Certain agricultral chores are more successful when you pay attention to what sign of the zodiac the moon is in.
Each sign of the zodiac is classified as being an earth, air, fire, or water sign. The most fertile signs are the water and earth signs. The fertile earth and water signs are optimal times for planting crops and pruning to promote growth. The air and fire signs are thought to be barren signs and chores such as weeding, tiling the soil, and pruning to control growth can be done while the moon is in one of these signs.
“No man of sense will deny that the moon has a certain influence over the waters of the Earth - causing the ebb and flow of tides - nor will it be questioned among practical agriculturalists, at least, that the Moon has some special or potent power, in the success or failure of crops, etc…”
-Dr. O. Phelps Brown, The Complete Herbalist
Signs of the Zodiac
Certain garden and farming chores are best performed under specific signs as detailed below.
Aries - a fire sign. Insect control, plowing, pruning, trimming, weeding. A good sign for harvesting crops. Pruning done while the moon is in Aries will help to discourage the growth of nuisance plants and weeds.
Taurus - an earth sign. An fine time to sow seeds and transplant plants. A good time to prune plants to control their growth. Taurus is a productive sign for the planting of root crops.
Gemini - a barren air sign. Insect control, plowing, and weeding chores can be conducted while the moon is in this sign. Harvest crops during this sign for long-term storage.
Cancer - a water sign. Cancer is one of the most fertile times for sowing seeds and transplanting plants. Prune plants to encourage healthy new growth. The moon in Cancer is a good time to fertilize plants.
Leo - a barren fire sign. Gardening chores that can be safely conducted while the moon is in Leo includes insect control, plowing, pruning, trimming and weeding.
Virgo - a barren earth sign. Prune trees, shrubs, and herbs during this sign to maintain their shape.
Libra - an air sign. A good time for picking flowers which will last a long time in floral arrangements. Also a good sign in which to prune plants in order to control their growth and maintain their shape. Libra is an okay sign for planting and sowing especially flowers and grain crops.
Scorpio - a water sign. One of the most fertile times for sowing seeds and transplanting plants. Prune your plants during this sign to encourage healthy new growth. Also a good sign for applying fertilizer to your plants.
Sagittarius - a fire sign. Insect control, plowing, pruning, trimming and weeding. A good sign for harvesting crops. Pruning while the moon is in Sagittarius will help to discourage the growth of nuisance plants.
Capricorn - an earth sign. An okay time to sow seeds and transplant plants. Prune trees, shrubs, and herbs during this sign to promote healthy new growth.
Aquarius - an air sign. Aquarius is a good sign to perform insect control, plowing, and weeding chores. Harvest crops during this sign for long-term storage.
Pisces - a water sign. One of the most fertile times for sowing seeds and transplanting plants. This is another sign which is conducive to the fertilizing of your crops.
The Almanacs
Consult a good farmer’s almanac to determine what sign of the zodiac the moon is currently in.
The Almanac for Farmer's & City Folk
Resources
Brown, Dr. O. Phelps. The Complete Herbalist. Jersey City, NJ: self published by the author, 1868.
Crawford, E. A. The Lunar Garden; Planting by the Moon Phases. Sterling, VA: Capital Books, 2000.
Muir, Ada. Healing Herbs and Health Foods of the Zodiac. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1998.
See the article Farmer's Almanacs for information on planting by the phases of the moon.
