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Eco Garden - January 2012
Moon Gardening by Priscilla Woolworth |
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Please check out my blog about Gardening according to the phases of the Moon, where I explain it in more detail: Gardening according to the phases of the Moon. January "OLD MOON" Phase Schedule: January 1st to 8th: Waxing Moon Garden Chores to be done during the month of January are: The month of January is a great time to prune deciduous fruit trees such as fig, peach, almond, apricot, apple and nectarine, and before leaf buds form. You should also prune your roses, grape vine, wisteria, asparagus, artichoke, and rhubarb. Buy and plant flower bulbs, camellias, blueberries, and strawberries. Buy and plant grapes such as Vitis labrusca. Blueberries, cherries, and apples need to be pollinated, so it's best to buy a self-pollinating variety or plant two varieties that cross-pollinate. I did this for my blueberry bushes and so far so good. Order seeds from catalogs Clean up leaves to control slugs Plant in your flower garden: candytuft, columbine, coreopsis, delphinium, dianthus, dusty miller, foxglove, hollyhock, lobelia, lupine, lavender, nicotiana, penstemon, petunia, poppy, salvia, statice, stock, snapdragons, sweet peas, verbena, and yarrow. Plant in your vegetable garden: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, leeks, cabbage, spinach, and onions. Following is a Moon Gardening calendar for January and which days are best for specific chores: January 1st till January 8th: the Moon is in the Waxing phase, when the lunar gravitational pull brings the water up, which makes it a good time of the month to encourage plant growth and proliferation. Plant seeds, transplant, re-pot, trim and prune for growth. Also, fruits and vegetables that are tender and should be eaten immediately are at their best when gathered at the Waxing Moon, because the water content is higher, salads are crunchier, and fruits are juicier. Recommended days for these garden chores: January 2nd, 3rd and 4th: Plant above ground annuals January 7th: Plant above ground annuals January 8th, the day of the Full Moon and also 2 days after is the best time to prune, plant seeds (they germinate faster when planted at the full moon because they absorb more water) and also fertilize plants as close to the Full Moon as possible. Cut bamboo and sow a lawn or put down sod. The day of the Full Moon is when water is at the highest level in the month and is a really good time for planting and gathering any herbs to be used for their essential oils because oil content is more concentrated at this time. From January 10th till January 22nd, the Moon is Waning, and the energy of the earth is drawn down but the gravitational pull is high, creating more moisture in the soil and this energy goes into the roots making it a good time of the month to sow crops that produce their yield below ground and control plant growth by pruning, weeding, and controlling garden pests, as well as dividing perennials. This is the best time for garden maintenance because the growth cycle of plants decreases. Fruit trees do best planted at this time of the month because the position of the moon encourages development of root growth and tree bark, essential to their success. This is also the best time to cut wood, because it resists parasites and cures better. Farmers pick their apples, cabbages, potatoes and onions at the Waning Moon, when water content is lowest and so the harvest stores better and keeps longer. Best time to dry herbs, flowers and fruit and the herbs are at their most potent. Recommended days for these garden chores: January 12th and 13th: Harvest, cultivate, weed, and control pests January 14th, 15th and 16th: Plant for root growth and divide perennial flowers and herbs January 17th: Prune, water, compost, and fertilize January 19th and 20th: Harvest, cultivate, weed, and control garden pests January 21st and 22nd: Graft, prune, and control pests January 22nd: New Moon January 25th and 26th: Plant above ground annuals January 30th and 31st: Plant above ground annuals Mow your lawn to slow growth. First time Composters, start your composter during this period because the Waning Moon phase helps aid in the decomposing of plant matter. Get ready for February 2012 Gardening according to the phases of the Moon! Subscribe to my Almanac and get your free monthly update from me. Take care Priscilla Woolworth |
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