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.
- Saturday-Sunday: Moon in the sign of Aquarius - Harvest, weed, plant onions
- After weeding a vegetable garden, apply a one to two-inch layer of mulch. Not only will it reduce other weeds germinating, but it will also conserve moisture. Also, the plant debris from cedars, redwoods, oaks, and pines is an inexpensive mulch.
Later in the Week
- Monday-Thursday: Moon in the sign of Pisces/Aries - Plant for root growth, control pests, harvest, and weed.
- Harvest edibles in the morning hours as this is when they’re the most flavorful. The one exception is corn. Ideally, you pick the ears just before dropping them into a pan of boiling water.
- The summer worm season is at the halfway point, so be on the lookout for worms on Tomatoes, Geraniums, Flowering Tobacco, and others. Budworm and Hornworms
Other Things To-do
- With maturing fruits like apples, peaches, and nectarines, support the bending branches with 2 x 4's. The supports are placed under the branches where they begin to bend. Also, removing those fruits ripening at the end of the branches will reduce the weight and help prevent the limbs from breaking.
- Perennials should be cut back when they finished blooming. This would include Mexican Evening Primrose, Penstemon, Lavenders, and others. I would then plant, Vinca Rosea, Zinnias, Salvia, or Marigolds to add color for the rest of the summer and fall.