Calling it quits.

With the new moon showing up tomorrow. It is best not to plant. Get your garden ready to plant fall crop and get pest issues under control. Thursday will be a good day to start planting seed.

I do not think I will be planting a fall crop.
The weather has cooled of here in July. This is not normal.
My crop is failing this year so I think I will just try to maintain what I have.

This Minnesota midget melon is looking good.

But this one has splits.

My first ripe tomato has blossom end rot. And my cherry tomatoes are cracking.
I hope others are having better success than I. Please tell me how your garden is doing.

Lunar garden update1

Today is another wet rainy day. Garden prep is behind. I can not do much by my self any more. So far I have 10 tomato plants transplanted in the garden under soda bottles. They are doing great. 2 out of 3 red potatoes planted in the top soil bags are doing great. 1 seems to be frost bit. I should have put them under bottles too. Mistake #1.

^Before fence^

Yesterday I managed to put up 3 cattle panels used to both fence in and support plants. I will have tomatoes on2 sides and melons and cukes on another side.

After fence photo

The seed inside is doing great. This is the first time I have succeeded at growing tomatoes from seed.


The plants in the center are cabbage fdr they are leggy and I have no clue if they will successfully make a good plant. The Lunar planting calendar for this month is located at the bottom of the page.

I think I get it now!

Thanks to Lunar Gardening Basics By Ellen Brown's web site.

For today
It is the day before the full moon so we are still in the Second Quarter Moon
which means , gravity starts to play less of a role, but the increased moonlight creates optimal conditions for leaf growth. This is a good time to plant crops that are harvested above ground, but form seeds inside their fruit (beans, melons, peppers, squash, tomatoes)

According to this calendar.
tropical zodiac . "Virgo changing into Libra today from April 8-10 Garden works with flowering plants," Them leaf plants com in on the 11 th.

the sidereal zodiac has Virgo only from April 8-10 : Garden works with root vegetables, compost works, transplanting, dunging, sowing the lawn. Flowers come into play on the 11 th.


Full Moon Tomorrow.
During a full moon, the gravitational pull is strong once again (increasing soil moisture), but the decreasing moonlight translates into focusing energy toward root growth. This makes the full moon phase ideal for planting root crops (carrots, onions, potatoes), planting bulbs and transplanting due to increased root growth.

You have to look at both the moon phase and the zodiac sign. It they don't agree. Then it is not a good time to plant. Like above Sidereal zodiac said root crop and moon is good for root growth so this the way to go.

The tropical zodiac has flowers so they will not do as well with the Full moon tomorrow being full.

How the Moon affects plant growth

The new moon,
Lunar gravity pulls water up, and causes a seeds to swell and burst. This factor, coupled with the increasing moonlight creates balanced root and leaf growth. This is the best time for planting above ground annual crops that produce their seeds outside the fruit. Examples are lettuce, spinach, celery, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and grain crops. Cucumbers also do well,

In the second quarter the gravitational pull is less, but the moonlight is strong, creating strong leaf growth. It is generally a good time for planting, especially two days before the full moon. The types of crops that prefer the second quarter are annuals that produce above ground, but their seeds form inside the fruit, such as beans, melons, peas, peppers, squash, and tomatoes. Mow lawns in the first or second quarter to increase growth.

Waning Gibbous Moon

After the full moon, as the moon wanes, the energy is drawing down. The gravitation pull is high, creating more moisture in the soil, but the moonlight is decreasing, putting energy into the roots. This is a favorable time for planting root crops, including beets, carrots, onions, potatoes, and peanuts. It is also good for perennials, biennials, bulbs and transplanting because of the active root growth. Pruning is best done in the third quarter, in the sign of Scorpio.

In the fourth quarter there is decreased gravitational pull and moonlight, and it is considered a resting period. This is also the best time to cultivate, harvest, transplant and prune. Mow lawns in the third or fourth quarter to retard growth.

Chart from wickpedia

The Moon has been part of the planting and growing process of most early cultures throughout the world. The Moon does not only has an affect on the large bodies of water such as oceans (tides) and rivers but also has influence on small amounts of liquid that can be found in plants like sap in a tree.. When water is rising during the Waxing Moon, seeds sown and crops planted can take up more liquids than those sown in the waning phase.
Click here to see the farmers almanac video

Moon Signs for garden

Click here For the lunar planting calendar calendars

Astrological Moon Signs

Aries (fire, masculine); Ram; Mars; Head; dry and barren Not good for planting anything; good for cultivating, destroying noxious growth and pests, weeding and harvesting.

Taurus (earth, feminine); Bull; Venus; Neck/Throat; moist and fairly productive Plant root crops like potatoes & bulb plants;
plant flowers for hardiness, beans, cabbage, lettuce, onion sets, radish, turnip, leafy vegetables and hay; set out/plant peach, pear and plum trees; perform general garden maintenance.

Gemini (air, masculine); Twins; Mercury; Arms/Chest; dry and barren Not good for planting anything; good for cultivating, destroying noxious growth and pests, weeding and harvesting.

Cancer (water, feminine);productive
Crab; Moon; Breast in the old way like some farmers almanacs, it is not used for planting.Because this sign was above the waist.
But in the sidereal and biometric views it is widely considered to be the most productive of all the signs and most frequently used for planting both above-ground and root crops. Plant seeds, transplant, irrigate, bud/graft. Asparagus, barley, beets, berries, bulbs, carrots, corn, lettuce, potatoes, roses, herbs, wheat, and deciduous trees do very well.
Start compost heaps and worm farms when the moon is in the fourth quarter under Cancer.

Leo (fire, masculine); Lion; Sun; Heart/Back; the most barren and dry of all the signs No planting at all during this sign, ever. Exterminate weeds and noxious growth, harvest and cultivate.

Virgo (earth, feminine); Virgin; Mercury; Bowels; “Bloom Days”; moist but barren Good for destroying weeds and pests. Vegetables will not do well if planted in Virgo (big blooms, little ‘fruit’), but it is a good planting sign for most flowers and vines for large bloom yields. Don't plant vegetables or trees.

Libra (air, masculine); Balance; Venus; Kidneys; moist and semi-fertile Used for planting crops where good pulp growth and roots are desirable; another good sign for flowers and vines. Plant seeds for hay, corn, fodder, grain. Flowers, bulbs, barley, beans, beet, cabbage, carrot, peas, squash, tubers and vines.

Scorpio (water, feminine); Scorpion; Mars; Loins; very fruitful and moist Produces sturdy, reliable plants. Plant most vegetables and flowers for large yields; excellent time to plant beans, berries, cantaloupes, cauliflower, cereal, chicory, eggplant, peas, potatoes, pumpkin; do not dig potatoes during this sign.

Sagittarius (fire, masculine); Archer; Jupiter; Thighs;
Some say this is a good time to plant fiery, “hot” crops such as onions, garlic, peppers, chilies and radishes cultivate and harvest.used for planting both above-ground crop like tomato.

Capricorn (earth, feminine); Goat; Saturn; Knees; productive Good for most planting. Plant bulbs, potatoes, root crops, beans, cabbage, broccoli, lettuce, onion sets, radishes, flowers and fruit trees.

Aquarius (air, masculine); Waterman; Uranus; Legs/Ankles; another barren and dry sign Not good for planting anything; good for harvesting, cultivation and extermination of pests.

Pisces (water, feminine); Fish; Neptune; Feet; one of the most fertile signs A great time for planting most types of crops, including broccoli, bulbs, Brussels sprouts, carrots, celery, chicory, cress, cucumbers, endive, horseradish, parsley, peanuts, radishes, pumpkins, flowers (for abundance) and deciduous trees.
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It is good to plant (below ground, or root crops) on good sign days during the last quarter of the moon,
Note *do not plant on the actual day the moon changes to/from any of the four quarters.
For example, if the moon goes full on the 22, you should not plant anything on that day, even though it is a "fruitful" sign.
And remember, if the moon is "growing up", plant things that "grow up", above the ground. When the moon is "shrinking", or "going down", plant things that grow below ground, like bulbs, potatoes and onions.
Butchering is usually done when the moon is waning in Scorpio
Links are in purple
See wickpedia for Sidereal astrology explained.
Biodynamic Planting Dates pdf