Gardening

From ancient times, some gardening practices have been based on Moon phases. The Moon affects plant growth through its pull on water. Plants contain a huge percentage of water in their make up, and they respond to the tidal pulls of the Moon.

Generally, the best time to plant is just before the New Moon and during the waxing phase. The waning Moon through to the balsamic phase is clean-up time -- weed out dying plants or overgrown beds, rake paths, trim, burn or compost debris.

However, some plants do better when started during certain Moon phases. For instance, during the New Moon, plant flowers, shrubs, trees and such garden vegetables as lettuce, chard, spinach and others whose primary value is in their above-ground parts. As the Moon grows full, it draws the plants up, enhancing their growth. Root crops, like potatoes, turnips and onions like the dark of the Moon.

This is further complicated by the effects of the Moon Signs. When the Moon moves through certain signs, it becomes more barren or more fertile. In general, plant during fertile and semi-fertile signs, keeping in mind that below-ground plants flourish during barren signs.

Fertile:	Cancer	Scorpio	Pisces
Semi-fertile:	Taurus	Libra	Capricorn
Semi-barren:	Aries	Sagittarius	Aquarius
Barren:	Gemini	Leo	Virgo

All of this fits within the seasonal cycles. The ancient myth of Persephone, whose mother, Demeter, was the goddess of agriculture, provides the story for the seasons.

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