Moon scheme

Credit: Carol Pope

Gardening by the light of the moon – what an enchanting idea!

Now, I don’t mean planting at night, under the glow of a full moon, although that does sound romantic.

I recently became acquainted with the idea that the rhythms of the moon affect the growth of our plants. According to this theory, flowers and vegetables that produce above-ground crops should be planted “during the dark of the Moon, from the day after it is full to the day before it is new again.” This from The Old Farmer’s Almanac, always a delightful read, almost equivalent to a gardening tabloid, full of juicy bits of facts and fun. Meanwhile, flowering bulbs as well as potatoes, beets and other below-ground crops are best tucked into the earth during the dark of the moon – “from the day after it is full to the day before it is new again.” For anyone gardening in Canada or the United States, this link will allow you to plug in your location and reach for the moon the next time your plant up a garden: https://www.almanac.com/garden/plantingtable/index.php