Greenhouse + Observatory
Resources for gardening and earthy wisdom.
Our family garden in Citrus Heights, California follows the rhythm of the seasons—with the moon phases as a quiet background note. Here you’ll find simple, zone-specific guidance for planting, harvesting, and caring for your soil.
We plant during the day like normal people, but I keep the moon’s timing in mind—the cycles, the rhythm, the subtle push and pull. I’m science-forward and still have deep respect for ancestral wisdom. A lot of “old knowledge” was careful pattern recognition long before anyone had the vocabulary to explain the why.
Current Moon Phase
The Basics of Lunar Gardening
Understanding the Moon’s Influence on Your Garden
Lunar gardening uses the phases of the moon to guide planting, cultivating, and harvesting. This practice, rooted in centuries of observation, helps you work with natural cycles to support healthy plants and productive gardens.
The moon’s gravitational pull affects soil moisture, which can make certain phases more favorable for different gardening tasks. For example, above-ground crops do well during the waxing moon, while root crops thrive during the waning moon.
This section provides clear guidance and practical tips for incorporating lunar phases into your gardening routine, helping you plan and execute tasks in sync with the natural rhythms of your garden.
New Moon: Plant Root Crops
The new moon is ideal for planting seeds that grow underground, such as carrots, beets, and onions. During this phase, the moon’s gravitational pull slightly increases soil moisture, which can support early root development. Farmers have observed this effect for centuries, timing root crop planting with the new moon to encourage strong growth.
Waxing Moon: Plant Above-Ground Crops
As the moon moves from new to full, plant crops that grow above ground, like tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans. Sap flow in plants tends to increase during this period, which can improve leaf, stem, and fruit growth. Traditional agricultural calendars often aligned above-ground planting with the waxing moon for more vigorous harvests.
Full Moon: Fertilize and Harvest
The full moon brings slightly higher soil moisture, making it a good time to fertilize and harvest your crops. Historically, many cultures harvested under the full moon to take advantage of these optimal growing conditions, which can help preserve plant quality and vitality.
Waning Moon: Maintain and Prepare
As the moon wanes, focus on weeding, pruning, and preparing soil for the next planting cycle. Reduced sap activity during this phase can make pruning less stressful for plants. Farmers have long used this time to maintain garden health and ready beds for the next cycle of growth.
Moon Phase Calendar
