Garden and Cosmic Influences
( Work in progress )
Many old folk sayings and experiences about the influences of lunar phases and planets on the growth and prosperity of agricultural cultures have been passed down, as oral traditions, from generation to generation. Farmers have considered them for centuries. All indications are that they had a good experience with them. Especially in mountainous areas and lands, many have survived to this day. They are found in old farmer almanacs. Astrological signs, planets and moon phases are drawn next to the date number. They were followed by people when sowing, planting, hoeing and harvesting crops.
Examples include some ancient peasant traditions relating to garden plants:
- All plants must be covered with soil so that they do not turn green (potatoes, carrots), we sow or plant at the last moon quarter.
- Peas are sown at the last moon quarter to be full and healthy.
- We plant beans at the new moon.
- We do not plant potatoes at the first moon quarter, because potatoes will only grow into greens. We plant it at the last moon quarter to force it into the ground.
- We plant cabbage at the new moon. It will be enough of it for humans and animals.
- Apple trees should be planted at the first moon quarter.
- At the first moon quarter we plant hedges and shrubs.
- The vines must be pruned at the first moon quarter.
- Roses are pruned in april at full moon. The buds should be broken off or cut off in may, also at full moon.
Modern ways of gardening have pushed away these old rules in many places, labeling them as superstitions. In recent years, however, especially among members of natural and organic agriculture and horticulture, these traditions have been justified and successfully spread. Calendars for planting and sowing are known, which are coordinated with the lunar months and the positions of the planets. Favorable time has been established for sowing and planting various types of plants, pruning trees and vines, beekeeping, harvesting, fruit picking, harvesting garden and field crops, ...
In recent years, the cosmic effects on the growth and fertility of some plants have been accurately determined. They tested the same cultures for many years. Among them is the potato, for which they wanted to find out what and how much the crop will be if we plant it at different lunar phases and different constellations of the moon and planets. The results showed that there were about 30% more potatoes planted during the favorable constellation compared to those planted at the unfavorable time.
The moon needs about 29.5 days to travel around the earth and through 12 constellation signs. During transit, observers say the cosmic effects on Earth and plants are very different.
Star signs of cancer, fish and scorpion have a positive effect on deciduous plants. The signs of Aries, Leo and Sagittarius have a good effect on the better development of the fruit. The signs of Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn have a positive effect on the development of plant roots. When the Moon is in the realm of Virgo, Aquarius, and Gemini, the time is right to sow and plant the plants we grow for their flowers.
Researchers of these effects on the Earth and plants are convinced that this is not a superstition. Just as superstition cannot be the fact that the tides are the cause of the Moon’s impact on the sea.
From the observations, they conclude that plants grown on biologically cultivated land are more acceptable for these lunar influences. Fertile soil should be loosened before sowing and other parts. They believe that then the earth is more sensitive to influences from space.
In addition to the Moon's phases and planets, the position of the Moon in the firmament is also important for the growth of plants in the bio-garden. If we observe the Moon's path several times, we find that the Moon in the firmament is sometimes higher, sometimes lower. The moon therefore makes a larger and smaller arc in the sky. Therefore, this factor must be taken into account when determining the favorable and unfavorable days for work in the organic garden.
In organic farming, the influence of weather was also observed more closely. The days that were favorable for sowing or planting fruit plants according to the calendar were usually warmer than others. Favorable days for sowing deciduous crops were heavily rainy. Dreamers for planting root crops tended to cold weather and frost. When the time was favorable for sowing and planting flowering plants, the days were mostly sunny and clear.
It follows that hay weather culture is divided into four groups: deciduous, root, fruiting and flowering.
Leafy vegetables include all types of salads, spinach, mache lettuce, all types of cabbage plants, including rutabaga and cauliflower, leeks and all herbs.
Root vegetables are carrots, celery, red radish, white and black radish, black salsify, beetroot, beets, onions, garlic and potatoes.
Fruit vegetables include peas, beans, soybeans, zucchini, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, all kinds of berries and fruits.
It is generally considered that the time which is favorable for sowing and planting individual plants, is also the best time for all work around these plants. So we plant potatoes at a good time for root crops. Later, on days that are favorable for root vegetables, it is also dug up. Such potatoes withstand better even in winter. Lettuce is sown and replanted during the leafy vegetable season, and for the winter we also pull it out and store it in the cellar on those days that are favorable for leafy plants.
For herbalists, it is interesting to note that when analyzing the content of herbs, they found that during the first lunar quarter they had more medicinal substances in the upper parts, in the leaves and in the flower, and in the last lunar quarter in the roots. The finding is useful advice to collectors of medicinal herbs that grow in the organic garden or outside it.