Full moon gardening

The Moon's Phases
The Moon's phases guided many a farmer and gardener in the past, and still do today:

• Moonrise occurring in the evening brings fair weather, says one proverb, harking back to the belief that the waning Moon (full and last quarter, which rise in the evening) is dry.
• The New Moon and first quarter, or waxing phases, are considered fertile and wet.
• The new and first-quarter phases, known as the light of the Moon, are considered good for planting above-ground crops, putting down sod, grafting trees, and transplanting.
• From full Moon through the last quarter, or the dark of the Moon, is the best time for killing weeds, thinning, pruning, mowing, cutting timber, and planting below-ground crops.
• The time just before the full Moon is considered particularly wet, and is best for planting during drought conditions.

One experiment I have devised is to measure the soil water tension during phases of the moon. This is one process that might not be documented. A simple built tensiometer can log onto an Arduino thru multiple cycles.

I am always interested in gravity's effect on soil water gravity in any scenario, i.e. potted, earthbound, some hydro even....especially due to the moon's gravitational pull on Earth. Being indoors doesn't block the moon off, possibly.......

They use moonlight for reef growing, why not other things?

you guys ever done any farmers almanac reading? it has a lot of good info. like ur mentioning.

My grandpa got me into this tilling the garden years ago. he said if I till in the light of the full moon I can eliminate quack grass and other weeds the first try and it works. sorry I was going to post more on the subject but I was interrupted the other day and forgot to bookmark. Ill dig up some more later.

Abiqua said:

One experiment I have devised is to measure the soil water tension during phases of the moon. This is one process that might not be documented. A simple built tensiometer can log onto an Arduino thru multiple cycles.

I am always interested in gravity's effect on soil water gravity in any scenario, i.e. potted, earthbound, some hydro even....especially due to the moon's gravitational pull on Earth. Being indoors doesn't block the moon off, possibly.......

They use moonlight for reef growing, why not other things?

Click to expand...

Im sure the moon still effects indoor crops as long as they are on this rock.international space station could be a different story. I tried planting on a supermoon once but didnt see a difference. according to what ive been reading its the wrong time to plant above ground leafy crops or flowers.

Silky Shagsalot said:

you guys ever done any farmers almanac reading? it has a lot of good info. like ur mentioning.

Click to expand...

They are pretty accurate. I haven't had one in years maybe ill subscribe to it I don't know I've been seeing all kinds of info on the net for free.

Plant in the signs of SCORPIO, PISCES, TAURUS or CANCER: all fruitful signs. Astrologers say it is best to plant all things which yield above ground in the increase of the Moon and things which yield below ground when the Moon is decreasing.During the First Quarter of the Moon plant the following: asparagus, broccoli, brussels sprouts, barley, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumbers, corn, cress, endive, kohl rabi, lettuce, leeks, oats, onions, parsley and spinach; also seeds of flowering plants.During the Second Quarter of the Moon plant beans, egg plant, muskmelon, peas, pepper, pumpkin, squash, tomatoes and watermelon.(I did not fallow this guide and my watermelon sucks right now).During the Third Quarter of the Moon plant the following: artichoke, beets, carrots, chickory, parsnips, potatoes, radish, rutabaga, turnip, and all bulbous flowering plants.During the Fourth (last) Quarter of the Moon turn the sod, pull weeds and destroy noxious growths, especially when the Moon is in the barren signs GEMINI, LEO, and VIRGO.Pick apples and pears during the old Moon and the bruised spots will dry up. If picked in the new Moon the spots will rot.Harvest all crops when the Moon is growing old; they keep better and longer.Dig root crops for seed during the Third Quarter of the Moon. They will keep longer and are usually dryer and better.Grain intended for future use or seed should be harvested at the increase of the Moon.Fruit and vegetables gathered just before Full Moon in the Second Quarter will usually stand shipment very much better than others.

This was helpful http://farmhandscompanion.com/country_ways_files/90f98e6fa5ea8ce5bdd2387f254b5a59-7.html