The Best Moon Phases for Gardening
– By Erin Duffy Osswald –
Gardening by the moon phases is an ancient practice that aligns your planting and gardening tasks with the natural lunar cycle. Each moon phase affects plant growth in unique ways, and knowing the best moon phase to plant in can lead to healthier plants and a more abundant harvest.
Knowing the right time to plant also depends on what you are planting! Different moon phases are believed to influence various aspects of plant growth such as seed germination, root development, and leaf growth.
You can begin to understand and align your planting and gardening chores with nature’s rhythms by dividing the lunar cycle into four moon-phase periods—New Moon to First Quarter, First Quarter to Full Moon, Full Moon to Last Quarter, and Last Quarter to New Moon— and then focusing on how each period impacts your garden.
New Moon to First Quarter (Waxing Crescent)
This period begins with the new moon and ends at the first quarter. During this time, the moon’s gravitational pull is strong, drawing water upward in the soil.
- Best time for: Above-ground crops, such as leafy greens and vegetables.
- Chores to focus on: Sow seeds, transplant seedlings.
First Quarter to Full Moon (Waxing Gibbous)
As the moon moves toward fullness, its light increases, stimulating vigorous above-ground growth.
- Best time for: Fruiting annuals such as tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and squash.
- Chores to focus on: Plant seeds or transplant fruiting crops.
Full Moon to Last Quarter (Waning Gibbous)
The full moon marks a shift in energy from above-ground growth to root development, making this period perfect for root crops.
- Best time for: Root vegetables like carrots, beets, and potatoes, and fruiting perennials.
- Chores to focus on: Planting root crops. Harvesting fruits and vegetables.
Last Quarter to New Moon (Waning Crescent)
As the moon approaches its darkest phase, it is an ideal time for tasks that don’t involve planting.
- Best time for: Soil improvement and maintenance tasks.
- Chores to focus on: Weeding, composting and pruning.
Final Thoughts
Moon-phase gardening encourages you to work in harmony with natural cycles. Many experienced gardeners swear by the effectiveness of lunar planting. It may seem complicated at first, but by careful planning and tracking you will see the benefits.
To make the process easier, I have created an Astrological Garden Planner & Handbook. Complete with monthly moon-phase planting calendars and weekly calendar planning pages, as well as pages for garden design, tracking planting information and recording harvest yields. This comprehensive handbook is designed to take you through each step of the astrological and moon-phase gardening process, with everything you need at your fingertips to plan, track, and record your moon-phase gardening this year!
By understanding the best chores for each moon phase, you can help your garden thrive while fostering a deeper connection with nature. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, give lunar gardening a try—you might just see your garden thrive like never before!