Moon gardeners firmly believe that the power of the moon also affects plant growth. They choose days when the earth's satellite is favorable for cultivating, weeding or for certain care measures. To do this, they use lunar calendars geared towards their green hobby. In this article we will tell you what it is all about and how you use a lunar calendar.

The moon influences humans, animals and plants

Table of Contents

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  1. What is a lunar calendar for the garden? General explanation lunar calendar
  2. moon phases
  3. moon gardening
  4. meaning symbols
  5. good days and bad days
  6. The correct sowing date
  7. watering and fertilizing
  8. plant care
  9. pest control
  10. harvest and store
  11. frequently asked Questions

    12. What is a lunar calendar for the garden? General explanation lunar calendar

    Lunar calendars are based on the experience of gardeners and farmers that is centuries old but still valid today. You will find in these recommendations for the best time to get any gardening work done. Depending on the lunar calendar used, these are shown in descriptive symbols, often supplemented by a brief explanation.

    The different phases of the moon

    The moon is not always in the same position in the sky. In the course of a sidereal lunar cycle, on which almost all lunar calendars are based, it rises from the lowest point in the constellation of Sagittarius to the turning point in Gemini and back down to the zodiac sign of Sagittarius.

    Increasing Moon

    A waxing moon attracts the sap of plants

    The sickle is gradually getting fuller, our satellite is moving away from the sun on its orbit. The earth exhales, the sap is attracted by the moon and flows into the upper parts of the plant. Now is the best time to take care of plants that bear fruit.

    full moon

    The sun and moon take the earth in their midst. It is the alternation of waxing and waning, momentum is balanced and the power of the moon is at its peak. If you cut trees now, they could suffer greatly from the injury. On the other hand, it is the ideal time to fertilize, as the plants absorb the nutrients particularly well.

    waning moon

    The moonlight is getting weaker, the earth breathes in. The plants draw the sap back into their underground storage organs. On these days you should harvest, store and preserve. Since a large part of the juices are in the roots, hedges and trees recover quickly from pruning.

    new moon

    The moon is between the earth and the sun and does not reflect light. Nature gathers its strength for a new beginning and you should give it a break. At this point, only work that serves to regenerate the plants, such as pest control, makes sense.

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    How can the moon help me with gardening?

    For many people, gardening naturally and ecologically means paying attention to the rhythm of the moon. Our satellite influences numerous processes on earth. Due to its gravitational pull, the sea moves, which can be seen in the tides. At low tide, the water masses move towards the open sea due to the attraction, and at high tide they move back to the coasts.

    Without the moon, not only the climate would be different on earth. It could even be that we humans don't even exist. (Unknown)

    The earth's surface also rises and falls measurably in the rhythm of our increasing and decreasing cosmic neighbor. Foresters report that tree trunks are thicker or thinner depending on the cycle. All of this indicates that the moon exerts influence on large and small bodies of water.

    What do the symbols of the lunar calendar mean?

    The different symbols that you will find in a lunar calendar for gardeners represent the positive forces that affect the plants on the respective day. As an example, we would like to explain five characters in more detail below:

    (Graphic artist please insert the symbols)

    symbol designation element zodiac signs growths
    symbol foliage plants water Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces Lettuce, spinach, chard, kohlrabi, rose, white and red cabbage, leeks, fennel, parsley
    symbol root plants Earth Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn Carrots, Celery, Beets, Radishes, Garlic, Potatoes
    symbol fruit plants Fire Aries, Leo, Sagittarius Beans, peas, zucchini, squash, corn, berries, fruit, nuts
    symbol flowering plants air Aquarius, Gemini, Libra Perennials, roses, bulbs, summer flowers, flowering shrubs

    What are good and bad days?

    Plants growing underground should be sown during the waning moon

    We would like to explain this to you using the sowing dates. Depending on the geographical location and the current weather conditions, many gardeners start sowing in March in the cold frame or outdoors.

    • *Good days* to sow or plant crops that grow under the earth are those in the waning moon. You should choose an earth day for root vegetables.
    • *auspicious days* to grow or sow leafy greens such as salads are waxing moon water days.

    However, there are exceptions to this: for example, while you should plant lettuce on a water day, this should be done during the waning moon. This lettuce likes to shoot when the moon is waxing and then no longer forms dense heads. This also applies to the various types of cabbage and asparagus.

    But even if you garden in harmony with the moon, it is important to be aware of current weather conditions. A lunar day chosen for sowing when it is much too cold or too wet will not produce a good result. The lunar calendar should not be seen as a rigid set of rules, but rather serves as an orientation as to when which work makes sense.

    Which sowing dates in spring does the moon dictate?

    In the table below we have collected the most common flowering and vegetable plants and their best sowing and planting times for you:

    plant plant type element moon phase
    aubergine fruit Fire increasingly
    Berry fruit Fire increasingly
    leaf herbs leaf water increasingly
    flowering perennials blossom air increasingly
    cauliflower leaf water increasingly
    beans fruit Fire increasingly
    broccoli blossom air increasingly
    peas fruit Fire increasingly
    strawberries fruit Fire increasingly
    cucumbers fruit Fire increasingly
    carrots root Earth decreasing
    potatoes root Earth decreasing
    garlic root Earth decreasing
    Cabbage (white cabbage, red cabbage, kohlrabi) leaf water decreasing
    lettuce leaf water decreasing
    pumpkin fruit Earth increasingly
    leek root Earth decreasing
    paprika fruit Fire increasingly
    radish root Earth decreasing
    radish root decreasing Earth
    Beetroot root Earth decreasing
    spinach leaf water increasingly
    tomatoes fruit increasingly Fire
    Lettuce (exception: lettuce) leaf water increasingly
    onions root Earth decreasing

    digression

    Working with the lunar calendar

    On April 21, 2022, the waning moon will be in Taurus. It's a fruit day and you should pay special attention to crops such as berries, fruit trees, tomatoes and courgettes. It's the ideal time to plant or pre-plant these plants. If you also take care of tree and shrub fruit intensively today, you can count on a richer harvest.

    watering and fertilizing

    Thorough watering is best when the moon is in a water sign

    Many plants, both in the garden and in the house, are watered too much rather than too little and suffer from this care error. If they are permanently too wet, there is a risk of root rot. The storage organs can no longer fulfill their task and the plant dries up despite the good water supply.

    Water deeply or dip houseplants preferably when the moon is in

    • cancer,
    • Scorpio,
    • fish

    stands, i.e. in a watermark.

    The plants absorb moisture better on these days. Even in warm periods in summer, they often get by with these generous waterings until the next watering day, which effectively prevents overwatering.

    tips

    Do not water plants on an air day (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) as watering on these days can result in heavy pest infestations.

    fertilizer doses

    In a biologically oriented garden, you should only apply as many nutrients as the plants can actually absorb. Moon gardeners should preferably fertilize during the full or waning moon, since both the soil and the storage organs of the plants are at their best at this time.

    • Vegetables, fruits and grains on an Aries or Sagittarius day,
    • Flowers and ornamental plants on a water day

    supply with nutrients.

    You should avoid fertilizing when the moon is in the zodiac sign of the lion. On these days, the soil tends to dry out, which can lead to the plants being literally burned by the fertilizer applied.

    plant care

    If weeds are removed on the correct lunar days, it will grow back less quickly

    Weeds fulfill important functions even in ornamental gardens. Nevertheless, a bed overgrown with stinging nettles and ground elder does not look very nice. In addition, weeds compete with ornamental and useful plants and ensure poorer yields. Even in a natural garden, you can't do without weeding entirely.

    However, this work is not one of the most popular tasks and probably every gardener is happy if the effort is manageable. Draw on the power of the moon by choosing a Capricorn day when the moon is waning or an Aquarius day when the moon is waxing for weed removal.

    digression

    Clear areas of weeds sustainably

    Areas that are overgrown by weeds should be worked on for the first time when the moon is waxing in Leo. This stimulates the weeds to grow and literally shoot out of the ground. Weed a second time during the waning moon in Capricorn and thoroughly remove all unwanted growth and their roots. Due to the power of the earth's satellite, weeds hardly ever grow back.

    fight pests

    Sucking harmful insects that spread in large numbers can damage plants so badly that they even die. If you sow and plant at the times specified in the lunar calendar and pay attention to the recommended plant neighbors and crop rotation, pest infestation is effectively prevented.

    If aphids or snails populate your garden due to the weather conditions, you can tackle them with biological measures. The right time is always in the waning moon:

    • Pests that live above ground, declare war on a Cancer, Gemini or Sagittarius day.
    • For root and soil pests, take action on a Taurus, Virgo, or Capricorn day.
    • Fight snails on Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces days.

    Harvest, preserve and store

    Harvesting is particularly advisable when the moon is waxing

    The time of the rising moon, preferably on an Aries day, is particularly favorable for all yield and conservation work.

    It's not always possible to do this on the best days. If you only have the option of harvesting on a fish day, you should use everything up quickly or preserve it immediately, because the products then tend to rot.

    Avoid preserving on a Cancer or Virgo day at all, as the energy of this zodiac sign can cause food to go moldy and spoil.

    frequently asked Questions

    Why are there different lunar calendars with different information?

    This is because some calendars are based on the sidereal and others on the synodic moon course.

    The sidereal course of the moon refers to the orbital period of the earth's satellite in the fixed starry sky and thus a period of exactly 27 days, 7 hours and 43 minutes. The synodic course of the moon corresponds to the period between two full moons. That is exactly 29 days, 12 hours and 44 minutes.

    Is there scientific evidence that the moon method works?

    So far, the power of the moon could not be consistently proven. But what speaks against trying it out yourself and documenting any successes? Many hobby gardeners and farmers are convinced of the effect of our moon on the plants and can prove that working with the lunar calendar helps them to achieve better harvests.

    If you have doubts, try it yourself and cultivate some plants in the same location in harmony with the moon and some in the usual way. So you can see for yourself if there is a difference between the methods.

    What is the "Sowing Days of Maria Thun" all about?

    These are a special lunar calendar that goes back to the knowledge of Maria Thun. She is considered a pioneer of biodynamic plant cultivation and found out about 70 years ago that plants thrive better if the constellation of the planets is taken into account during sowing, planting and care.

    Do I have to wait to water during hot periods?

    No, if the weather is thwarting your planning, you should carry out work such as watering, sowing or harvesting when the moon is not so favorable. Make sure, however, that the wet does not stand still.

    On the lunar favorable days, pour pervasively. As a result, you will probably find that you no longer have to reach for the watering can as often as a result of this measure.

    How do I know which day is ideal?

    Lunar calendars are available in different versions in well-stocked specialist book shops. Alternatively, you can use a lunar calendar on the Internet, such as the one you can find on our homepage. These use symbols and brief explanations to clearly show you which activities are suitable for the current day.

Category:

Garden design