Overview for February 2012

Welcome to 2012!

To paraphrase Hank Jr. on Monday Night Football, “Are you ready for some gardening?”

If your answer is, “Yes” then I hope you’re planning to utilize the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac. Coupled with good gardening practices, moon phases and zodiac signs can only make your good garden even better.

While north of the Kentucky-Tennessee border where I am it’s still too early to plant in the unprotected garden, by the time we meet at the first of March that will be changing as we talk about spring gardens featuring those veggies that love cool weather and soil temperatures.

And for many of you in the south, you’ll be planting sooner – and I envy you! Some of you in the Deep South are already planting. Of you I’m downright jealous!

As we begin a new gardening year, please remember phases and signs can help a “garden” of any size from a window box or a couple of pots on the patio to huge gardens raising produce to sell at Farmers Markets and roadside stands.

Just convert any times give here to your time zone, adding or subtracting hours.

Now, without further ado, here’s the overview for the month of February.

The moon

The moon is in the light phase now and will remain there until the full moon on Feb. 7 at 4:54 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The light moon then returns to rule at 5:35 p.m. Feb. 21 and continues until the full moon in March on March 8 at 4:40 a.m.

When the light moon is in force proceed with only light-moon activities and if that includes planting veggies in protected environs (like greenhouses), plant only above-ground producers.

The dark moon rules Feb. 8 through Feb. 20. If you’re planting anywhere, it’s below-ground producers. Check the list below for other dark-moon activities.

IN SUMMARY:

Light moon days: Now through Feb. 6 then Feb. 21 until March 8.

Dark moon days: Most of Feb. 7 and through Feb. 20.

You’ll notice I’m not dealing with “fractions of days” here although most of Feb. 7 (until 4:54 p.m.) is under the influence of the light moon while the dark moon rules most of Feb. 21, until 5:35 p.m. If you want to plant on moon-change days, then that’s your call. All I can do is give you the information.

The signs

Remember: Check to see if the moon is in the light or dark phase (information above) before proceeding with planting or other activities, indoors or out.

Fertile signs: the most fertile signs in the zodiac rule these days: Feb. 1, 27-28, Taurus (the neck); Feb. 4-5, Cancer (the breast); Feb. 13-15, Scorpio (the secrets); Feb. 23-24, Pisces (the feet). There are 10 days this month ruled by the fertile signs: Scorpio, Taurus, Pisces and Cancer.

Killing signs: No planting, transplanting, or dealing with things you want to thrive should occur on these days. Reserve them for cultivating, cleaning out fence rows – anything but planting: Feb. 6-8, Leo (the heart) and Feb. 25-26, Aries, (the head). There are four killing days, those ruled by either Aries or Leo.

So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so: Feb. 16-17, Sagittarius (the thighs); Feb, 18-20, Capricorn (the knees); Feb. 21-22, Aquarius (the legs). This month there are seven days ruled by the so-so signs: Sagittarius, Capricorn and Aquarius.

Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting flowers, blooming things in the greenhouse or for the house: Feb. 9-10, Virgo (the bowels); Feb. 11-12, Libra (the reins). There are four days this month ruled by the two flowering signs, Virgo and Libra.

Gemini days: Gemini rules the arms and is in force on Feb. 2-3, 29. I would say, all things taken into consideration, Feb. 29 and March 1, both Gemini days in the light phase of the moon, would be nothing short of extraordinary days for planting peas given Gemini is the beans and peas sign. I’d venture to say, with any luck at all, you’ll have a bumper crop of peas.

And there you have the month of February.

General tips

Again, here are a few general tips for activities other than planting:

- If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that in the light of the moon so the gravel won’t sink. Same applies for stones on a garden path: Place them when the moon is in the light phase so they don’t sink. Check above for the right days.

- If you’re setting fence posts, do that in the light of the moon so the posts don’t sink.

- If you’re putting on a new shingle roof, do that when the moon’s in the dark phase so that the shingles stick down and don’t curl up on the ends.

- If you have changes to make like stopping smoking, starting a diet or exercise program, weaning small animals or children, scheduling elective surgery – anything that requires a change – here’s the formula: The moon in the dark phase and the signs going out of the body, past anything that “functions” so that means thighs, knees, legs and feet – Sagittarius through Pisces.

This month those days are Feb. 16-20, five days and a piece n Feb. 21. The signs are in Sagittarius (16-17), Capricorn (18-20) and Aquarius (until 5:35 on the 21st) with the moon is in the dark phase.

How to be in touch

- Email pcase211@gmail.com or pcase@state-journal.com.

- Call or text (502) 682-5995 or call The State Journal at (502) 227-4556.

- My Twitter account is at full speed so join me @plantingbysigns. You can also visit plantingbythesigns.net and join in more detailed discussion on my blog found there.

- And now I’m on Facebook so “drop by” and join me. My page is “Planting By the Signs” and it’s devoted to general gardening with an emphasis on utilizing the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac. You won’t find any of my baby pictures or my dinner plate from last night – just gardening according to signs and phases.