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: Father’s Day Weekend: Waning Half Begins On June 18: Summer Solstice, Friday, June 20 ( a.k.a the longest day of the year)
• Saturday-Sunday: Moon in the sign of Aquarius - Harvest, weed, and cultivate
  • Valencia Oranges should be ripening this month; however, taste test one for sweetness. If sour, let them hang on the tree, as they will sweeten up in time.

Later in the Week

• Monday-Tuesday: Moon in the sign of  Pisces - Water. transplant, fertilize, and plant root crops. 
  • With temperatures above eighty degrees, water in the morning, as the temperature rises.  My rule of thumb is to have all your watering completed by 11:00 am. 
  • Now is the time to plant another row of beets, radishes, and turnips. A regular planting schedule provides a continuous supply of these vegetables throughout the year. 

Other Things To-do

• June is the last month to fertilize turf until after Labor Day. Fertilizing during July and August is discouraged, as fungus problems can develop from the lush growth.
• Finally, to prevent water from rolling around and out the sides of containerized plants, apply a wetting agent such as E-Z Wet or Percolate Plus.  These products break the surface tension, allowing water to penetrate the root ball of established plants.