Lunar Gardening

Lunar Gardening

Lunar gardening uses the movement of the Moon as a guide according to the lunar phases and signs.  The influence of the sign where the moon is located usually has a stronger influence than the lunar phases. For the best results combine the influence of the lunar phase and sign.

Lunar phases

Waxing Moon (Moon increases in size)


Draws moisture into the leaves and parts to the plant above the ground.

Waning Moon (Moon decreases in size)

Moisture absorption is low and crops harvested at this time will be less likely to absorb moisture. The flow of plant sap may also be reduced.

1st Quarter Moon

Plant annuals that grow above the ground

Plant seeds and grain for plants that grow about the ground (not bulbs or tubers).

Regrowth after mowing is at its quickest.

Sow large areas such as lawns or fields.

Graft plants and trees.

Cut, transplant and pot rooted cuttings.

Pick fruit vegetables for immediate consumption.

Gather herbs and mushrooms.

Full Moon

Harvest grapes for wine production.

Pick mushrooms.

Harvest crops that need to keep their moisture content.

Last Quarter Moon

Plant biennial plants, perennial plants, trees, shrubs, tubers and bulbs.

Regrowth after mowing is at its slowest.

Time to dry crops.

Dry herbs, flowers and fruit.

Thin, cut and prune plants.

Harvest crops and seeds for long term storage.

Plant crops that grow below the ground such as potatoes and beetroot.

Spread mulch.

New Moon

Destroy pests and weeds just before the New Moon.

Cut timber as close to the New Moon as possible.

Eclipses

Eclipses can inhibit or prevent growth and germination.

Moon Signs

Aries

This sign is barren so it's not favourable for growth. The 3rd quarter Moon can be used for drying crops and harvesting, the New Moon for cutting timber.

Taurus

This sign is productive so it's favourable for the growth of crops. The 1st quarter Moon can be used for plants and crops that grow above the ground which need to be hardy. The 3rd quarter Moon can be used for plants and crops that grow below the ground that also need to be hardy.

Gemini

This sign is barren so it's not favourable for growth. The 3rd quarter Moon can be used to harvest crops, fruit and vegetables for a reduced moisture content.

Cancer

This is a fruitful sign which is favourable for growth and harvesting crops with a high moisture content. The 1st quarter Moon can be used for plants and crops that grow above the ground. The Full Moon can be used to harvest crops where moisture content needs to be high. The 3rd quarter Moon can be used for plants and crops that grow below the ground.

Leo

This is a barren sign so it's not favourable for growth. The 3rd quarter Moon can be used to destroy pests, for weeding and to harvest crops for a low moisture content.

Virgo

This is a barren sign so it's not favourable for growth. The 3rd quarter Moon can be used to harvest crops that need to be kept dry.

Libra

This is a semi-fruitful sign so it's favourable for growth and harvesting crops where a low or high moisture content needs to be avoided. The 1st quarter Moon is favourable for plants and crops that grow above the ground. The 3rd quarter Moon is favourable for plants and crops that grow below the ground. The Full Moon is suitable for harvesting crops with a balanced moisture content. The New Moon is suitable for harvesting seeds and roots for planting.

Scorpio

This is a fruitful sign so it’s favourable for growth and harvesting crops that need a high moisture content. The 1st quarter Moon is favourable for plants and crops that grow above ground. The Full Moon is favourable for harvesting crops for a high moisture content. The 3rd quarter Moon is favourable for plants and crops that grow below the ground.

Sagittarius

This is a barren sign so it's not favourable for growth. The 3rd quarter Moon can be used to harvest crops that need to have a low moisture content, to destroy pests and for weeding.

Capricorn

This is a productive sign so it's favourable for the growth of crops. The 1st quarter Moon can be used for plants and crops that grow above the ground. The 3rd quarter Moon can be used for plants and crops that grow below the ground.

Aquarius

This is a barren sign so it's not favourable for growth. The 3rd quarter Moon can be used to harvest crops that need to be kept dry, destroying pests and weeding.

Pisces

This is a fruitful sign so it's favourable for growth and harvesting crops that need a high moisture content. The 1st quarter Moon can be used for plants and crops that grow above the ground. The Full Moon can be used for harvesting crops where the moisture content needs to be high. The 3rd quarter Moon can be used for plant and crops that grow below the ground.

Astrological associations for plants according to Nicholas Culpeper


Aconitum: Mars          Adders Tongue: Moon in Cancer         

Agrimony/water agrimony: Jupiter, Cancer         

Alder (black): Saturn             Ale Hoof/ground ivy: Venus

Alexander: Jupiter          Alkanet: Venus

Alheal: Mars          Almond: Jupiter          Aloe: Mars

Amaradulcis: Mercury          Amaranthus: Saturn

Anemone: Mars          Angelica: Sun in Leo

Arrach (garden)/Orach: Moon          Arrach (wild): Venus

Artichoke: Venus          Asarabacca: Mars

Ash: Sun          Asparagus (prickly): Jupiter

Avens: Jupiter          Balsam: Sun          Barberry: Mars

Barley: Saturn          Basil: Mars, Scorpio          Bay: Sun, Leo

Beans: Venus          Beans (French): Venus          Beech: Saturn

Beets (red): Saturn          Beets (white): Jupiter

Betony (water): Jupiter in Cancer         

Betony (wood): Jupiter in Aries          Bilberries: Jupiter

Birch: Venus          Bird's Foot: Saturn          Bistort: Saturn

Black Bindweed: Mercury          Blights: Venus

Blue Bottle/Cornflower: Saturn          Borage: Jupiter, Leo

Bramble: Venus in Aries          Brank Ursine: Moon

Briony: Mars          Brookline: Mars          Buckshorn Plantain: Saturn

Buckwheat: Venus          Bugle: Venus          Burdock: Venus

Burnet: Sun          Butcher's Broom: Mars          Butterbur: Sun

 Byfoil: Saturn          Cabbage: Moon          Calamint: Mercury

Caltrops (water): Moon          Campion (wild): Saturn

Caraway: Mercury          Carduus Benedictus: Mars, Aries

Carob: Saturn          Carrots: Mercury          Cassia Fistula: Venus

Catmint: Venus          Cedar (great): Sun          Celandine: Sun, Leo

Celandine (smaller): Mars          Centaury: Sun          Chamomile: Sun

Cherry: Venus          Chestnut: Jupiter          Chickweed: Moon

Chives: Mars          Cinquefoil: Jupiter          Cistus: Jupiter

Clary: Moon          Cleavers: Moon          Colewort: Moon

Colewort (sea): Moon          Coltsfoot: Venus          Columbine: Venus

Comfrey: Saturn          Coriander: Saturn          Costmary: Jupiter

Cowslip: Venus          Cucumber: Moon          Cudweed: Venus

Currants: Venus          Cypress: Saturn          Daffodil: Mars

Daisy: Venus, Cancer          Dandelion: Venus          Dill: Venus

Dock: Jupiter          Dog's Grass: Jupiter          Double Tongue: Venus

Dove's Foot: Mars          Eglantine: Jupiter          Elder: Venus

 Elecampane: Mercury          Elm: Saturn          Euphorbium: Mars

Eyebright: Sun, Virgo          Feverfew: Venus

Fennel: Mercury in Venus          Fenugreek: Mercury

Fern: Mercury          Fern (water): Saturn          Fig: Jupiter

Figwort: Venus          Filipendula: Venus          Fir: Mars

Flax: Venus          Flaxweed: Mars          Fleawort: Saturn

Flixweed: Saturn          Flower de Luce: Moon          Foxglove: Venus

Fumitory: Saturn          Furze Bush: Mars          Galingale: Mars

Garlic: Mars          Gentian: Mars          Germander: Mars

Gilliflowers (clove): Jupiter          Gilliflowers (stock): Mercury

Gilliflowers (wall/yellow): Sun          Gladwin (stinking): Saturn

Goldenrod: Venus          Gooseberry: Venus          Gout Herb: Saturn

Gromel: Mercury          Groundsel: Venus

Hart's Tongue Fern: Jupiter          Hawkweed: Saturn

Hawthorn: Mars          Hazelnut: Mars          Heart's Ease: Saturn

Hedge Hyssop: Mars          Hellebore: Saturn          Hemlock: Saturn

Hemp: Saturn          Henbane: Saturn          Herb Robert: Venus

Holly: Saturn          Honeysuckle: Mercury          Honeywort: Mercury

Hops: Mars          Horseradish: Mars          Horsetail: Saturn

Hounds Tongue: Mercury          House Leek: Jupiter          Ivy: Jupiter

Juniper: Sun          Kali/Glasswort/Saltwort: Mercury

Kidneywort: Venus in Libra          Knapweed: Saturn

Knotgrass: Saturn          Lady's Mantle: Venus         

Lady's Smock: Moon          Lavender: Mercury

Lavender Cotton: Mercury          Lemon: Sun          Lettuce: Moon

Lily of the Valley: Mercury          Lily (water): Moon

Lily (white): Moon          Linden: Venus          Liquorice: Mercury

Liverwort: Jupiter in Cancer          Loosestrife: Moon in Cancer

Lovage: Sun in Taurus          Lungwort: Jupiter          Lupin: Mars

Mace: Sun          Madder: Mars          Maidenhair: Mercury

Mallow: Venus          Maple: Jupiter          Marigold: Sun, Leo

Marjoram (sweet): Mercury in Aries          Marjoram (wild): Mercury

Marshmallow: Venus          Masterwort: Mars          Mastic: Jupiter

Medlar: Saturn          Mint: Venus          Mistletoe: Sun

Moneywort: Moon          Moss: Saturn          Motherwort: Venus, Leo

Mouse Ear: Moon          Mugwort: Venus          Mulberry: Mercury

Mullein: Saturn          Mustard: Mars          Nettles: Mars

Nightshade (common): Saturn          Nutmeg: Sun          Oak: Jupiter

Olive: Venus          Onion: Mars          Orange: Jupiter

Orchis: Venus          Orpine: Moon          Parsley: Mercury

Parsnip: Venus          Peach: Venus          Pear: Venus

Pellitory of Spain: Mercury          Pellitory of the Wall: Mercury

Pennyroyal: Venus          Peony: Sun          Pepper: Mars

Pepperwort: Mars          Periwinkle: Venus          Pimpernel: Sun

Plantain: Venus          Plum: Venus          Pomegranate: Sun

Poplar: Saturn            Poppy: Moon          Privet: Moon

Purslain: Moon          Quince: Saturn          Radish: Mars

Rice: Sun          Rocket: Mars          Rosemary: Sun

Rose (Damask): Venus          Rose (Red): Jupiter

Rose (white): Moon          Saffron: Sun in Leo          Sage: Jupiter

Samphire: Jupiter          Sarsaparilla: Mars          Saunders: Sun

Savin: Mars          Savoury: Mercury          Scabious: Mercury

Self Heal: Venus          Shepherd's Purse: Saturn

Solomon's Seal: Saturn          Sorrel: Venus

Southernwood: Mercury          Stonecrop: Moon          Storax: Sun

Strawberry: Venus          Sundew: Sun in Cancer

Tamarisk: Saturn          Tansy: Venus          Teasel: Venus

 Thistle: Mars          Thyme: Venus          Tobacco: Mars

Valerian: Mercury          Vervain: Venus          Violet: Venus

Viper's Bugloss: Sun          Wallflower: Moon          Walnut: Sun

Watercress: Moon          Wheat: Mercury          Willow: Moon

Woad: Saturn          Wormwood: Mars          Yarrow: Venus