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: New Moon April 30,
- Saturday-Sunday: Moon in the sign of Taurus - Plant seasonal color
- Marigolds and Alyssum are planted in a vegetable garden as they repel some insects and add a splash of color.
- Vinca Rosa, Victorian Salvia, and Portulaca are recommended for hot spots and require little water. They provide a wide range of colors and bloom until November.
Later in the Week
- Monday-Wednesday: Moon in the sign of Gemini- Plant melons and vines
- May is the month to plant watermelons, cantaloupes, muskmelons, etc. The key to growing good melons is a lot of sun, at least six hours, and a regular amount of water. The water intake increases the size of the fruit; however, an overabundance of moisture will cause the melons to crack and rot.
Other Things To-do
- When planting corn, it's better to plant in many short rows than in several long rows. With long rows, you get poor pollination and incomplete ears of corn. The wind is corn's chief pollinator, so every ear has a complete set of kernels; every silk has to be pollinated.
- To keep a poinsettia plant compact, pinch back the new growth every six weeks now through August. After that, I'd remove a third of the new shoots unless it's terribly leggy and fertilize monthly with an organic Liquid Plant Food.
- It is an excellent time to reseed bare spots in turf with Scott's EZ Seed or similar product before the weather turns hot. Scott's EZ Seed combines grass seed, fertilizer, and a top dressing all in one product. To thicken up a thinning lawn, you'll need to reseed the entire area.