· Discover the truth behind moon gardening and separate fact from fiction in this comprehensive guide to planting by the lunar cycle, debunking common myths and misconceptions about the effects of moonlight on plant growth. Myths surrounding lunarplanting are deeply embedded in agricultural traditions spanning centuries but separating fact from fiction reveals a landscape rich with both history and misunderstanding. · Farmer's Almanacs and old wives' tales are filled with advice about planting by phases of the moon. Read this article to learn more about this advice, which includes what and when you should be planting by the moon. Plantingby the moon is the idea that the Earth’s largest satellite has the ability to improve or harm your growing plants. The lunar calendar is divided into 28-day cycles and proponents say that planting during a particular period of the lunar cycle can help maximize your plants’ health and harvest. The idea is that, say, if you plant seeds durin...See full list on gardenerspath.comOne of the major elements that people point to is the moon’s influence on the water on and in the Earth. Proponents of lunar phase gardening say that the moon draws water up higher in the soil (just as it influences the tides) during certain times of the month. This supposedly makes water more available to plants. “The earth is in a large gravitati...See full list on gardenerspath.comOkay, so the moon likely doesn’t have all that large of an influence on smaller bodies of water or water in soil. Does that mean that it has absolutely no impact on anything but oceans and really big lakes? Not at all! Coral, for instance, seems to spawn in time with the lunar cycle. Werewolf plants (Ephedra foeminea) send out pollen in time with t...See full list on gardenerspath.comJan 5, 2026 · To plant by the Moon, follow these guidelines: Plant your annual flowers and fruit and vegetables that bear their harvest above ground (such as corn, tomatoes, watermelon, and zucchini) during the waxing of the Moon. This means from the day the Moon is new to the day it is full. · Ancient civilizations from Babylon to the Celts timed their planting with the moon’sphases. The logic? If the moon can move oceans, it can probably nudge a seedling in the right direction. Fast forward a few centuries, and the Farmers’ Almanac is still printing moon-based planting calendars. Other than a few cursory studies done at a few universities, there has not been a study done that can definitively say that planting by moonphase will help the plants in your garden. · To plant by the Moon, follow these guidelines: Plant your annual flowers and fruit and vegetables that bear their harvest above ground (such as corn, tomatoes, watermelon, and zucchini) during the waxing of the Moon. This means from the day the Moon is new to the day it is full. · Ancient civilizations from Babylon to the Celts timed their planting with the moon’sphases. The logic? If the moon can move oceans, it can probably nudge a seedling in the right direction. Fast forward a few centuries, and the Farmers’ Almanac is still printing moon-based planting calendars. Other than a few cursory studies done at a few universities, there has not been a study done that can definitively say that planting by moonphase will help the plants in your garden.
