asparagus, some onions, horseradish, and if lucky artichokes


The best secret I can share, as it was missed in the book, is to poke a willow twig in the ground with your seeds, it will work like magic and that's all there is to say. Try it in one pot and see for yourself. Nature has all the solutions, we just have to embrace them.

This is a brief introduction to perennials, details for growing many plants in my new book.

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Planting by the Moon

What you won’t read on a seed packet is when to plant them. Knowing this critical factor is crucial to being able to grow food most effectively. You can bury seeds to fit your schedule, but they will sprout and grow on their own schedule. How do we know the ideal times for garden chores? The reflection of the moon, in its predictability, is to cue your participation.
From when there is no moon until the moon is full, plant annuals and biennials that produce food above ground. During the week following the full moon, plant perennials, trees and bushes, and biennial root vegetables. Seeds planted in this way have the best chance for strong germination and development. They will grow to their fullest potential joined with the forces of nature.
The following week, when the left side of the moon is lit, until there is no moon at all, no planting is done. Instead, this week is for removing unwanted plants and attacking unwanted insects. Trim plants that have grown too large now to discourage new growth. It is the ideal time to harvest food so it will keep well during long term storage.
It is a relief to surrender to the power of nature by planting and harvesting by these ancestral edicts. Do not underestimate the force that rules the entire the world. From the tides created to pull the world forward through loss and gain, winter and summer, birth and death, is the same water which will bring your seed to life.
I don't need to link this one, I wrote it all by myself.

Planting by the Moon

June 22 marks the new moon in June. A new moon refers to when there is no moon visible in the night sky. The natural astronomical pressure works in a gardener's favor making it an excellent time for seeds to germinate. It usually rains during this week. This time of year, this phase of the moon is excellent time to plant cover crops like buckwheat or leafy greens like collard or basil. In cooler months, this is the best phase of plant lettuce and brassicas.