March 2013 Overview

Ah March! The month that can’t decide if it wants to be spring or winter but nonetheless the one that ushers in the outdoor planting season for cool-weather crops in the northern tier of states.

And while we’re here, a word about this information: I’m “based” in central Kentucky so I write with the seasons here in mind since, as they say, everyone has to be somewhere. However, to adapt it to wherever you are – further north or south – just check your planting zone.

Obviously in the south where frosts and freezes are rarely much of a concern, then lots of planting is going on, while in the north the ground is still frozen solid.

I write from the perspective of the Eastern Time Zone, whether “standard” or soon-to-be “daylight.” So as you head west things change by an hour. Just subtract for your zone.

If you have specific questions just write and I’ll try to answer them. Be sure to tell me, however, where you are like, “I live in southern Mississippi.” It won’t make any difference about the phase of the moon or sign of the zodiac, but it can obviously impact other information like about what you can plant when.

The moon

The month begins with the moon in the dark phase, the full moon having come into force Feb. 25. It continues to rule until the new moon 3:51 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) March 11 and then returns 5:27 p.m. March 27.

Between those dates ­– March 12 through March 26 – the light moon is in force.

When the full – or dark – moon rules, plant only those veggies that produce beneath the ground and are from the cool-weather list for the unprotected garden.

Then when the new – or light – moon rules, only those from the list that produce above the ground.

Check the list below for other dark- and light-moon activities.

IN SUMMARY:

Dark moon days: Until the afternoon of March 11 (3:51 p.m.) then most of March 27 until 5:35 a.m. April 10.

Light moon days: March 12-26.

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: Scorpio (the secrets) March 29-30; Pisces (the feet), March 11-12; Taurus (the neck), March 16-17; and Cancer (the breast), March 20-22. There are nine days remaining 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: March 13-15, Aries, (the head) and March 23-24, Leo (the heart). There are five killing days, those ruled by either Aries or Leo.

So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so: March 3-5 and 31, Sagittarius (the thighs); March 6-7, Capricorn (the knees); March 8-10, Aquarius (the legs). This month there are nine 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: March 25-26, Virgo (the bowels); March 27-28, 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 March 18-19. Both Gemini days this month are in the light phase of the moon and if you’re ground is dry enough these would be perfect for peas. These days are also great for beans but beans are hot-weather crops so don’t even consider planting them!

Early gardens

According to Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky, the average date of the last killing frost (36 degrees F) is between April 30 and May 5. I even like to go a week longer and wait until Mother’s Day before putting out frost-sensitive veggies or flowers.

Be prudent. Every seed or plant has its optimum temperature for germination and growth – find out what that is. If the soil is too cool, the transplant or seed just sits there and waits for it to warm up, making it prey to varmints, frost and freeze for transplants; rot and buggy things for seeds beneath the soil.

Here’s a list of veggies that love it when the soil and the air are cool and can stand frost and light freezes. Please note whether or not they produce above or below the ground and plant according.

According to the booklet, it’s safe NOW to plant peas, snow peas and spinach.

Next up is March 10: onion sets, radishes, rhubarb crowns, rutabaga and turnips.

March 15: Irish potatoes

March 20: parsley, parsnips

March 25: leaf lettuce, Bibb lettuce plants, lettuce head plants, onion plants

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.

That series begins March 3 and continues through March 10. While this won’t be the greatest time for planting it’s certainly a perfect stretch for making changes like stopping smoking, weaning babies or animals, starting good habits, stopping bad ones – anything that involves a change.

Specifically, Sagittarius (the thighs) rules March 3-5 followed by Capricorn (the knees) March 6-7 and then Aquarius (the legs) March 8-10. That’s a stretch of eight days that perfectly fit the formula for change with the moon in the dark phase and the signs going out of the body past anything that functions.

Pisces (the feet) rules March 11-12 and that’s about as far out of the body as you’re going to get. The problem is the moon moves from dark to light phase on the 11th so that takes away half of the ideal formula. Pisces days, however, aren’t bad even in the light of the moon if that’s all you have.