July phases and signs overview

Summer is here!

Here’s my July Overview containing all you need to know about planting your garden by the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac. Remember all times are Eastern Daylight and planting is for USDA hardiness Zone 6b. Just convert accordingly to where you are.

The moon

July begins and ends with the moon in the dark phase. The full – or dark - moon rules until 7:01 a.m. EDT July 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 6:57 p.m. July 19, and rules until the new moon at 4:45 p.m. on Aug. 2.

 “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 perfect days for making changes.

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.

July begins with Gemini, the bean sign in force. There are, in fact, three remaining Gemini days this month.

Gemini days: Gemini (the arms) rules July 1-2, 28-29. Gemini is the “bean sign.” Alas, all of these days are with the dark moon in force and we know beans produce above the ground. But at least half of the formula is right! Typically, bush beans love hot weather and they only take 60 or fewer days from planting to harvest. So, if you love green beans – and who doesn’t – I’d be planting some on one or all of these days.

Fertile signs in order of appearance this month: Cancer (the breast), July 3-4, 30-31; Scorpio (the secrets), July 12-14; Pisces (the feet), July 22-23; and Taurus (the neck), July 26-27. Eleven days this month are ruled by the most fertile signs — Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus 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 fencerows — anything but planting: Leo (the heart), July 5-6 and Aries (the head), July 24-25. There are again just four days this month ruled by the two killing signs.

So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so. They are in this order: Sagittarius (the thighs), July 15-16; Capricorn (the knees), July 17-18; and Aquarius (the legs), July 19-21. There are seven days in July ruled by the three so-so signs with the moon moving from the light to the dark phase on July 19 at 6:57 p.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 July 7-9; and Libra (the reins) is in force July 10-11. There are five flowering days again this month.

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 July 4 through most of July 19 since the full or dark moon comes back into force late that day, beyond the time most folks would be pouring gravel. 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 continues to dwindle, down to four from seven last month. Those four days are July 20-23, Aquarius/legs 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 four days are your best opportunities this month.