9th Weekend Of The Spring Gardening Season

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: Waxing Half Begins On Saturday, May 9: Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 10
  • Saturday-Monday: Moon in the sign of Aquarius/Pisces - Plant root crops. fertilize water, and cultivate, 
    • As the weather warms up, it’s important to keep your container plants hydrated! To prevent them from getting stressed out, make sure to water all your container plants regularly through October. For established plants, daily watering is especially important on days when temperatures exceed 85 degrees. 
    • When the soil is tilled to get rid of weeds, plants soak up water fast! To keep the water from rolling away, a watering basin is a great idea. Plus, tilling helps keep those pesky plants out from under the plants you want to grow.
    • A handheld cultivator is an effective method for controlling weeds. These devices are available with either a long or short handle.

Later in the Week

  • Wednesday-Thursday; Moon in the sign of  Aries - Harvest, control pests 
    • Beneficial nematodes are now applied to the soil surrounding tomato plants to control the pupal stage of the Tomato Hornworm. This stage precedes the emergence of the adult moth. The adult moth lays eggs on the plant(s), which hatch into the large green worm with a horn-like structure on its tail.
    • To prevent snails from ascending into the canopy of citrus and other shrubs, secure Copper Tape to the trunk approximately two feet above the ground. While the Copper Tape will not eliminate the snails, it will effectively impede their forward movement.
Other Things To-do
  • May is an ideal month for planting melons. Transplants for Watermelon, Honey Dew, Cantaloupes, Muskmelons, and Pumpkins are now available. When planting, provide ample space for the plants to spread and water at the base of each plant.
  • When planting corn, ensure that it is planted closely together in rows or hills. Corn is pollinated by the wind. The absence of pollination is the primary reason for the missing kernels in a corn cob.