Moon gardening

[Snadger]

Thanks for link ntg...might even put the book on my Christmas list!

[Sunbeam]

- the beans planted @ the prime time have faired much better than those planted one week later...does this mean moon gardening is a success..? has anyone found results to the contrary?

[Jaxom]

Sorry for the long absence folks, but I hope more people feed back with results as this was my first year as well. Rat has kindly taken over this link to keep it going (Thanks) Not much accesss to a my old garden at pressent I will be interested to hear what happened to any other trials up and down the UK.

[Earthbabe]

I'll give it a proper try next year. It's been a bit hit and miss this year with snatching what time we can to do bits, hence the weed problem on the second plot.

Tried the bio-dynamic approach as suggested in the mag with mixed results. Again probably need to be more organised next year to give this a proper try.

[Mrs Dobby]

I've heard about planting by the Moon, and we are going to give it a go next year, as well as probably planting some 'control' seeds at other times, so will deffo be up to join in with this debate next year!

[Jaxom]

So far things went well, the small patch I was working seemed to shoot up. the control peas and beans didn't do as well.

[smallblueplanet]

Don't know anything about moon gardening, but having been on holiday in a rural part of Cyprus on the date of the last full moon I have to say that I was amazed by the brightness of the moonlight, really stunning.

[roitelet]

Have just read all of the posts on this thread. Very interesting! If there is going to be an experiment in 2007 I would like to join in. I have heard about Moon Gardening and here in France there is a lot if information about it, but my French is not good enough to understand it all so will get a copy of RJ Harris! My only experience of doing things by the phases of the moon is the cutting of a huge privet hedge If it was cut on a waning moon then it was about 6 weeks before it needed cutting again If it was cut on a waxing moon it was only about 4 weeks before it made a take over bid again Thank goodness I don't have it any more. A problem for someone else

[Jaxom]

Roitelet your experiences sound about right for growth in relation to the phases of the moon.

[multiveg]

I tried to grow by moon in 2005 using the Nick Kollerstrom's book for that year. Wasn't convinced as I didn't get up at X in the early morning to sow whatever seeds at the best time of the lunar cycle.

I also picked up Gwydion's Planting Guide. Says to sow root veg at 2 days before Full to 3 days before New. All others 2 days before New to 3 days before Full.
The calendar allows for the zodiac as well - sowing & planting rapidly growing climbing/trailing plants with the wzxing moon in an air sign. Tender leaves and mellow fruits to sow with waxing moon in water signs. Harvest immediately after full moon. Hot flavoured crops to be harvested with the moon in a fire sign. Weeding - moon in Virgo. Composting/Manuring only with Moon in Scorpio between last Quarter and New Moon. Prune - thicker growth just after New Moon, less growth after Full Moon (says also applies to haircuts!!!) Spray - Moon in Virgo or Scorpio.
The book also goes into foliar applications of home made remedies historically used for things - Horsetail infusion spray for blight!!!

[burnie]

just read all of this vine,interesting you lot!
Well I'm your architypal(?)neanderthal(must stop using words I can't spell).Don't believe a word of it,chucked stuff in the garden and close my eyes and hope.Guess I could have been your control site.Well all my stuff has had a really good yield grown organically,I put it down to a good summer and I wasn't affected by a hosepipe ban up here.I do a daily check and weed/remove dodgy looking leaves etc.good husbandry I think they call it.
But I do most of my fishing by the stages of tide and moon so I'm sure it's not all mumbo jumbo!

[Lady Leek]

I have been interested in Lunar planting, if it saves watering and getting better root systems.
this is the link I have you may find it interesting. enjoy

http://www.gardeningbythemoon.com/

[Birdie Wife]

I tried to grow by moon in 2005 using the Nick Kollerstrom's book for that year. Wasn't convinced as I didn't get up at X in the early morning to sow whatever seeds at the best time of the lunar cycle.

I also picked up Gwydion's Planting Guide. Says to sow root veg at 2 days before Full to 3 days before New. All others 2 days before New to 3 days before Full.
The calendar allows for the zodiac as well - sowing & planting rapidly growing climbing/trailing plants with the wzxing moon in an air sign. Tender leaves and mellow fruits to sow with waxing moon in water signs. Harvest immediately after full moon. Hot flavoured crops to be harvested with the moon in a fire sign. Weeding - moon in Virgo. Composting/Manuring only with Moon in Scorpio between last Quarter and New Moon. Prune - thicker growth just after New Moon, less growth after Full Moon (says also applies to haircuts!!!) Spray - Moon in Virgo or Scorpio.
The book also goes into foliar applications of home made remedies historically used for things - Horsetail infusion spray for blight!!!

I'd like to resurrect this thread as I've just bought the 2007 moon gardening calendar book (sorry, can't remember the author!). I understand that water in the ground and in plants is affected by the pull of the moon. The book I've bought also splits the calendar similar to multiveg's explantion above. It says we should be sowing flower seed during the period of an air sign, sowing root veg during an earth sign, etc - now what I don't understand is, if there is a good time during the lunar cycle for sowing seeds so they pull in water and germinate, why does it not apply to all seeds rather than there being different optimum periods for different types of seeds? Someone put me right please, I know that from the limited trials already carried out by various Grapes that moon gardening can be very effective but this bit of it seems like hokkey to me .

My book also says there is some disagreement between practitioners of moon gardening as to the right time to sow for different things, and reading the intro there's much pseudoscience that even I can see straight through - so have I got a duff 'un or should I persevere?!

[Snadger]

I haven't read the book (on Christmas list!) but from what I can gather it is based on a Head Gardeners aquired knowledge over a period of time, utilising ideas that were common knowledge to our forefathers.
Where there are some anomalies, could it not be that it is not 100% reliable at all times and the individual has to accept that, and use his/her experience to 'tweek' accordingly.
Sounds like he's already done the tweeking for you!
Just a thought!

[Alice]

I've never looked into moon gardening so don't know whether it's mumbo jumbo or not. I do go by my own feelings. I never set a pre allocated time to do things in the garden. I wait for that feeling - the one that says plant now or whatever. I call it an auspicious time. The results are to my satisfaction. Maybe the cycle of the moon determines my feelings. Must keep an eye on it.