Planting by the Signs Overview

As spring approaches anticipation builds for those of us who enjoy gardening, whether that “garden” is a few tomato plants out by the porch, rooftop plantings in containers, acres for a Farmers Market or flowers to brighten the table. And for those of you planting your garden by the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac – or thinking about giving it a try – here’s an overview of my favorite garden enhancement technique.

This system can help make your good garden better simply by planting on particular days rather than just any old time. Sure, that’s not always possible but when it is I can almost guarantee that by harnessing the natural your yield will improve – and yield from the vegetable garden is what it’s all about.

While I am a certified, card-carrying Extension Master Gardener, I make no claims to be a specialist with regard to plant types, fertilizer needs, pest control, and the like. I know – or can find – the answers to lots of questions and if I can’t then I’ll turn to the experts to help. I would also suggest you contact experts in your area for that kind of help.

I don’t claim to be the comprehensive resource on gardening but I do know something about is planting by the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac and other related topics, so feel free to contact me.

An Overview

Break out those seed catalogs or go online, get your garden plot plowed or spaded, and start planning to plant whatever it is you’re going to plant in your plot this summer – or proceed if it’s already planning season wherever you are.

Spring officially arrives in the northern hemisphere March 20, 7:02 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

From the beginning, let me assure you there’s nothing mystical or magical about phases and signs, and this system is not to be feared. It merely combines natural forces with good gardening practices.

We’re all familiar with our horoscopes. While there’s no way to prove or disprove them, horoscope writers claim the moon and stars have certain effects on our behavior; that our personality traits are influenced by the zodiac sign under which we were born.

In our scientific world we’ve come to want proof of everything before we’ll give our endorsement. Explaining planting by the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac is as difficult as trying to explain your horoscope, but I’m going to give it a whirl. If you’ll try it in your garden – along with following good gardening practices like watering, cultivating and such – I can almost guarantee it will work for you.

How I began

Perhaps like you, I’d heard of light and dark moon. I knew the moon’s gravitational pull affected the tides on earth – and beyond that I knew little else.

Then, in the early 1970s, I met an old gentleman and his wife whose garden was doing a lot better than mine.

I asked him how he did it and he said by following the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac. Being a young, just-out-of-college lad then, I laughed. But he didn’t.

And I don’t now!

He offered to explain phases and signs to me, show me in my own garden and help me learn. After the next summer’s garden, I was a believer where before I’d been a skeptic, having said like many others, “I plant in the ground, not in the moon.”

I did some reading, asked more questions, got a copy of the Farmers’ Almanac and, well, continued to work with learning more about planting by the phases and signs. And, lo and behold, it worked: With little additional effort other than picking the days on which I planted what, based on the Almanac, my garden flourished and produced beyond expectations.

Since then I’ve been sharing the information with all who’re open minded enough to give it a try. That’s all I can ask: Just try it in your garden; just follow what tell you each day on my Twitter account, @plantingbysigns and if you don’t see improved yields, you’re welcome to forget it.

Of course you still have to water, fertilize, cultivate, etc. – all normally good garden practices. It doesn’t matter what phase or sign you plant in, if you don’t take care of your garden it won’t return you much but a bunch of weeds!

Light and Dark Moon

If you’ve heard about nothing else, likely as not you’ve heard about light and dark moon. Allow me to define the terms:

Light moon: From the time of the new moon – or no moon visible in the sky – to the full moon; the period while the moon is “growing” or “waxing.”

During the period of the “light moon,” those crops that produce above the ground should be planted. These are things like beans, tomatoes, corn, squash, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage – anything where what you eat grows above the ground.

Dark moon: From the time of the full moon until the next new moon, the period while the moon is getting smaller or “waning.” Thus the dark moon begins on the day when the most moon is visible and ends when there’s no moon showing.

When the dark moon is in force plant only those crops that produce beneath the ground, things like onions, radishes, beets, potatoes – anything where what you eat grows beneath the ground, also known as root crops.

The light moon and the dark moon each lasts 14 days, thus making “one moon,” 28 days. Our primarily 30- and 31-day calendar is not a “moon-based” calendar.

Each day on Twitter I’ll tell you what moon phase is in force and when it’s expected to change. Purists who follow this system say no planting should occur on the days when the moon’s changing because you can’t be certain of the exact hour and minute.

Many calendars, all almanacs, most newspapers, and some television stations tell you which phase the moon is in. It’s easy to follow, non-threatening, and just taps the natural forces of the universe to aid your garden.

But remember you need to consult some “source” to determine exactly what phase the moon is in. That cannot be determined by just “looking up at the sky” on a clear night!

Signs of the Zodiac

The other aspect is the signs of the zodiac.

There are 12 signs of the zodiac each in force for at least two days every month, and sometimes three to fill out the 30 or 31-day months other than February.

The signs start at the head (Aries) and work their way down the body to the feet (Pisces) and then start over again in a continuous cycle – and remember it adds up to 28 days so the signs don’t fall on the same day each month so one month may end with Aries (the head) ruling and the next one begin with Pisces (the feet) in force.

Each sign “governs” a part of the body, and each of us was born under a particular sign, which, according to the writers of horoscopes, predisposes us to certain personality traits. Our “birth sign” lasts for an entire month – my sign is Gemini (the arms) that is in force roughly from May 21-June 21 each year.

Through research – both from books and in the garden – I’ve discovered there are four signs particularly suited for all kinds of planting: Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus, and Cancer. You can remember the four with the acronym: Signs Plant Thick Crops.

Believers say vegetables planted under the influence of these signs, in the proper phase of the moon, will produce abundantly.

Count me as a believer!

Combining the phases of the moon with the proper sign is the most productive scenario. But if you can only do one, follow the moon and plant above-ground producers in the light of the moon and below-ground producers in the dark of the moon.

More about this system

Here are a few interesting notes about The System:

>As I wrote above, each sign governs a specific part of the body. I’ll tell you which part of the body the sign governs in parenthesis each week. For example, Gemini (the arms). The parts of the body governed by a sign are supposedly more sensitive when the moon is in that sign.

>Beans and peas should be planted in Gemini during the light of the moon. The sign rules the arms and beans are supposed to grow “as long as your arms.” Believe me, they may not grow that long but they produce much more abundantly.

>Aries (the head) and Leo (the heart) are killing signs. No planting should occur on days falling under the influence of these signs, they should be reserved for killing, deadening or cultivating.

>Virgo (the bowels) and Libra (the forearms or reins) are flowering signs. If you want to plant flowers for the blooms, do it when these signs are in force. Avoid planting vegetables in Virgo or Libra since they spend more time blooming than setting fruit, unless it’s the blooms you’re eating.

>If you’re planning to wean small animals or children, castrate animals, have elective surgery, stop bad or begin good habits, try to begin when the moon is in the dark phase and the signs are in the thighs (Sagittarius) and moving out of the body in this order: Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces.

I’ll tell you each month when this is going to happen. Information regarding this is an oft-asked question, especially from folks trying to stop smoking or scheduling surgery. (That’s right Medical World: They call and ask!)

>It’s best if you’re planning some sort of elective surgery (not an emergency!) to have it done when the sign is in some area of the body that doesn’t function – like the legs, knees, arms, and feet. Try to avoid surgery when the sign is in Leo (the heart) or Aries (the head).

One last word – or two

Even at the expense of repeating myself, let me say again that phases and signs do not – and make no pretense to – replace good gardening practices. You still must pay attention to weather reports, soil temperatures and moisture levels, days to maturity on packages, last and first frost dates.

If you follow phases and signs judiciously, say, and don’t cultivate your garden, it will be a failure. Each plant or seed has an air and soil temperature it loves. Find that out and plant accordingly – in the right phase and sign – and with proper care you (or the deer!) will be richly rewarded!