Planting by the moon, a simple calendar

Planting by the moon is an old gardening tradition that times sowing and pruning to the four phases of the lunar month. The short version: sow crops that grow above the ground while the moon is waxing, and plant roots, prune, and harvest while it is waning. This guide lays out the phases, what each is traditionally for, and how to follow it without overthinking it.

It is folklore, not agronomy. Gardeners have followed it for centuries and many still swear by the rhythm; treat it as a helpful calendar rather than a rule of nature.

The four phases and what they are for

The lunar month runs new moon, first quarter, full moon, last quarter, and back. Tradition assigns a task to each stretch:

Phase	Moon	Traditional task
New to first quarter	Waxing crescent	Sow leafy greens and crops that seed outside the fruit (lettuce, spinach, cabbage, celery).
First quarter to full	Waxing gibbous	Sow crops that fruit with seeds inside (tomatoes, beans, peppers, squash).
Full to last quarter	Waning gibbous	Plant root crops, bulbs, and perennials (carrots, potatoes, onions).
Last quarter to new	Waning crescent	Rest the beds, weed, prune, and harvest for storage.

Why waxing for above-ground, waning for roots?

The idea is that as the moon waxes toward full, sap and energy are said to rise into the leaves and stems, favoring above-ground growth. As it wanes, that energy is said to draw back down, favoring roots. Whether or not you buy the mechanism, it produces a tidy two-week rhythm: leaves and fruit early in the month, roots later.

How do I follow it in practice?

Find the current phase for tonight.
Match it to the table above.
Sow or plant accordingly, and use the waning half for tidying, pruning, and harvesting.

You do not need to be exact to the hour. Working within the right half of the month is the whole of it.

Does the moon’s sign matter too?

Some gardeners add a second layer: the moon’s zodiac sign, planting on “fruitful” water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) and resting on “barren” ones. That is a deeper tradition and entirely optional. If you want to try it, the moon changes sign every two to three days.

Gibbous shows tonight’s phase and the moon’s sign, and a month of phases at a glance, so you can plan the garden by the same calendar your grandparents might have used.