Things to know about gardening with the moon
To garden with the moon, it helps to understand the phases and cycles of the moon.
Waxing moon, waning moon
For approximately 29.5 days the moon follows different phases which correspond to the surface of the moon that we see from the earth depending on the position of the earth, the moon and the sun. The moon can then be:
- Growing : this phase extends from the new moon to the full moon through the first quarter of the moon. To know if the moon is waxing, you just need to observe it and draw an imaginary line connecting the two points of the crescent visible in the sky: if this line allows you to visualize a “p”, as “first” quarter, the moon is then waxing. It is considered that during this period plants develop more quickly and are more resistant to diseases. You will thus be able to harvest the fruits and vegetables that you wish to preserve, prune, sow or transplant young plants.
- Descending: during this phase, the full moon will decrease from the full moon until it constitutes the last quarter moon, then disappear before reappearing in the form of a new moon. To know if the moon is waning, simply proceed as explained previously, but if your imaginary line allows you to visualize a “d”, as the “last” quarter, the moon is then waning. This period is favorable for fertilization.
Waxing moon, waning moon
It is then important to know the cycle during which the moon passes through a waxing, or ascending, moon phase and a waning moon phase.
These two phases should not be confused with the two previously described since they correspond to the change in trajectory of the moon in the sky. The moon can then be:
- Rising or ascending: this phase lasts 13.5 days during which the moon rises to the highest point in the sky. The sap following the same movement, it is a favorable period for grafts and seedlings.
- Descending: the moon then appears lower and lower in the sky and the sap would follow, again, the same path to descend into the roots. This is a good time for cuttings, transplanting and planting.
Types of days
Throughout its trajectory, the moon will pass in front of the different constellations. This is what will determine the type of days we are in. Depending on the constellations, it will be beneficial to flowers, leaves, seeds and fruits or roots.
- So, when the moon passes in front of the constellations of Libra, Gemini or Aquarius, we will be in flower days.
- When the moon passes in front of the constellations Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn, we will be in root days.
- When the moon passes in front of the constellations Scorpio, Pisces or Cancer, we will be in leafy days.
- When the moon passes in front of the constellations Aries, Leo or Sagittarius, we will be in seed and fruit days.
Celestial events harmful to gardening
Each month, it is not recommended to garden on certain days due to events in the sky:
- Perigee: when the earth and the moon are closest to each other. In March, perigee occurs on the 10th at 8:04 a.m.
- Apogee : when the earth and the moon are furthest from each other. In March, the peak occurs on the 23rd at 4:45 p.m.
- Lunar node: when the elliptical orbit described by the earth around the sun intersects that of the moon. This will happen on March 12 at 2:17 a.m. and March 26 at 6:07 a.m.
The lunar calendar for the month of March
From March 1 to 15, 2024
| Date | Moon | Type of day
| What to do in the garden? |
| Friday 1st | Descending | Flowers | ● Prune buddleias, perovskias, Indian lilacs, etc. ● Transplant begonias sown in January into pots. ● Transplant cauliflower and broccoli sown in February into pots. |
| Saturday 2 | Descending Last quarter | Flowers Until 3:21 p.m. Leaves from 3:21 p.m. | Until 3:21 p.m. you can do the same things as on Friday March 1 |
| After 3:21 p.m.: ● Realize the size of your hedges. ● Plant cabbages sown in January. ● Plant or divide chives, tarragon, sorrel and rhubarb. ● Thin the spinach and lettuce. | |||
| Sunday 3 | Descending | Leaves | ● Realize the size of your hedges. ● Plant cabbages sown in January. ● Plant or divide chives, tarragon, sorrel and rhubarb. ● Thin the spinach and lettuce. |
| Monday 4 | Descending | Leaves until 4:30 p.m. Seeds and fruits from 4:30 p.m. | Until 4:30 p.m. you can do the same things as on Sunday 3 |
| After 4:30 p.m.: ● Sow eggplants, peppers, chili peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and gherkins under heated shelter. ● Graft the fruit trees. ● Position the grafts, ligate, putty. | |||
| Tuesday 5 | Rising | Seeds and fruits | ● Sow eggplants, peppers, chili peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and gherkins under heated shelter. ● Graft the fruit trees. ● Position the grafts, ligate, putty. |
| Wednesday 6 | Rising | Seeds and fruits | ● Sow eggplants, peppers, chili peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and gherkins under heated shelter. ● Graft the fruit trees. ● Position the grafts, ligate, putty. |
| Thursday 7 | Rising | Roots | ● Sow your carrots in place, as well as radishes and turnips. ● Sow celeriac in boxes. |
| Friday 8 | Rising | Roots | ● Sow your carrots in place, as well as radishes and turnips. ● Sow celeriac in boxes. |
| Saturday 9 | Rising | Flowers | ● Sow annuals that are not very cold-tolerant, such as cornflowers, clarkias and everlastings. ● In front of a support, sow sweet peas. ● Sow broccoli and cauliflower in the nursery. |
| Sunday 10 | Rising New Moon But be careful perigee from 8:04 a.m. | Flowers | Do not garden after 8:04 a.m. ● Sow annuals that are not very cold-tolerant, such as cornflowers, clarkias and everlastings. ● In front of a support, sow sweet peas. ● Sow broccoli and cauliflower in the nursery. |
| Monday 11 | Rising | Leaves | ● Sow spinach, chervil and parsley in place. ● Sow basil and frisees or escaroles under heated shelter for rapid emergence. ● Sow cabbages and Brussels sprouts in the nursery, but also head lettuce. |
| Tuesday 12 | Rising | Leaves | ● Sow spinach, chervil and parsley in place. ● Sow basil and frisees or escaroles under heated shelter for rapid emergence. ● Sow cabbages and Brussels sprouts in the nursery, but also head lettuce. |
| Wednesday 13 | Rising | Seeds and fruits | ● Sow melons under heated shelter. ● Sow the physalis. |
| Thursday 14 | Rising | Seeds and fruits | ● Sow melons under heated shelter. ● Sow the physalis. |
| Friday the 15th | Rising First district | Roots | ● Sow parsnips, tuberous chervil and white onions in the ground. ● Under cover, sow leeks. |
From March 15 to 31, 2024
| Date | Moon | Type of day | What to do in the garden? |
| Saturday 16 | Rising | Roots | ● Sow parsnips, tuberous chervil and white onions in the ground. ● Under cover, sow leeks. |
| Sunday 17 | Descending | Roots | ● Sow parsnips, tuberous chervil and white onions in the ground. ● Under cover, sow leeks. |
| Monday 18 | Descending | Flowers | ● Transplant the Chabaud carnations in the nursery. ● Transplant the pelargoniums into pots. ● Transplant the petunias under heated shelter. ● Plant the cauliflowers sown in January. |
| Tuesday 19 | Descending | Flowers until 3:17 p.m. Leaves from 3:17 p.m. | Until 3:17 p.m. you can do the same things as on Monday the 18th |
| From 3:17 p.m.: ● Plant the asparagus crowns. ● Plant evergreen shrubs. | |||
| Wednesday 20 | Descending | Leaves | ● Plant the asparagus crowns. ● Plant evergreen shrubs. |
| Thursday 21 | Descending | Seeds and fruits | ● Enrich the soil with well-ripened compost. ● Plant strawberries. ● Plant fruit bushes. ● Transplant eggplants, peppers, peppers and tomatoes sown in February into pots. |
| Friday the 22nd | Descending | Seeds and fruits | ● Enrich the soil with well-ripened compost. ● Plant strawberries. ● Plant fruit bushes. ● Transplant eggplants, peppers, peppers and tomatoes sown in February into pots. |
| Saturday 23 | Descending Full moon Be careful, peak around 4:45 p.m. | Seeds and fruits | Do not garden after 4:45 p.m. ● Enrich the soil with well-ripened compost. ● Plant strawberries. ● Plant fruit bushes. ● Transplant eggplants, peppers, peppers and tomatoes sown in February into pots. |
| Sunday 24 | Descending | Roots | ● Plant storage potatoes. ● Plant sown leeks in January. ● Transplant the celeriac. ● Thin out the carrots. ● Sow Peruvian ocas under heated shelter. |
| Monday 25 | Descending Moon Eclipse | Roots | Don’t garden |
| Tuesday 26 | Descending Lunar Node | Roots | Do not garden before 11:15 a.m. ● Plant storage potatoes. ● Plant sown leeks in January. ● Transplant the celeriac. ● Thin out the carrots. ● Sow Peruvian ocas under heated shelter. |
| Wednesday 27 | Descending | Roots | ● Plant storage potatoes. ● Plant sown leeks in January. ● Transplant the celeriac. ● Thin out the carrots. ● Sow Peruvian ocas under heated shelter. |
| Thursday 28 | Descending | Flowers | ● Plant flowering shrubs. ● Plant perennials. ● Prune shrubs whose flowering has finished such as forsythias, Japanese corets, flowering gooseberries. ● Transplant cauliflowers sown at the beginning of March in the nursery and, in the ground, those sown in February. |
| Friday 29 | Descending | Flowers | ● Plant flowering shrubs. ● Plant perennials. ● Prune shrubs whose flowering has finished such as forsythias, Japanese corets, flowering gooseberries. ● Transplant cauliflowers sown at the beginning of March in the nursery and, in the ground, those sown in February. |
| Saturday 30 | Descending | Leaves | ● Transplant chicory, cabbage and Brussels sprouts under cover. ● Plant the lettuces in place. ● Plant aromatics. |
| Sunday 31 | Descending | Leaves | ● Transplant chicory, cabbage and Brussels sprouts under cover. ● Plant the lettuces in place. ● Plant aromatics. |