"Gardening By The Moon"
Gardening by the moon isn't a new idea. In fact new ideas tend to have driven out the traditional ways of gardening that have been feeding generations before us.
Choosing the right time to plant your
vegetables can be tricky, but using the moon as your guide will help solve those problems.
Keep a moon chart with your gardening calendar ( you can download a free garden journal here )
If you are going to be gardening by the moon next year, I would recommend getting hold of a copy of 'In Tune With The Moon 2008' The following gems of good advice are a tiny fraction of this information packed book...
When the Moon is in Aries, Leo or Sagittarius it is a
good time for growing tomatoes, French beans, peas, apples and
cereals of all kinds (and for maintenance and planting seeds, where appropriate).
When the Moon is in Gemini, Libra or Aquarius it is a
good time for cultivating vegetables such as cauliflowers, artichokes and ornamental flowers.
When the Moon is in Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces it is the
time to grow salad vegetables, spinach, chard and so on.
When the Moon is in Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn it is an
ideal time to concentrate on carrots, potatoes, asparagus, celery, parsnips and other root vegetables.
*General Gardening By The Moon*
Sowing: always choose a constellation appropriate to the crop you are sowing (i.e. favourable to fruit, root, flower or leaf plants) and preferably sow in the morning.
Planting and pricking out: choose days when the Moon is
descending and also, if possible, when it is opposite a constellation appropriate to the crop that you are growing (i.e. favourable to fruit, root, flower or leaf plants) and preferably in the afternoon.
Weeding
In wet weather: if possible, weed in the morning in a Fire or Air sign when the Moon is waning.
In dry weather: weed in the evening, if possible, and in an Earth or Water sign when the Moon is waxing.
Watering: To avoid plants developing shallow roots, instead of watering little and often, water them generously but less frequently.
The ideal time to water is when the Moon is in the
descendant and in the constellation of Virgo, Gemini or Libra.
Mulching: mulch helps to fertilize and protect the soil, and limits the evaporation of moisture and weed germination.
It is best to mulch when the Moon is waxing and in an
Earth or Air sign.
Aeration of the soil: This should ideally be carried out when the Moon is ascending
Soil decomposes and breaks down more easily (via worms
and micro-organisms) when the Moon is descending.
*Vegetable gardening by the moon*
Green Salad:
Until July, sow in a Water constellation when the Moon is waning in order to prevent the plants from going to seed.
During the autumn, sow green salad in a Water constellation, but when the Moon is waxing.
Potatoes:
Plant on a day favourable to ‘root’ plants.
To raise seed potatoes, plant when the Moon is in the sign of Taurus.
To avoid producing Green Potatoes, earth up when the Moon is in an Earth constellation and when it is waning.
To remove the eyes (buds) from potatoes that have been lifted and stored so that they will keep longer, choose a time when the Moon is waning and descending.
Cultivating the Soil:
The work of ploughing, planting, pricking out and spreading compost or manure is best carried out when the Moon is descending.
On light, sandy soil, if possible, combine the descending Moon with the waxing Moon.
On heavy clay soil, if possible, combine the descending Moon with the waning Moon.
For more information about gardening by the moon and a preview of 'In Tune with the Moon' please visit www.findhornpress.com
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Grow your own organic vegetables by the moon to make the finest meals for your family....
Thompson and Morgan are online worldwide suppliers of seeds and other products and they have some great pictures to drool over!
broad beans brussel sprouts Carrots
Chile Peppers Sweetcorn Tomatoes
Gardening by the moon with Thompson and Morgan Worldwide
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Happy Gardening!
Great "Garden" Reading
Grow Your Own Groceries: Producing your own food is not only rewarding but - in times of economic and environmental changes - increasingly a must! Nature provides everything the human body requires to thrive, and cultivating some of those natural products in your own back garden will not only produce the best food on the planet for you and your loved ones, it is also economical, environmentally friendly and more fun than shopping.
Gardening is more than a hobby; it's a way of life. Even without a garden, many plants can be grown in containers, on a balcony, and indoors. Order it now direct from the publisher... Grow Your Own Groceries
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Herb Gardening: Herbs are becoming recognised more and more as superfoods, as if we didn't know that really! 'Herb Gardening' has been beautifully put together by the publisher (Crowood Press) into a well presented book with full colour photos.
Along with growing instructions for forty different herbs, there are lots of great ideas, including culinary delights and medicinal alternatives.
You'll also find gardening advice as well as some ideas on planning a herb garden. Order it now direct from the
publisher... Herb Gardening
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Grow Your Own Pharmacy: If, like me, you want to be able to eat the best food on the planet, grow your own!
Grow Your Own Pharmacy
• Clear instructions on planning, planting, growing and harvesting the fruits, vegetables and herbs required for a healthy vitamin intake.
• Recipes and menus to help incorporate the fruit and vegetables into your daily diet.
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Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense is packed full of great ideas and tips. Granny brings
traditional home-making up to date with cooking, gardening, needlecrafts and even games to play with the kids...Click on the link below to order your copy.
Granny's Book Of Good Old Fashioned Common Sense
Cooking doesn’t have to be a chore and preparing nourishing home cooked meals for the family will certainly keep them away from the goodie shelf. Gardening encourages physical exercise and a good healthy dollop of fresh air. And you can get the kids involved too.
Before the days of computer games and electronic pets, children used to have fun without rummaging about in the fridge every five minutes. Enjoy a few rainy-day games and crafts of yesteryear with today’s kids. They’ll love it and so will you!
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