Period ruled by so-so signs begins

Beginning Wednesday, Aug. 18 and continuing through Wednesday, Aug. 25 we find a series of so-so signs in force - so called because they aren't outstandingly productive like the four most fertile signs (Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus, Cancer) but they're not killing signs (like Aries and Leo) either, they're just so-so.

Wednesday through Friday, Aug. 18-20, find Sagittarius (the thighs) in force. Capricorn (the knees) rules Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 21-22, and the period concludes Aug. 23-25 with Aquarius (the legs) in force. Across most of this stretch the light moon will be in force meaning if you're planting you should be putting out only those veggies that produce above the ground. The full moon comes into force at 1:05 EDT Tuesday, Aug. 24 and according the the Almanac this is a "Full Sturgeon Moon." Thus beginning Aug. 25 all planting should be restricted to those veggies that produce beneath the ground.

Outstanding planting for anything that produces beneath the ground is on tap for Aug. 26-27 when the sign moves to Pisces (the feet), one of the four most productive signs.

Wherever you are, be sure to know your planting zone and that what you plant has time to make it to harvest in the northern hemisphere before fall and winter arrives. In other words, YOU know where you are (at least I hope so!), just take into account your climate.

During this stretch we find a period - brief as it is - well suited for making changes like stopping smoking, starting a diet or exercise program, weaning small animals or children. According to my reading and experience, the formula is this: The moon is in the dark phase (beginning Aug. 24) and the signs are going out of the body (thighs, knees, legs, feet), past anything that "functions." The days this month that fit the formula Aug. 25-27. The moon is in the dark phase, having changed on Aug. 24 and the signs those days are in the legs (Aug. 25) and feet (Aug. 26-27).

Flowering signs result in lots of blooms!

Yesterday and through Sunday, Aug. 11-15, are under the influence of the "flowering signs," Virgo (the bowels) and Libra (the reins). According to believers in planting by the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac, anything planted when either of these signs is in force should bloom and do so abundantly – thus Virgo and Libra are very well suited for planting flowers since it's the blooms we're after.

Believers caution, however, that planting vegetables when these signs are in force can result in more blooms and less fruit – and since it's usually the fruit we're after and not the blooms, you might want to try to avoid planting veggies when these signs are in force.

During the Spring, my wife and I made a special effort to plant our flowers when the flowering signs were in force. Now since we're both busy with our other jobs – and I know many of you are, too – sometimes it's difficult to plant at the right time because work schedules just don't permit. (And, of course, that's the challenge the majority of gardeners face since few of us have the luxury of sitting and waiting for the perfect moment.)

Anyway, I digress.

We planted our flowers at the perfect time and I have never seen such a prolific year of blooms, and blooms and more blooms. The plants, too, have grown magnificently to the point where in one container the coleus is taller than the spike! I've never seen coleus so big as the ones we have this summer.

And that's what flowering signs are about – strong plants to support loads of blooms that just continue on and on all season. Through Sunday we find the flowering signs in force and the moon in the light phase. Depending on what part of the country/world you are in, these days are great ones for planting flowers – whether for fall blooms in the north or spring and summer in the south.

It almost goes without saying, however, it doesn't matter what sign or phase you plant flowers, veggies, trees, bushes ... whatever ... in, they still need proper maintenance and support like cultivation, watering, and fertilizing. That's why planting by the signs and phases simply makes your good garden better - it doesn't replace good gardening habits and techniques.

Bean sign in force today but moon in dark phase

Gemini, the astrological sign in force today, is one uniquely suited for planting beans, according to believers in planting by the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac. Gemini rules the arms in the zodiac chart and beans planted when Gemini is in force are said "to grow as long as your arms" and just keep producing.

I've planted lots of beans across the years with Gemini in force but I have yet to see them grow as long as anyone's arm, but they do grow long and the do just produce and produce. One year my wife and I had such a crop after we'd eaten, canned, frozen and given away all the beans we could stand – and they were still producing – we just gave it up, pulled the plants and pitched them on the compost heap.

Anywhere much north of Tennessee, statistically speaking, it's too late in the summer to plant beans but that, of course, is not the case in the deep south. Bush beans especially grow quickly – just not quickly enough to make it to harvest in the north before it starts getting cooler and the threat of frost increases unless we have an extremely mild fall.

Beans are totally a hot-weather crop, loving hot weather and soil temperatures. Right now it's hard to convince anyone in my area it's going to get colder with the temperatures soaring into the 90s every day, but it's going to happen and bush beans take, at minimum, 50-60 days from germination to maturity. That would put them "coming on" around the middle of October and, if we get lucky, they could make it but statistics says they won't.

Of course in the south this isn't the case. So, if you have beans to plant at least half the equation is right today: The sign is in Gemini even if the moon is in the dark phase and we all know beans produce above the ground.

Do some planting today and Wednesday!

If you have planting to do in a garden, window box, whiskey barrel on the deck, flower pot in the kitchen – wherever – then today and Wednesday, Aug. 3-4 are your days according to the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac.

The moon is in the dark phase now and will remain there until late in the evening on Aug. 9 and when the moon's in the dark phase is the best time to plant vegetables that produce below the ground like potatoes, onions, radishes - anything where what you eat is developing beneath the soil line.

While in much of the northern hemisphere it's too late in the season to plant these and expect them to have a reasonable time to grow and produce, for you in the southern hemisphere spring is on the way and these crops love it when the ground and air are cool and getting slowly warmer - spring to summer. Unfortunately for those of us "up north" they don't care as much for it when it's going in the other other direction - as in summer to fall!

If, of course, those of you in the soon-to-be cooler climes are dedicated to protecting your outdoor veggies from frost and light freezes as the north spirals into fall, then by all means proceed. That includes making sure the ground stays warm, too, which can be best accomplished through mulching with straw, newspaper, leaves – most any organic matter that doesn't contain weed seed (like hay!)

Also, the rows can be covered with black planting fabric which helps retain both moisture and heat.

In short, the gardening season wherever you are doesn't have to end with the last ripe tomato.

Don't plant today with killing sign in force

Welcome to a new week, fellow gardeners!

Today finds the moon in the dark phase and the sign in Aries (the head), one of the two killing signs. This is a day to, as we say in the South, "stay on the porch" if you had any thoughts at all about planting. If, however, you have cultivating to do, weeding - deadening of any sort - this this is a day perfectly suited for such activity.

There are two "killing signs" in the zodiac - Aries and Leo (the heart). I realize folks say they just have to plant when the can, but I advise avoiding these two days when at all possible. Great days for those veggies that produce beneath the soil line are on tap for Tuesday and Wednesday when the sign moves to Taurus (the neck) so just be patient.

Since this information is out there on the Worldwide Web, it's important for those reading it wherever you are to be aware of the planting zone you're in. For instance, where I garden the in the upper South of the United States, the planting season is just about over in spite of the fact that temperatures have been in the 90s most every day of the last month.

Depending on the planting zone you're in - and if you don't know you can find out by googling "planting zones" - there may not be time, statistically speaking, for veggies planted now to germinate, grow and produce before the cool weather of fall arrives along with the danger of frost. I've been telling my readers for years that unless you just like to watch things grow - which they will do at this time of year - then there's no reason to plant if you're expecting to harvest what you've planted because more than likely it won't make it to pickin' unless you have the ability to protect it.

There are ways to extend the harvest season, but we'll talk about them on another day.