June phases and signs overview

June features many good planting days

Here’s my June Overview containing all you need to know about planting your garden by the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac.

This information is written for where I live in Central Kentucky which, according to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone is in Zone 6B and times given are Eastern Daylight. Simply look at the map to convert to your planting zone and, of course, you know which time zone you are in.

If you have questions or comments, don’t hesitate to be in touch.

The moon

June begins and ends with the moon in the dark phase. The full – or dark - moon rules until 11 p.m. EDT June 4 when the new moon – or no moon visible in the sky at first – comes to rule.

The light moon is in force until the full moon returns at 7:02 a.m. June 20, which is also the first day of summer and the one with the most daylight hours. The dark moon rules until the new moon returns at 7:01 a.m. on Independence Day, July 4.

“General Tips” for dark- and light-moon activities are below and for veggies, it’s above-ground producers in the light moon and below-ground producers when the dark phase is in. See below, too, about seven great days for making changes, albeit not as many as last month but still not too shabby.

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.

June begins – and ends - with the very fertile sign Taurus in force, so that’s where we will start, too.

Fertile signs in order of appearance this month: Taurus (the neck), June 1-2, 29-30; Cancer (the breast), June 5-7; Scorpio (the secrets), June 15-16; and Pisces (the feet), June 24-26. Eleven days this month are ruled by the most fertile signs — Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus and Cancer.

Extra info: Like last month, these are the absolute best signs to plant in, here’s how the moon phases match up for you to decide what to plant – and blessedly we aren’t cursed with three Ember Days as we were in May.

Dark moon: June 1-2, 24-26, 29-30 with Taurus (the neck) in force all of these dark moon days except June 24-26 ruled by Pisces (feet).  Light moon: June 5-7 (Cancer); 15-16 (Scorpio). If you’re keeping score, there are seven days ruled by very fertile signs when the dark moon is in force and five under the light moon. A lot of great days for planting so we will hope for dry ground and fair skies.

Killing signs: No planting, transplanting, or dealing with things you want to thrive should occur on these days. Reserve them for cultivating, cleaning out fencerows — anything but planting: Leo (the heart), June 8-9 and Aries (the head), June 27-28. There are just four days this month ruled by the two killing signs, and that’s the minimum down from seven in May!

So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so. They are in this order: Sagittarius (the thighs), June 17-19; Capricorn (the knees), June 20-21; and Aquarius (the legs), June 22-23. There are seven days in June ruled by the three so-so signs with the moon moving from the light to the dark phase on June 20 at 7:02 a.m.

Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting flowers. If you plant on these bloom days and take care of the flowers, you will have a real show.

Virgo (the bowels), rules June 10-11; and Libra (the reins) is in force June 12-14. There are five flowering days again this month.

Gemini days: Gemini (the arms) rules June 3-4. Gemini is the “bean sign.” Alas, there is only one hour (11 p.m.-midnight on June 4) when the light moon is in force and we know beans produce above the ground. But at least half of the formula is right!

General tips

Here are a few general tips for activities other than planting:

>If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that when the light moon rules beginning June 5 through June 19 since the full or dark moon comes back into force in the early morning on June 20. The same applies for stones on a garden path: Place them when the moon is in the light phase so they don’t sink.

>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.

>The number of perfect days for making changes is dwindling now to seven down from 10 last month. These seven days - most of June 20 through June 26 – are for making changes when the moon is in the dark phase and the signs are going out of the body past anything that functions, specifically Capricorn/knees through Pisces/feet.

So, if you have changes to make like weaning babies or small animals, scheduling elective surgery – not emergency surgery since that usually can’t be scheduled - stopping smoking, starting a diet or exercise program then these days are your best opportunities this month.

>If you are starting your own plants, remember: If the grown plant produces above the ground, plant the seed and transplant to peat pots when the moon is in the light phase and a fertile sign rules. The converse, of course, is true for below-ground producers: dark phase/still fertile signs.

Then when you plant in the garden follow the same formula. At that point you’ve done all you can do to ensure success – coupled with good gardening practices.