Lunar Gardening; As Useful Today As It Was Centuries Ago

The practice of gardening by the cycles of the moon is an ancient wisdom known as lunar or moon gardening. It has been implemented for centuries and continues on through the traditions and practices of gardeners today. The trusted Farmer’s Almanac is a well-known example of a gardening guide that relies on nature’s own cycles for its predictions.

Planting, caring for and harvesting based on the cycles of the moon and nature’s own rhythms, creates healthier and more productive plants in any garden, especially that of an herbal healing garden.

Utilizing lunar gardening techniques as a viable method of producing a healthier garden will also cut down on the need and use of harmful artificial growing chemicals that many people apply to their gardens.

The moon’s gravitational pull on underground water tables affects the moisture level in the soil that is available to the plants for nourishment. Additionally, the level of moonlight available during the growing season will also affect seed germination. Learning to work with nature's rhythms will help you plant a healthy productive garden, the natural way.

Here are some resources to get you started:

• Moon Phases Garden Calendar 2012 Lunar Planting Guide The Gardening by the Moon calendar shows the best days for planting vegetables and flowers, gardening tips, lunar planting, organic gardening techniques.
• Gardening by the Phases of the Moon How the phases of the moon effect planting, gardening in the best lunar phase, moon phase gardening, lunar planting, lunar phases.

And here are just a few of our many local gardening centers that can help you with supplies and material:

376 Durham Rd, Madison, CT 06443 203-245-4851

163 Old Toll Rd, Madison, CT 06443 203-421-0260

888 Summer Hill Rd, Madison, CT 06443 203-421-3055

Do you garden by the cycles of the moon?

Information adapted from A Guide to Growing Healing and Medicinal Herbs (Atlantic Publishing, 2009).