The practice, known as lunar gardening, revolves around the moon's gravitational effect on the flow of moisture in soil and plants.
Gardening by the moon is as old as the advent of agriculture. Long before man started using wristwatches or calendars, everything was governed by the phases of the moon. Moonlight gardening has been passed down through generations. “There are people who still use the lunar calendar today. And they won’t plant anything without a favorable sign from the moon”, says Ed Hume.
He is one of the gardening gurus and an observer of the Moon's influence on this activity. The moon controls ocean tides, influences the water tables beneath our feet, as well as the movement of plant fluids. Even continental masses tend to deform with the passing of the Moon's phases. Moonlight gardening has been passed down through generations. “There are people who still use the lunar calendar today. And they won’t plant anything without a favorable sign from the moon”, says Ed Hume. He is one of the gardening gurus and an observer of the Moon's influence on this activity.
The moon controls ocean tides, influences the water tables beneath our feet, as well as the movement of plant fluids. Even continental masses tend to deform with the passing of the Moon's phases. Understanding their effects and adjusting your tasks in accordance with these Moon phases is the basis of lunar gardening. There is a guaranteed and approved concept that the Moon's phase directly affects plant growth. As we know, the Moon transits around the Earth through the waning and waxing cycle, that is, from the New Moon to the Full Moon. This cycle begins at new moon, when the moon is in the direction of the sun, becoming almost invisible to us on earth.
As the moon slowly moves, it enlarges its face to the sun, increasing from a wisp of moon to a beautiful crescent moon, until the full moon, when its fullest circumference is illuminated. Soon after, the waning moon process begins, until it disappears at the new moon. This cycle lasts approximately 29 and a half days, when it starts again.
Farmers, over the centuries, have identified visible effects of the full moon on plant growth. Based on scientific research and practical experience, we know the following influences of the new moon and full moon:
- Between the waxing moon and the full moon, germination is faster, in addition to the growth and elongation of the plants, if cut during this period;
- Seed germination is faster, but the propensity for fungus increases due to the humid conditions during the full moon;
- The full moon influences the absorption of liquid nutrients;
- It also increases the probability of rain during the full moon period;
- During the new moon there is more underground activity in the soil, and the flow of plant sap is less intense;
- The effects of the lunar cycle are most prominent in organic soil or soil that is not treated with chemical fertilizers and pesticides;
- The plant will always be influenced by the period in which it was sown;
- Insects appear more during the full moon;
- The fruits are juiciest during the full moon, because of the stored sap;
- The new moon is ideal for germinating seeds;
- Bamboo and wood for construction must be cut from the waning moon to the new moon, as this is the period in which the sap and moisture are descending to the roots, giving the fibers more resistance and durability.