Tonight is the full moon. The time for harvesting not sowing or planting. The best moon for planting is the new moon.
Of course there are many theories behind why we might garden by the moon.
I personally think that it is the pull of the moon on the tides, bringing up water, maybe more light; I am the pragmatic one. Not the spiritual one. Have they done field tests?
This moon was caught in the reflection of the sunset. Always a joy to see.
So next week I will sow another round of root crops and greens. Then the weeks after that, I will prepare to sow more beans and peas and capsicums and aubergine. Plus butternut and courgette.
Thank you Aunty Google: The principle behind lunar phase gardening is fairly simple. When the moon is waxing (changing from new to full), the time is right for planting seeds that yield fruit above ground. When the moon has passed full and is waning (diminishing) the time is right to plant root crops with edible parts below the soil.
Got it? Do you note the moon when you are gardening?
As a kid I thought my grandmother planted by the full moon because that gave the plants a good start with extra light. But then I discovered that she had been planting just before the full moon because it was a drought year and the last quarter up to the full moon is considered the wettest for drought planting. She did not much talk about it though because of the risk of being accused of acting un-catholic. The priest did not approve apparently.
So, root crops next week. Beets I think – beetroot is my favourite root crop – after potatoes. And fennel.
The kitchens garden is planted in a rotation so food ripens in a rotation too. The moon reminds me of the planting order. It reminds me to keep planting all summer long – with the changes in the climate you just never know when you might get a long summer or a protracted autumn. So I Hope Plant.
Plus I go away in a month and I need piles of plants established before then.
The big black cow has been sold so now the big white cow gets a chance in the fly blankets. The calves just hang out in the barn.
What is the law called when you call the service man, but the service starts going again the moment they turn up? Like Murphys Law but better. Celi’s Law?
He agreed that the signal was very poor.
But, he deemed the tower too rickety to climb up. It was too dangerous.
“How did the last guy get the thingie up there?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” he said.
“No shit, Sherlock,” I thought. But, you don’t say that to a 12-year-old service person because at least he is working, right?
“But I don’t have a television or a home phone, so this is the only way I can get my signal,” I said. “I need this fixed.” The poor fellow just looked at me with total incomprehension on his face. “Well – duh,” his face said. “No one has home phones or TVs anymore.” But he did not want to say that to an old lady because at least she knew what the internet was, right?
So now I need to find brackets and secure the tower to the house and call the 12-year-old for the third time to come out and check why this internet signal that I am paying a premium for is so intermittent. And I am not convinced that tweaking the thingie 2 degrees is going to make the biggest difference. But maybe it is just physics and the little dish has to be facing the other tower in a near by town exactly.
The pond plants were overwintered in a bucket in the glasshouse, and now they are back in the water barrel nursery, they are greening up nicely and I think they might be good food for the fish too!
They are too small yet to go into the pond though, they just float straight into the filter which is cleaned daily.
By the way I have not seen even a flicker of the fish that are there in the pond. Though I have not seen any dead bodies either so I think they are good. I throw in fish food then later fish it out of the filter! I hope they are not down there eating each other! (squirms at that horrible thought).
Maybe I need to buy domesticated fish that already know how to find a bit of fish food. So visiting children can feed them. That would be fun.
Have a lovely Saturday.
Celi
PS Due to the lack of internet – my website launch is still on a hold. But it is so beautiful and I am so looking forward to introducing you all to it.
PSS Because this weeks original story is turning out to be more writing than I thought here is an Excerpt from the TKG Archives. This one is short – just long enough to listen to while you peel the potatoes. I am so grateful to all of you who support me in this endeavour to find my voice in long form writing.
The Kitchen's Garden 
28 responses to “Planting By The Moon”
I saw a fascinating documentary about an English Master of Wine who went to France, rented a vineyard and did everything by the cycles of the moon. He produced an excellent wine, especially for a first attempt and all his vegetables were better that the locals produced. There must be something in biodynamics.
Something – right?
Wouldn’t it be a thing to rent a vineyard. In France. For a documentary. He must have been so sure he could prove the point
I think he used his life savings and took a big gamble.
Wow.
…and he had wild boar trying to eat all the grapes!
A lot of vignerons in France are members of the hunt, a boar and her babies can eat a whole harvest in a night or two.
That sounds awful!
You get to eat a lot of wild boar in the wine regions!
I always say it’s “Sod’s Law”.Just had a shock, when l read your ps l read it as “Due to lack of interest” and could not believe my eyes! Gorgeous Bobby. Good luck with it all, l hate tech problems!
Rushing back to make sure I did not write interest instead of internet! Because there is a lot of interest!
Oh sorry, l know there is SO much interest, didn’t mean to shock you🫢
Made me jump!
Granny Rozelle (and I because she was my first teacher) planted by Moon Signs in the OFA. Always did very well. One year I ignored her advice and planted tomatoes according County Extension Agent. Lost entire tomato section to a late frost.
Huh! How lovely that your first teacher was your Granny. It certainly is the old way of gardening. Like an ancient knowledge passed down. How are your tomatoes looking this year?
There used to be an old lady in our perennial exchange group who planted by the moon. She said she had planted two plants in the same location, same plant, same size. One in the dark of the moon and the other in the full of the moon. The one in the full of the moon did substantially better, stronger, healthier looking. So…….
As to adolescent service people that is a definite problem for “oldies” (no not really) like me. Especially worrisome transitioning from a retiring Dr. who we have seen for 20 years or so to a new doctor. Are we sure he has finished middle school?
Well I’m in a nursing home and my garden is 1 ft Square in community bed. The one Cherry Tomato Plant (donated, variety unknown) planted April 21, first Moon favorable day after Easter frost, is just over 2 ft tall & almost as wide, is loaded with little green toms & I’ve gathered enough to share with by roommate. How many did you plant this year?
I LOVE the fact that you are growing tomatoes in the home. That is the best.
I think all up we probably planted probably about 40 maybe 50 plants. In four different locations. So we will see!
I’ve never played by the moon but I like the concept!
When I see a new moon or a full moon I am reminded to plant the next round. I am pretty simplistic in my understanding of the concept. But it is so old.
I’m glad you understood my typo! I may have “played” by the moon, now that I think about it.
I love the idea of moon planting and I’ve never heard of it –
Yep we moon here too… garden by the moon/biodynamics. This is my go-to https://mooncalendar.astro-seek.com/gardening-moon-calendar-farmers-guide
Nice link – thank you!
If you start seeds in your glass house do you also do them by the moon? I have a little greenhouse and like to start my plants in there but never thought much about when I planted them.
It rather depends who is starting them. Certainly in the summer I try to start things in order. The corn in the ground does better started by the moon. Glasshouse starts are not the natural order
I did two gut laughs on your post. One is you said no shit Sherlock as that is something I say all the time. Second thing is calling the repair guy a twelve year old which I also would say! Even when I see a Dr and they look like bloody twelve year olds! Must mean we are getting old that they look so young to us! Have a great Sunday Celi!
No! Surely not! We aren’t getting old!
I always loved reading The Old Farmers Almanac for good gardening lore like planting by the phases of the moon. Have you seen it? They put out a new one every year..The calendar is fun to have too. Have the duck..I mean chicken eggs hatched yet?
I have never read it. But I know I should!! We need to check back and see when I put those eggs under that duck. Then count 21 days. When was it?