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Check out my blog: Gardening according to the phases of the Moon, and learn why and how the Moon's position affects your garden:
October "Hunter's" Moon Phase Schedule:
October 1st to 10th: Waxing Moon
October 11th: Full Moon
October 12th to 25th: Waning Moon
October 26th: New Moon
October 27th till November: Waxing Moon
Garden Chores to be done during the month of October are:
October is a great time to plant: Plant bare root fruit trees, perennials, roses, cane berries, artichokes, asparagus, spring bulbs, chives, parsley, arugula, cilantro and swiss chard, lavender, rosemary, and santolina
Save water by letting go of the small lawn on the curb by your house because this is a perfect time to plant water-wise plants such as carex or blue fescue, creeping germanderm, sedums, aloes mixed with lobelia, nemesia and sweet smelling alyssum
October is also a great time to do pruning: Prune perennials that have flowered such as bananas, cannas, gingers and heliconias, and cut their stems to the ground. Prune Santa Barbara daisies, scabiosas and verbenas and all your geraniums by half and also the oleander bushes
Deadhead spent flowers
Feed roses with a balanced organic fertilizer
Clean up your garden and start a fall compost pile
Divide perennials and fall blooming bulbs after bloom
Harvest tomatoes
Watch out for slugs and snails around your new plantings.
Turn your compost pile and keep it damp
Plant bulbs, spring wildflowers, bee balm, calendula, candytuft, clarkia, cornflower, columbine, coreopsis, dianthus, dusty miller, foxglove, larkspur, lobelia, lupine, nicotiana, nigella, pansy, petunia, poppy, salvia, scabiosa, snapdragon, stock, sweet pea, verbena, carnation, delphinium, hollyhock, lavender, penstemon, rudbeckia, statice, and yarrow
In your vegetable garden plant: broccoli, cauliflower, collards, kale, garlic, spinach, lettuce, peas, chard, turnips, carrots, beets, parsnip, radish, chives, parsley, cilantro, dill, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage
Following is a Moon Gardening calendar for October and which days are best for specific chores:
October 1st till the 10th: 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:
October 11 and 12th, 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.
October 11th and 12th: Harvest, cultivate, and weed
From October 12th till the 25th, 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:
October 13th and 14th: Plant for root growth, and divide perennials.
October 15th, 16th, and 17th: Harvest, cultivate, weed, and control pests
October 18th and 19th: Plant for root growth, divide perennials
October 20th and 21st: Harvest, cultivate, weed, and control pests.
October 22nd and 23rd: Harvest and cultivate
October 24th, 25th and 26th: Water, compost and fertilize
October 26th and 27th: Plant above ground annuals for hardiness
Mow your lawn to slow growth. First time Composters, start your composter during this period because the Waning Moon phase helps aid in the decompositions of plant matter.
Get ready for November 2011 Gardening according to the phases of the Moon! Subscribe to my Almanac and get your free monthly update.
I hope this calendar is helpful to you :-)
Take care
Priscilla Woolworth
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