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.