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