Gardening by the Moon

[Geoff F]

About a year or two ago the Gardening Which magazine ran some trials on this old idea and, surprise surprise, they found no difference. The only thing that really mattered was soil temperture.

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by Jez

planting on a full moon is supposedly meant to be most beneficial as water rises at it's highest point in the earth, at these times?!? Makes sense!

Hi Jez,

There's not much in it but new moon tides are a little bit higher than full moon tides. Both the Sun and Moon produce two tides each day with the one on the same side of the Earth as the Sun or Moon being the higher high tide of the two. At new Moon the Sun and Moon are both on the same side of the planet and their highest high tides combine, whereas at full Moon the Sun and Moon are on opposite sides of the planet so the Sun's highest high tide combines with the Moon's lower high tide and vice-versa.

Anyway, an interesting experiment - please let us know how you get on.

Dave P.

[wildflower]

It was the only way those in ancient times knew when it was time to plant they watched for signs and thats why they used the moon and the zodiac phases.They constantly watched nature and what was happening it was the only calendar and clock they owned..

[Bub-les]

I read somewhere that if you do your gardening at night you will have a lot less weeds!
Barbara

[loripo]

I hope no one minds if I renew this thread as I came across something about this recently and on permaculture. I'd like to know if anyone has tried it and if they thought it works. I don't have a garden but grow gesneriads (African violets, chiritas etc) and I'm about to replant my Achimenes rhyzomes and wondered if I should treat those as 'seeds' and plant when seeds should be planted according to this system. They do seem to do better sopme years and it may be that I've accidentally hit on the 'proper' time

[Meta menardi]

My thoughts would be that you are re-initiating growth, so the process has some similarities to planting seeds. I am quite sceptical about this lunar link, but it has wide currency in many cultures, so give it a go, record the answers, try some control plantings and let us know.
I find the idea of dowsing quite inexplicable, but if I want to find a pipe underground, bang goes another wire coat hanger, out I go with the little rods, and then you know where to dig. It just does work, many times used and very good results ( I am struggling to think of a case when it didn't).

[Stinky Bob]

I have been growing vegetables for years and last year was the first time I have tried planting by the phases of the moon, the results were outstanding with the best year right across the full range of what I grow. Even the veg that I typically struggle with were a great success. The only problem is that last year I also redesigned the veg plot and everything was grown in raised beds. So, whether it was down to the raised beds or because of planting by phases of the moon is still unclear, only time will tell .

This is the online calendar that I use:
Moon calendar astrology - free chart online

PS And before you think it, no, I wouldn't class myself as a tree hugging, contemplate my navel sort of person (mind you I do say good morning to the old oaks by Vicarage woods during my early morning walk).

[artdemole]

Does it work in the greenhouse?

[Stinky Bob]

Originally Posted by artdemole

Does it work in the greenhouse?

It works on plants - regardless on where you stick them, I grew peppers, chillies, toms, cukes and aubergines in the greenhouse by this method and got good results.

[loripo]

Thanks for the link to that calendar, very useful. (I do talk to my plants, but only in the flat)