Phases and Signs for September

Here’s information for September on the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac. I’m writing in Central Kentucky, USDA Planting Zone 6B, and all times given are Eastern Daylight Saving.

Adapt the information accordingly to your location and time zone.

Except for leaf lettuce, radishes and spinach, planting in the unprotected garden is over for 2017 (in 6B and further north) with the average date for first frost fast approaching.

You can still plant in hot beds or greenhouses that can be closed during cold snaps.

      Ember Days: I like to remind you early when there are Ember Days coming up – and there are some Sept. 20, 22-23. No planting on Ember Days, super killing signs.

      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, preferably when fertile signs are in force.

The moon

      September began and ends with the moon in the light phase – seems as if it’s been that way forever. The light moon rules until the full moon appears at 3:03 a.m. EDT on Sept. 6 and then returns at 1:30 a.m. Sept. 20, continuing until the full moon on Oct. 5 at 2:40 p.m.

      The dark moon rules all but three hours and three minutes of Sept. 6 through all of Sept. 19, and a couple of hours on Sept. 20.

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 and no planting sowhatever (as a late friend of mine used to say) on those Ember Days.

      Like August, September begins with our first series of so-so signs – and ends with the second. So, that’s where we will begin and knock out 10 days ruled by so-so signs – a third of this 30-day month!

      So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so. They appear in this order in September: Capricorn (the knees), Sept. 1, 27-29; Aquarius (the legs), Sept. 2-4 and 30-Oct. 1; and Sagittarius (the thighs), Sept. 25-26. All are under the influence of the light moon.

        Fertile days: These are the most fertile signs in the zodiac. Here’s the breakdown as they occur this month and the phase of the moon in which they are in force.

          Pisces (the feet), Sept. 5-6, light moon on the 5th, dark moon on the 6th; Taurus (the neck), Sept. 9-10, dark moon; Cancer (the breast) Sept. 13-14, dark phase; and Scorpio (the secrets), Sept. 22-24, light moon ruling.

          Again, this month there are nine days 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: Aries (the head), Sept. 7-8; and Leo (the heart), Sept. 15-17. There are five days ruled by the killing signs.

      Gemini days: Gemini (the arms) rules Sept. 11-12. This is the best sign for planting beans. Wherever you are, remember they can’t stand frost or freezing weather.

     Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting flowers. Here’s the breakdown: Virgo (the bowels), rules Sept. 18-19 and Libra (the reins) is up Sept. 20-21. There are four flowering days in September, the minimum.

      Ember Days: Sept. 20, 22-23. No planting, thus knocking out one of our flowering days.

      First day of Autumn:  Sept. 22, 4:02 p.m. – on one of the Ember Days.

September tips

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

      >Pouring gravel: If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that when the light moon rules through Sept. 5 and then beginning after 1:30 a.m. Sept. 20 through Oct 4. 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.

      >Making changes: There is only one perfect day this month for making changes and that is Sept. 6 when the moon is in the dark phase and sign is in Pisces (the feet).

      If you are looking for the perfect day – and notice I say day - to wean animals or children, stop smoking, start a diet or exercise program, schedule elective surgery – anything that requires a change – then Sept. 6 is it!

      Your other options then become going with half of the formula: either signs going out of the body beyond anything that functions or when the dark moon is in force.

      Details about both are above.

       

August Overview

If you are planting your garden following the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac, here’s the information you need for the month of August to make your good garden even better.

This is written for USDA Planting Zone 6b and all times are Eastern Daylight. Just adjust for wherever you are, remembering in the northern states the focus is toward fall as second and third plantings in the summer gardens are about complete.

Be sure to check “days to maturity” for whatever it is you are planting.

      “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, preferably when fertile signs are in force.

The moon

      August begins and ends with the moon in the light phase. The light moon rules until the full moon appears at 2:11 p.m. on Aug. 7 and then returns at 2:30 p.m. on Aug.21, continuing until full moon on Sept. 6 at 3:03 a.m.

      The dark moon rules all of Aug. 8 through a little more than half of Aug. 21.

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.

      August begins with our first series of so-so signs – and ends with the second. So, that’s where we will begin and knock out 11 August days – more than a third of the month!

     So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so. They appear in this order (as they always do): Sagittarius (the thighs), Aug. 1-2, 28-30; Capricorn (the knees), Aug. 3-5 and 31-Sept. 1; Aquarius (the legs), Aug. 6-7.

      As I mentioned above, there are 11 days this month ruled by the so-so signs. All but a piece of Aug. 7 find the light moon in force.

        Fertile days: These are the most fertile signs in the zodiac. Here’s the breakdown as they occur this month and the phase of the moon in which they are in force.

          Pisces (the feet), Aug. 8-10, dark moon; Taurus (the neck), Aug. 13-14, dark moon; Cancer (the breast) Aug. 17-18, dark phase; and Scorpio (the secrets), Aug. 26-27, light moon ruling.

          There are nine days this month ruled by the most fertile signs: Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus and Cancer. All are when the dark moon is in force except the two Scorpio days toward the end of the month that are in the light moon.

     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: Aries (the head), Aug. 11-12; and Leo (the heart), Aug. 19-20. There are four days ruled by the killing signs, the blessed minimum!

      Gemini days: Gemini (the arms) rules Aug. 15-16. This is the best sign for planting beans - we Old Timers say they grow “long as your arm.”

      But like last couple of months, the dark moon is firmly in force on both days and that’s unfortunate since we know beans grow above the ground. If you plant any beans, at least half the equation will be right!

     Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting flowers. Here’s the breakdown:

      Virgo (the bowels), rules Aug. 21-22 and Libra (the reins) is up Aug. 23-25. There are five flowering days this month.

August tips

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

      >Pouring gravel: If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that when the light moon rules through Aug. 6 and then beginning in the late afternoon Aug. 21 through Sept. 5. 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.

      >Making changes: The number of perfect days for making changes continues to slide this month with only three full days, Aug. 8-10, that are perfect. The moon will be in the dark phase then and the sign in Pisces (the feet).

      If you are looking for perfect days to wean animals or children, stop smoking, start a diet or exercise program, schedule elective surgery – anything that requires a change – then these three days, Aug. 8-10, are your days!

       

July Overview

Planting by phase and signs

First, my apologies for this being two days late. Time just got away from me.

If you are planting in your summer garden here’s information on the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac for the rest of the month of July – which is most of it - to make your good garden even better.

This is written for USDA Planting Zone 6B and all times are Eastern Daylight. Simply adjust for your location and check your planting zone.

      “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, preferably when fertile signs are in force.

The moon

      July began and ends with the moon in the light phase. The light moon rules until the full moon appears at 12:07 a.m. on July 9 and then returns at 5:46 a.m. on July 23, continuing until full moon on Aug. 7 at 2:11 p.m.

      The dark moon rules for all but the first seven minutes of July 9 and until early in the morning on July 23 (5:46 a.m.).

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.

        Fertile days: These are the most fertile signs in the zodiac. Here’s the breakdown as they occur this month and the phase of the moon in which they are in force.

          Scorpio (the secrets), July 2-4, 29-31 – all with the light moon ruling; Pisces (the feet), July 12-13, dark moon; Taurus (the neck), 17-18, dark moon; and Cancer (the breast) July 21-22, dark phase.

          There are 12 days this month ruled by the most fertile signs: Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus and Cancer. Fully half of them are Scorpio days with the light moon in force and the other six find the dark moon ruling.

     So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so. They appear in this order (as they always do): Sagittarius (the thighs), July 5-6; Capricorn (the knees), July 7-9; Aquarius (the legs), July 10-11. This month we have seven days ruled by the so-so signs.

      Three of them are when the dark moon is in force (July 9-11) and that makes them perfect for making changes, too. More about that below.

     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: Aries (the head), July 14-16; and Leo (the heart), July 23-24. There are five days ruled by the killing signs.

      Gemini days: Gemini (the arms) rules July 19-20. This is the best sign for planting beans - we Old Timers say they grow “long as your arm.”

      But like last month, the dark moon is firmly in force on both days and that’s unfortunate since we know beans grow above the ground so if you plant any beans at least half the equation will be right!

     Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting flowers. Here’s the breakdown:

      July opened with the flowering sign Libra (the reins) in force on the first. Libra is also up for July 27-28. Virgo (the bowels), the other flowering sign, rules July 25-26. There are four remaining flowering days this month, down from eight last month.

July tips

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

      >Pouring gravel: If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that when the light moon rules through July 8 and then beginning July 23 until 2:11 p.m. on Aug. 7. 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.

      >Making changes: The number of perfect days for making changes is dwindling now after lots of them the past few months.  The number will continue to decline even more in the months ahead. The best time for making changes is when the moon in the dark phase and the signs are going out of the body beyond anything that functions.

      Those days are most of July 9-13. They encompass Capricorn (knees), one day; Aquarius (legs), two days; and two Pisces (feet) days on July 12-13. The moon moves to the dark phase early on July 9 and the signs are going out of the body beyond anything that functions.

      If you are looking for perfect days to wean animals or children, stop smoking, start a diet or exercise program, schedule elective surgery – anything that requires a change – then these five days, July 9-13, are your days!

 

July Overview

Planting by phase and signs

First, my apologies for this being two days late. Time just got away from me.

If you are planting in your summer garden here’s information on the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac for the rest of the month of July – which is most of it - to make your good garden even better.

This is written for USDA Planting Zone 6B and all times are Eastern Daylight. Simply adjust for your location and check your planting zone.

      “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, preferably when fertile signs are in force.

The moon

      July began and ends with the moon in the light phase. The light moon rules until the full moon appears at 12:07 a.m. on July 9 and then returns at 5:46 a.m. on July 23, continuing until full moon on Aug. 7 at 2:11 p.m.

      The dark moon rules for all but the first seven minutes of July 9 and until early in the morning on July 23 (5:46 a.m.).

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.

        Fertile days: These are the most fertile signs in the zodiac. Here’s the breakdown as they occur this month and the phase of the moon in which they are in force.

          Scorpio (the secrets), July 2-4, 29-31 – all with the light moon ruling; Pisces (the feet), July 12-13, dark moon; Taurus (the neck), 17-18, dark moon; and Cancer (the breast) July 21-22, dark phase.

          There are 12 days this month ruled by the most fertile signs: Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus and Cancer. Fully half of them are Scorpio days with the light moon in force and the other six find the dark moon ruling.

     So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so. They appear in this order (as they always do): Sagittarius (the thighs), July 5-6; Capricorn (the knees), July 7-9; Aquarius (the legs), July 10-11. This month we have seven days ruled by the so-so signs.

      Three of them are when the dark moon is in force (July 9-11) and that makes them perfect for making changes, too. More about that below.

     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: Aries (the head), July 14-16; and Leo (the heart), July 23-24. There are five days ruled by the killing signs.

      Gemini days: Gemini (the arms) rules July 19-20. This is the best sign for planting beans - we Old Timers say they grow “long as your arm.”

      But like last month, the dark moon is firmly in force on both days and that’s unfortunate since we know beans grow above the ground so if you plant any beans at least half the equation will be right!

     Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting flowers. Here’s the breakdown:

      July opened with the flowering sign Libra (the reins) in force on the first. Libra is also up for July 27-28. Virgo (the bowels), the other flowering sign, rules July 25-26. There are four remaining flowering days this month, down from eight last month.

July tips

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

      >Pouring gravel: If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that when the light moon rules through July 8 and then beginning July 23 until 2:11 p.m. on Aug. 7. 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.

      >Making changes: The number of perfect days for making changes is dwindling now after lots of them the past few months.  The number will continue to decline even more in the months ahead. The best time for making changes is when the moon in the dark phase and the signs are going out of the body beyond anything that functions.

      Those days are most of July 9-13. They encompass Capricorn (knees), one day; Aquarius (legs), two days; and two Pisces (feet) days on July 12-13. The moon moves to the dark phase early on July 9 and the signs are going out of the body beyond anything that functions.

      If you are looking for perfect days to wean animals or children, stop smoking, start a diet or exercise program, schedule elective surgery – anything that requires a change – then these five days, July 9-13, are your days!

 

June Planting by Moon Phases, Zodiac Signs

JUNE OVERVIEW

For those of you planting your garden by the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac – and perhaps doing a few other things according to the phases and signs like pouring gravel or making changes – here’s the information for June, but first …

Ember Days: We have a round of Ember Days coming when no planting should occur. Specifically, they are June 7, 9, 10. Fortunately, all are when the so-so signs are in force. No planting, however, no matter the phase or sign.

     All times are EDT and I’m in USDA Planting Zone 6B. Adjust for your time and planting zones.

      “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, preferably when fertile signs are in force.

The moon

      June begins and ends with the moon in the light phase. The light moon rules until the full moon appears at 9:10 a.m. on June 9 and then returns at 10:31 p.m. on June 23, continuing until full moon on July 9 at 12:07 a.m.

      The dark moon rules for all but the first 9.5 hours of June 9 (9:10 a.m.) and until late in the evening on June 23 (10:31 p.m.).

     

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.

The June begins – and ends – with the flowering signs (Virgo and Libra) in force and the moon in the light phase, making for plenty of flowering signs this month. So, let’s begin with the flowering signs.

     Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting those glorious flowers that will bloom for us all summer. Here’s the breakdown:

      Virgo (the bowels) rules June 1, 27-29; and Libra (the reins) is in force June 2-4 and June 30-July 1, for a total of eight flowering days this month, nine if you count July 1! It’s been a while since we’ve seen that many flowering days in one planting month!

        Fertile days: These are the most fertile signs in the zodiac. Here’s the breakdown as they occur this month and the phase of the moon in which they are in force. Fortunately, none are impacted by the Ember Days.

          Scorpio (the secrets), June 5-6, light moon; Pisces (the feet), June 15-16, dark moon; Taurus (the neck), 19-20, dark moon; and Cancer (the breast) June 23-24, dark moon most of the 23^rd and light on the 24^th.

          There are eight days this month ruled by the four most fertile signs – Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus and Cancer. This is the minimum number of days with the two Scorpio days and one Cancer day with the light moon ruling and the other five under the influence of the dark moon.

     So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so. They appear in this order (as they always do): Sagittarius (the thighs), June 7-9; Capricorn (the knees), June 10-11; and Aquarius (the legs), June 12-14. This month we have eight days ruled by the so-so signs.

      Many of them are when the dark moon is in force and that makes them perfect for making changes, too.

      More about that below.

     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: Aries (the head), June 17-18; and Leo (the heart), June 25-26.

      We have only four days this month that are ruled by the killing signs Aries and Leo. This is the minimum, just like the eight fertile days are the minimum since each sign of the zodiac rules at least two days/month.

      All that’s left are the Gemini days: Gemini (the arms) rules June 21-22. This is the best sign for planting beans - we Old Timers say they grow “long as your arm.”

      The dark moon is still in force on both days and that’s unfortunate since we know beans grow above the ground so if you plant any beans at least half the equation will be right!

      And, like last month, two great days follow with the very fertile sign Cancer (June 23-24) ruling. The moon is in the dark phase for all but the last hour-and-a-half of the 23rd and then the light moon rules June 24.

June tips

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

      >Pouring gravel: If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that when the light moon rules through June 8 and then beginning June 24 through all of July 8. 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.

      >Making changes: We continue with lots of perfect days, although fewer than the last couple of months and the number will continue to dwindle in the months ahead. The best time for making changes is when the moon in the dark phase and the signs are going out of the body beyond anything that functions.

     Those days are most of June 9 through June 16, almost nine perfect days, down one from May. No need to break them down again since you have that above, they encompass Sagittarius (thighs) on June 9 through the two Pisces (feet) days on June 16. The moon is in the dark phase the entire time (all but the first nine hours of June 9) and the signs are going out of the body beyond anything that functions.

      If you are looking for perfect days to wean animals or children, stop smoking, start a diet or exercise program, schedule elective surgery – anything that requires a change – then these are your days!

      >Summer begins: As hard as it is to believe – at least for me – Summer officially begins at 12:24 a.m. on June 21. Shortly thereafter, alas, the days start getting shorter until the Winter’s Solstice on Dec. 21.

       

May Overview

Planting by moon phases and zodiac signs

Here’s May’s information on planting by the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac. All times given are EDT for USDA planting zone 6b. Simply adjust for your time and planting zones.

Remember, a “garden” can be any size from a bucket to several acres. Planting by the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac just helps your good garden grow better – no matter the size of your “good garden.”

The moon

      May begins and ends with the moon in the light phase. The light moon rules until the full moon appears at 5:42 p.m. EDT on May 10 and then returns at 3:44 p.m. on May 25, continuing until full moon on June 9 at 9:10 a.m.

      The dark moon then rules May 11 and until mid-afternoon on May 25, book-ended by light moon days to begin and end the month.

      “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, preferably when fertile signs are in force.

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.

      May begins with the fertile sign Cancer (the breast) in force and the moon in the light phase, but I will defer reviewing the fertile signs until later. Let’s start with what’s up next – the killing sign Leo – and go from there through the month.

     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), May 2-3, 29-30; and Aries (the head), May 21-22. We are cursed with six killing days in May, one of the greatest months for planting when we could do without any which, of course, is impossible!

      Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting those glorious flowers that will bloom for us all summer. And if we have too many killing days, which we don’t want, we have lots of flowering days, which is good. Here’s the breakdown:

      Virgo (the bowels) rules May 4-5 and 31; and Libra (the reins) is in force May 6-8, four a total of six flowering days this month!

        Fertile days: These are the most fertile signs in the zodiac. Here’s the breakdown as they occur this month and the phase of the moon in which they appear:

          As I mentioned above, the month begins with Cancer (the breast) in force. It also rules on May 27-28 and like last month, all with the light moon in force; Scorpio (the secrets), May 9-10, the 9^th with the light moon in force and the moon moving to the dark phase at 5:42 on the 10^th;  Pisces (the feet), May 18-20, dark moon; and Taurus (the neck), 23-24, both with the dark moon ruling.

          There are 10 days this month ruled by the four most fertile signs – Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus and Cancer – five in the light moon (above-ground producers) and five when the dark moon rules (below-ground producers). You can’t ask for a better distribution than that!

          Ideally, if the weather is cooperative and the soil is dry, these would be the days on which to plant your entire summer garden with possible exception of beans on the Gemini days.

     Gemini days: Gemini (the arms) rules May 25-26. This is the best sign for planting beans - we Old Timers say they grow “long as your arm.” The moon moves to the light phase in mid-afternoon on the 25^th and then, of course, is there all day on the 26^th, so effectively 1.5 days.

      And if you don’t get them in the ground then, two great days follow with the very fertile sign Cancer ruling and the moon firmly in the light phase. The best day for planting beans is the 26, next is 27-28.

     So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so. They appear in this order (as they always do): Sagittarius (the thighs), May 11-13; Capricorn (the knees), May 14-15; and Aquarius (the legs), May 16-17. Again, this month we have seven days ruled by the so-so signs. All of them are when the dark moon is in force and that makes them perfect for making changes, too.

      More about that below.

May tips

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

      >Pouring gravel: If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that when the light moon rules through most of May 10 and then beginning May 26 through all of June 8. 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.

      >Making changes: We continue with lots of perfect days for making changes with the moon in the dark phase and the signs going out of the body beyond anything that functions.

     Those days are May 11-20, 10 perfect days, up one from April. No need to break them down again since you have that above, they encompass Sagittarius (thighs) on May 11 through the two Pisces (feet) days on May 19-20. The moon is in the dark phase the entire time and the signs are going out of the body beyond anything that functions.

      If you are looking for perfect days to wean animals or children, stop smoking, start a diet or exercise program, schedule elective surgery – anything that requires a change – then these are your days!

       

'Planting with Grandpa'

PHIL’S NOTE: This material was published in the Frankfort, KY. State Journal on Sunday, April 16. First is a column about my first garden with my grandfather and then the information about the moon phases and zodiac signs for this week. 

My first garden with Grandpa

Last week I wrote about the benefits of gardening for body, mind and soul. This week I want to follow up on that by recollecting my first gardening experience with my grandfather. I’ve written about it in this space before, but at this time of year I wax nostalgic for that time so long ago.

My maternal grandparents, the late Walker R. and Annie Addison, lived at the end of Price Avenue in north Lexington, KY., in the 1950s and ‘60s – maybe longer, but that’s all I can remember!

 Next door was a company that made caskets crafted by Tubby, a delightful old carpenter. Across the street was a feed mill.

My family lived close and I visited my grandparents most every day from the time Mom would let me walk over by myself until I was in college.

That was a blessing I wish all children could have growing up.

One year when I guess I was 10 or so – a watershed time for me when I began a lawn-mowing business that lasted beyond college – I talked Grandpa into raising a garden. He was a mechanic by trade but had grown up on a farm so he knew something about gardening.

At that point, all I had was an interest.

Planning began in the late winter. The garden would be behind the garage with the two-plus story casket company looming on one side. We staked it off, probably 20 by 20 feet or so.

I would soon come to think that was a half-acre!

I’m sure Grandpa tired of hearing about the garden and was delighted when the days began to grow longer and warmer and we could put the “spading fork to the turf,” so to speak.

As we stood at the edge of what would become the garden one sunny March afternoon, I asked Grandpa how we were going to break up the sod before planting.

He was leaning on a spading fork, which he then pushed into the ground with his booted foot and turned over the sod. Then he did another “turn” or two – before handing the fork to me.

“There you are, Phil,” he said, a twinkle in his blue eyes. “Have at it.”

I was in shock.

“Isn’t there some easier way, Grandpa?” I asked, almost begging. “Some machine or something?” If there were roto-tillers then, and I imagine they were, they likely weighed a metric ton and he wasn’t about to spring for that to plow a 20x20-foot garden.

I started, my little 10-year-old-sneaker-clad foot trying to push the spading fork into the ground. Beyond that, I have no recollection other than somehow, we got the plot ready.

The first thing we planted were radish seeds since it was cool. I planted some of those in my garden a couple of weeks ago – and thought of Grandpa and that first garden.

“Why did you plant radishes, Dad?” Clark asked. “I don’t ever remember us eating radishes.” I just told him because I had the space and wanted to – and to remember Grandpa.

In that first garden, as those radish tops grew, I couldn’t resist the urge to peek and kept pulling them up to see how the radishes were developing.

“You’ve got to quit doing that, Phil,” Grandpa said. “We’ll never have any to eat.”

Spring morphed into summer and we planted everything imaginable, but for the life of me I can’t remember much of the harvest. That was 60 years ago after all. And it was about the planting, the tending, the working with Grandpa - not the yield.

The experience set me on a lifelong love of planting and gardening – and here we are today, some six decades later, talking about our 2017 gardens!

How time flies.

Moon in dark phase all week; signs so-so until weekend

Here’s a look at the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac for the next week and a few days beyond.

The moon is in the dark phase now and will continue to rule until the new moon returns at 8:16 a.m. EDT on April 26.

During this time, be planting only those veggies that produce beneath the ground if you are following only the moon phases. Ideally, couple the right moon phase with a fertile sign for optimum results.

A look at the signs reveals that Wednesday and Thursday are ruled by the final of the so-so signs, Aquarius (the legs).

The very fertile sign Pisces (the feet) comes to rule on Friday and Saturday and that will be for below-ground producers with the moon still in the dark phase.

While the so-so series isn’t the greatest for planting, it is great for making changes like weaning small animals or children, stopping smoking, starting a diet or exercise program, scheduling elective surgery – anything that calls for a change.

The signs are going out of the body past anything that functions – knees through feet - with the moon in the dark phase. When the two Pisces (feet) day are added, that makes four days prime for making changes remaining!

If you have a change to make, through April 22 is an ideal time.

Now back to the signs for a moment. If you are making a change or if you are planting, be underway with the change or have the planting done by Sunday when the sign moves to Aries (the head), one of the two killing signs. It remains in Aries on April 24, too.

Use these days for tilling, cultivating, weeding – anything but planting.

Very fertile planting then returns on April 25-26 when the sign moves to Taurus (the neck), one of the most fertile signs. The moon will be in the dark phase on the 25^th, moving to the light phase on the 26^th.

A great series of planting days begins April 25 through May 1, all for above-ground producers except April 25. More about that next week, just get ready to plant.

Gardening: Good for mind, body, soul

PHIL’S NOTE: This column and information appeared in the Frankfort, KY State Journal on Sunday, April 9. All planting times are EDT for USDA Planting Zone 6b. Adjust for your zones.

Moon moves to dark phase;

great days midweek

          Here’s this week’s information about the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac.

          The moon moves from the light to the dark phase at 2:08 a.m. Tuesday with the arrival of the full moon, which will remain in force until the next new, or light, moon at 8:16 a.m. on April 26.

Monday be planting only those veggies that produce above the ground, if you are following just the moon’s phases. Then beginning at about 3 a.m. Tuesday, only those that produce beneath the ground.

Check the list elsewhere here for those veggies that can safely be planted now since the danger of frost and/or freezing weather continues for a few more weeks.

          The signs: the flowering sign Libra (the reins or forearms) rules today. This is a bloom day and flowers planted today 

should bloom and do so abundantly.

On Tuesday, the very fertile sign Scorpio (the secrets) comes to rule and hangs around for Wednesday and Thursday. With the moon moving to the dark phase in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, these are great days for planting any below-ground producers from the early-garden list.

 Our monthly series of so-so signs begins Friday and continues through April 20. While not the greatest for planting, they are OK. What they are great for is making changes like stopping smoking, starting a diet or exercise program, weaning small animals or children, scheduling elective surgery – anything that requires a change.

They are Sagittarius/legs through Aquarius/legs. When you add the fertile sign Pisces (the feet) on April 21-22, that’s a nine-day stretch for making changes, plus the Pisces days are great for planting below-ground producers.

Gardening benefits mind,

body and soul

It’s April and it’s time to get out, get your hands in the good earth and plant something!

No matter if your garden is a half-acre of produce you sell at the Farmer’s Market or if it’s a couple of tomato plants in a barrel by the porch, the benefits of gardening are well documented beyond providing you fresh produce for your table – there are additional benefits to mind, body and soul.

As you might imagine, I believe all planting – no matter how much or little - is enhanced by doing it according to the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac. I will continue to provide you that information each week throughout the gardening season right here on the pages of Your Hometown Newspaper and all the electronic platforms listed below, including state-journal. com. It involves nothing more than planting on the best days and coupling that with good gardening techniques like watering, cultivating and fertilizing as necessary.

Many of gardening’s benefits can’t be measured like you can count the number of tomatoes on a vine or pounds of green beans per row; these are the “intangibles.”

>Back to the earth: The scriptures tell us we were formed from the earth and to the earth we will return when our lives are over. That “attraction” to the source provides us with a natural desire, I believe, to plant something and watch it grow. Have you noticed – and maybe you are one of them - even people who claim they don’t garden put out a couple of tomato plants!

>A sense of satisfaction: There is something about watching a tomato develop on the vine, growing from a tiny blossom, not unlike a baby grows from helplessness to adulthood.

There’s satisfaction in picking a “mess of beans” or pulling an onion or radish from the ground, rinsing the dirt from it and taking a bite. And then there are turnips right from the garden in the fall - cold and crisp, just like the day itself. Oh my!

You just can’t get that from something you pick out of a bin at the store, no matter if it is “locally grown and garden fresh” simply because you didn’t grow it in your garden. And as you consume your veggie, you think, “I grew that! I planted it, cultivated it, protected it.” To me that’s celebrating a minor miracle.

>Sharing: During the peak of the gardening season, I love giving – and receiving – a sack with a few tomatoes, maybe some beans – or whatever the surplus may be. As tough as we might like to think we are, offering something you’ve grown is sharing your heart. And accepting it is embracing a tiny bit of love and caring from the giver.

My mentor in things of gardening by the moon and signs once told me you’re not supposed to say “thank you” when someone gives you something from the garden because it’s from the heart.

I said, “But Mr. Van Meter, I was always taught to thank people for things others give me.” His name was Buford Van Meter, a member of my first church in Frankfort when I was but a mere lad from the big city of Lexington and, by his own description, a “stingy old Dutchman.”

He said, “That’s right, Preacher, for most things – but not gifts from the garden because they are from the heart.”

Exercise yours this summer – plant a garden!

Your spring garden

Here’s what can be planted now as found in Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky, published by the University of Kentucky Extension Service and the UK College of Agriculture.

Now: spinach, radishes, peas, snow peas, onion sets, collards, radishes, rhubarb crowns, rutabaga, turnips, asparagus, beets, Irish potatoes, carrots, chard, kale, kohlrabi, onion seeds, parsley, parsnips, cabbage, leaf lettuce, lettuce head plants, Bibb lettuce plants, onion plants, broccoli plants, Brussels sprouts plants, cauliflower plants, celery

Caution: Don’t plant if the ground is wet, no matter the phase or sign.

Frost: the last statistical date for frost isn’t until sometime between Derby Day (the first Saturday in May, the 6th) and Mother’s Day (the second Sunday in May, which is the 14th). I opt for the later date, just to be safe.