By Erin Duffy Osswald
This is the first video in a four-part series on moon-phase gardening, an ancient practice that aligns planting and other gardening activities with the cycles of the moon. In this series, I teach you how to get started in a precise, and methodical way.
To make the process easier to understand, I divide the lunar cycle into four distinct 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 I explore how each impacts your garden.
This lesson is about the first quarter moon phase period, spanning from the new moon to the first quarter moon.
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.