Gardening by the Moon Weekend To-Do
An idea as old as agriculture, based both folklore and superstition but there are scientific ideas to back it up.
- Lunar Phase: Full Moon, Thursday, January 28 -- Looks like it's going to wet for the next week
- Saturday-Sunday: Moon in the sign of Gemini - Plant vines, weed, and cultivate
- It's a bit early for the early season vines. Although recommended now, I'd wait until the mid of February to plant early season vines for the best selections.
Later in the Week
- Monday-Thursday: Moon in the sign of Pisces/Leo - Plant Seasonal Color, harvest, weed, and control pests
- Blackberry and Raspberry vines should have two applications of dormant spray to control Berry Mite. Berry Mite is a tiny insect that causes the berries only to ripen halfway. By the time you discover the problem, it is too late to control it.
Other Things To-do
- Now is a great time to select fruit trees but pick a size best suited for your yard. 'Dwarf' fruit trees come in many different sizes. Here are the typical heights: Semi-Dwarf 12 to 18', Dwarf 10' to 15', Ultra Dwarf 8' to 10', and Genetic Dwarf 6' to 8'.
- Blueberries are available now and make an excellent companion plant to Azaleas, Camellias, Hosta, and others in shady areas. 6 to 12 Blueberry plants should yield 3 to 6 quarts of berries per year.
- This is a good weekend to visit your favorite garden center and browse the seed rack. January is an excellent month to sow vegetable and flower seeds into flats for planting later in the spring.