Best Lunar Planting Time for Maters?

[kath]

Need suggestions from experienced "lunar growers" about what would be the best times in March and April for sowing tomatoes and peppers and also the best transplanting dates for same in April and May. I've go too many lunar calendars and not enough experience to pick the best options.

Thanks much in advance for any help!

kath

[barkeater]

It is always the week before the full moon (second quarter)for sowing or transplanting tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. This week is perfect for PA with the full moon this Saturday, 3/19.

[kath]

Thanks barkeater! So you don't concern yourself with the fact that the moon is in Leo & then Virgo before the full moon? I planted the rest of my peppers tonight, as well as a few early maters. One calendar that I have says to transplant tomatoes on the 18th and 19th of this month (moon in Scorpio).

Appreciate your feedback, thanks.

[frankkj]

Have you tried The Farmer's Almanac?

http://www.farmersalmanac.com/calendar/gardening/

I try to follow it, but I'll plant anytime I have rather than not plant at all.

Frank

[kath]

Originally Posted by frankkj

Have you tried The Farmer's Almanac?

http://www.farmersalmanac.com/calendar/gardening/

I try to follow it, but I'll plant anytime I have rather than not plant at all.

Frank

Yeah, I've got that link, but the problem is I also have 2 lunar planting calendars and they either don't agree or are too complicated for me to understand!

I was hoping the more experienced might come to my rescue and tell me what matters most when trying to choose the "best" days.

Thanks for your response.

kath

[barkeater]

Kath,

I didn't include the signs as you requested only lunar planting. The farmers almanac's guide frankkj is citing incorporates both as Leo is a fire sign (barren) and it says not to sow/plant now. You did great starting your peppers last night while the moon was in a water sign.

Whatever calender you are looking at is wrong as the moon is in Virgo, an earth sign at 5pm the 17th, plus the 18th and 19th. Earth signs are second best and since the 18th is also the day before the full moon I'll be starting my peppers, eggplant, lettuce and onions then.

The calender I use is the astrocalender at www.throughnightsfire.com

[kath]

Originally Posted by barkeater

I didn't include the signs as you requested only lunar planting.

Whatever calender you are looking at is wrong as the moon is in Virgo, an earth sign at 5pm the 17th, plus the 18th and 19th. Earth signs are second best...

The calender I use is the astrocalender at www.throughnightsfire.com

Sorry...that's how much I don't know...don't even know what to call it!

My calendar matches with what you said...I meant to write March 21-23 for Scorpio and the transplanting suggestion...oops.

Knowing to choose the earth signs as second choice is very helpful.

The calendars I have are the Farmer's Almanac website, the one at www.gardeningbythemoon.com and the Stella Natura biodynamic calendar which is beyond confusing for me.

I am hoping to start lots of my maters really late, like into April, and when I looked at the week before the full moon, the choices were Leo on the 12th and 13th or Virgo on the 14th and 15th or Libra on the 16th. Since it recommended transplanting tomatoes on the 18th and 19th, I thought that might be a better option; I even wondered about after 5pm on April 9th even though it's in the wrong quarter, at least the moon was in Cancer. Figured more specifics about the depth of my confusion might help!

I'll take a look at the other website...thanks for sharing that.

kath

[dustdevil]

Hi Kath.

Experienced lunar enthusiasts usually sow 4 days before a full moon.

Dust

[kath]

Hi, Dust-

Well, this certainly has simplicity going for it.

Thanks!

Kath

[camochef]

Kath,
According to my garden and farm almanac-2011:
days for planting above ground crops-best is March 5 then 14, 15, 22, 23, 4, 31
April-best is 10, then11, 18, 19, 27, 1, 28, 29

root crops for March is 20 then 21, 26, 27, 9, 10
root crops for April-best is23 then 24, 16, 17, 22, 5, 6,

Cancer-seeds germinate quickly and its favorable to growth, ensures an abundant yield.= Watery,Fruitful

Scorpio-is second best after Cancer; also watery and fruitful

Pisces is third best and also watery and fruitful and will produce excellent results.

Good Luck
Camo

[rnewste]

Hi Folks,

Sorry, as I must be a little slow on the up-take here, but is there any "science" regarding these "do" and "do-not" planting days?

The only "guide" I use is to look at the AccuWeather's next 15 day forecast, and if I see nighttime temps trending consistently above 45 degrees - - then in the plants go.

What am I missing in all this??

I am REALLY trying hard to get my (limited) Brain wrapped around this - please help!

Raybo

[kevinrs]

Originally Posted by rnewste

Hi Folks,

Sorry, as I must be a little slow on the up-take here, but is there any "science" regarding these "do" and "do-not" planting days?

The only "guide" I use is to look at the AccuWeather's next 15 day forecast, and if I see nighttime temps trending consistently above 45 degrees - - then in the plants go.

What am I missing in all this??

I am REALLY trying hard to get my (limited) Brain wrapped around this - please help!

Raybo

That's why I've avoided replying to this thread, it would quickly devolve into an argument like the ones that the no politics rule is to prevent. Basically if you don't believe the moon and astrological signs are going to affect the plants, just move on to another thread, no one who believes in these going to be convinced they are wrong, and the same goes for those who don't believe it.

[rnewste]

kevin,

All I am trying to understand is, is it due to the gravitational pull of the Moon at a certain cycle time, or night-time brightness from the Moon - - - or what?? That is all I am trying to comprehend. Someone, please explain it to me in simple words that I can understand. NOTHING to do with Politics.....

Raybo

[kath]

Originally Posted by camochef

Kath,
According to my garden and farm almanac-2011:
days for planting above ground crops-best is March 5 then 14, 15, 22, 23, 4, 31
April-best is 10, then11, 18, 19, 27, 1, 28, 29

root crops for March is 20 then 21, 26, 27, 9, 10
root crops for April-best is23 then 24, 16, 17, 22, 5, 6,

Cancer-seeds germinate quickly and its favorable to growth, ensures an abundant yield.= Watery,Fruitful

Scorpio-is second best after Cancer; also watery and fruitful

Pisces is third best and also watery and fruitful and will produce excellent results.

Good Luck
Camo

Hi, Camo!

Long time, no talk to!

Thanks very much for your specific synopsis! About April 10th-I thought planting on Sunday was as much of a no-no as planting on a full moon, etc. and April 10th is in the 1st quarter, not the 2nd, which I thought was best for fruits with seeds inside. And the 11th is on the first day of the second quarter, which I also thought was a no-no.

All the rules seem very contradictory and if you try to follow them all, there's no day left to plant that is in a good sign and the right time of the moon, too. So I think my question is, how do you prioritize all these criteria when you have to choose the best of the not ideal days in a given month?

For example, is it better to plant your tomatoes in the 1st quarter when the moon is in Cancer, or in the 2nd quarter when the moon is in Leo, or Virgo?

Have you always planted this way, or have you noticed that in doing this you have better results?

Last year my tomatoes were planted by the moon and I've never had such good plants so I figured I'd do it again. Choosing March 14th was easy and I planted my early maters then...it's when there isn't a day that fits all the rules that I have a problem...and there doesn't seem to be a day in April that fits all the rules.

Sigh...thanks again...it's time for bed,

Kath

[camochef]

Originally Posted by kath

Hi, Camo!

Long time, no talk to!

Thanks very much for your specific synopsis! About April 10th-I thought planting on Sunday was as much of a no-no as planting on a full moon, etc. and April 10th is in the 1st quarter, not the 2nd, which I thought was best for fruits with seeds inside. And the 11th is on the first day of the second quarter, which I also thought was a no-no.

All the rules seem very contradictory and if you try to follow them all, there's no day left to plant that is in a good sign and the right time of the moon, too. So I think my question is, how do you prioritize all these criteria when you have to choose the best of the not ideal days in a given month?

For example, is it better to plant your tomatoes in the 1st quarter when the moon is in Cancer, or in the 2nd quarter when the moon is in Leo, or Virgo?

Have you always planted this way, or have you noticed that in doing this you have better results?

Last year my tomatoes were planted by the moon and I've never had such good plants so I figured I'd do it again. Choosing March 14th was easy and I planted my early maters then...it's when there isn't a day that fits all the rules that I have a problem...and there doesn't seem to be a day in April that fits all the rules.

Sigh...thanks again...it's time for bed,

Kath

Kath,
I think the not planting on Sunday's is more of a left-over from the old blue law days than they are from any astronomical information. Remember when you could hardly buy a thing on Sunday's. Hunting was forbidden, times were different. Better?
Anyway, I was never into following lunar signs until sometime around 2005/2006 when I noticed a close friend around the corner from me always had better produce in his gardens than I had in mine and I started paying more attention.
Not only did he plant by the moon, he transplanted and weeded by the moon also. I decided to try his methods. I saw an enormous improvement in my gardens, and I've continued to garden by the moon ever since.
Initially, I bought 4-5 different almanacs each year and followed the general consenses. This year I only found one in the stores. J. Grubers Garden and Farm Almanac for 2011. It's published in nearby Mercersburg, Pa. and the weather forecasts and astronomical concerns are by a gentleman in Emmitsburg, Md., which is only about 5 miles from my place.
I planted my seeds on the 5th of March this year, the best day by the almanac. Germination for the most part was 3 days...a few were late and took 5 days. Out of a 72 cube tray I hd about a 1/2 dozen that didn't germinate. All from old seed from others. Those that are up are doing well and look very healthy.
Don't over-complicate things, just pick the best days recommended for that month.
I'll continue to plant by the moon as I find the little extra effort seems to make a major difference in the results. For those that don't believe, try a little test and compare the two methods. I think you'll see a difference.
Happy Gardening!
Camo