The Times They Are A Changing

Sowing your seeds according to the moon’s phases, apparently, is not all poppycock. With increased interest in organic gardening, every year more people are going a step further and are planting and harvesting according to the phases of the moon. Increased sales in the Farmer’s Almanac prove this point.

According to a National Geographic article, the moon has a gravitational effect on the earth’s moisture. Of course, we already know that to be true as science has confirmed the oceans tides conform to the moon’s movements. We describe the moons phases in quarters. Phase one and two are considered waxing (moon increasing), where the latter two phases are considered waning (moon decreasing).

Waxing Moon: As the moon becomes more visible, the water table rises. At this time plants take up more moisture and nutrients. This makes it a great time to put seeds or new plants into the soil.

Waning Moon: When the moon’s visibility turns away from us, the water table recedes. This is a better time for weeding and pruning. The tree’s moisture (sap) runs more slowly during this period.

A Northwest University researcher, Dr. Frank Brown, studied and kept records over a ten year period in regards to planting according to the moon’s phases. He found that, in fact, plants did absorb more moisture during a waxing moon, especially during a full moon. The uniqueness of this study is that all the plants were grown within a laboratory, not in an open garden area. Yet, his plants were affected, nevertheless, by the moon’s phases.