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.