Planting by the Signs: Planting Rules part 3

Planting by the Signs:

Planting Rules: part 3

The first basic concept is to plant in the Light of the Moon (1st and 2nd Quarter) for crops that produce above ground. The Dark of the Moon (3rd and 4th quarter) for crops that will produce their yield below ground. Both planting Light or Dark of the Moon should take place when the moon is in one of the fruitful signs or even semi-fruitful. 

That is the basic concept. However, let's examine it a little closer, and look at the fruitful signs. 

The Moon Phases

1st Quarter: Best for above ground crops, and annuals that produce their seeds outside of the fruit. Many of these will be leafy green vegetables. This is the best quarter to plant your grains.

2nd Quarter: This quarter is also good for above ground crops, but is better for annuals that produce their seeds inside the fruit. This is the quarter best suited for peas, beans, peppers, pumpkins, squash. It is also good for planting grains.

3rd Quarter: Best for root crops. These will include your bulbs, perennials and even biennials. This is the proper quarter for planting those crops that will be harvested in the Spring and planted in the fall. Ideal for all trees, shrubs, and bushes, as well. Crops such as radishes, potatoes, carrots, and beets are best planted during this quarter. 

4th Quarter: Less desirable than the 3rd Quarter, but can still be planted in for root crops. Generally, this quarter is seen as a non-planting phase. It is useful for weeding, hoeing, and destroying pests (especially if done during a barren sign). 

The Signs

The Signs you want to plant in are going to be the Fruitful signs. There are semi-fruitful signs, as well, that you can plant in if you must. However, if you can plant when the moon is in the fruitful sign it is best to do so then.

Cancer: The most fruitful sign. It rules the breast and the stomach. This sign will give you quicj germination, good growth, and good yield. Cancer is ruled by the Moon thus giving it a natural affintiy for the Moon's energy and growth. 

Scorpio: 2nd most fruitful sign. It rules over the "secrets", aka the genitals. Its ruling planet is Pluto and seconded by Mars. It is excellent for planting and transplanting since Pluto and Mars together give their energy of "rebirth" and "action". The moon is Scorpio is ideal for producing strong vines and sturdy plants. Tomato and corn are two ideal crops to be planted during this sign.

Pisces: Rules the feet, and is the 3rd most fruitful sign. Pisces is ruled by Neptune making it a great sign for plants that are root crops and need osmosis. 

Taurus: Rules the neck and throat. It is a semi-fruitful sign and is an earth sign. It is good for root crops when quick growth is desired. It is ruled by Venus meaning it is good for procreation, offspring, and fruitfulness in general It is good for lettuce, cabbage, and other leafy vegetables.

Capricorn: Rules the knees, and is the 2nd in the semi-fruitful signs. It will produce rapid root growth where root, stalk, or pulp is desired. It is not a good sign for grain planting. Capricorn is ruled by Saturn which rules farms and farming so that is a positive. However, it also rules other areas such as: constraint, barren ground, poor circulation, starvation, and barriers (among other restrictive energies). So while Capricorn is an earth sign it is an unforgiving earth sign. Capricorn can produce decent growth, but do not expect more than is earned if you use this sign. 

Libra: Rules the reins, aka the Kidneys. It is the only masculine and air sign that is semi-fruitful. What makes this sign decent for planting is that its ruling planet is Venus. Which we have already discussed is good for procreation, offspring, and fruitfulness in general. Libra, however, is not good for food producing crops, but is better suited for ornamental gardening. If it is beauty gardening you are going for then Libra is the prime choice planting. 

Sample Chart of Popular Plants/Crops 

Plant/Crop	Moon Phase  *indicates 2nd Phase choice	Signs for Planting
Beans	2nd *1st	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Libra, Taurus
Biennials	3rd *4th	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Bulbs	3rd *4th	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus, Capricorn
Bulbs (for seeds)	2nd	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus, Capricorn
Corn	1st *2nd	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Cucumbers	1st *2nd	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus
Grains	1st *2nd	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Libra
Lettuce	1st *2nd	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus, Libra
Peppers	2nd *1st	Scorpio, Taurus, LIbra, Cacner, Pisces
Perennials	3rd	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus, Capricorn, Libra
Pumpkin	2nd *1st	Scorpio, Taurus, LIbra, Cancer
Tomatoes	2nd *1st	Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus

Planting by the Signs: Part 2 Prepping

Prepping the Soil

source:https://www.pinterest.com/pin/503558802057717528/

Part two's focus is on prepping the soil, fertilization and cultivation. Each practice is important to have proper growth for your plants and crops. Each also has its own moon phase and sign to consider when approaching the job. 

Tilling (prepping the soil before planting)

source:https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Barnardo_boy_ploughing_C_1900.gif

When it comes time to till the soil you want to turn it during the Light of the moon. This will be during the 1st and 2nd quarter moon phases. The preferred signs are the barren signs (Leo, Gemini or Virgo). Since you are tiling the soil you want the ground to stay light and easily broken. The clods of dirt will be easily raked into the beds and rows. This occurs when you till the earth during the light of the moon because the moon's energy is growing and expanding making the soul more easily turned. 

On the other hand if you wait until 3rd or 4th quarters of the moon to till you will find that the dirt is hard and compacted. The moon's energy is waning and thus contracting. It causes the dirt to clump. This will also affect the dirt after your planting causing the dirt to pack in hard around the roots. 

Why Barren Signs for Tilling?

So why do we wait for the moon to be in a barren sign for tilling the earth? When you till the earth you aren't just digging the earth up for planting. You are also digging the roots up to expose, kill, and remove them. That is the main purpose of the barren signs. To kill the weeds and their roots to protect your future plants. The three barren signs for tillign are Leo, Gemini, and Virgo. They are listed here in order of most destructive and thus preferred order for tilling. (Aquarius and Aries are also barren signs, and can be used should the moon not pass into one of the other three during the Light of the Moon phase when you need to till). You have 14 days for the Light of the Moon (1st and 2nd Quarter phases) the moon will move into a one of the barren signs  during that time. Always till while the moon is growing in its energy and power. 

Leo-The Heart. Till the earth during this sign because it is a fire sign. It'll burn the roots. Being that it rules the heart it will bleed out the life force of the exposed weeds and roots.

Gemini- The Arms. A lot of farmers prefer Gemini to Leo. It is an air sign. Tilling during the sign of Gemini will cause the roots and weeds to dry out. It will blow the life out of what is exposed. 

Virgo-The Bowels. While some people don't think of Virgo as being the best sign to use for killing roots because Virgo (the virgin) is an earth sign the forget that the virgin is barren. She will not reproduce and tilling the soil under her sign will make the uprooted weeds the last of their line.

Cultivation (hoeing, weeding, shallow tilling)

While the first tilling is performed during the Light of the Moon preceding tilling (the shallow tilling with a hoe or tiller) will take place during the Dark of the Moon. It needs to be done during the 3rd and 4th quarter phases of the moon and when the moon is a barren sign. 

The hoeing and shallow tilling is not concerned with the making sure the dirt down near the root system soft and supple. This cultivation is concerned with the weeds you are uprooting near and around your plants. Thus it is concerned with the upper layer of the earth. This is why you want to use the Dark of the Moon. 

Using the Dark of the Moon you are using the declining energy of the moon, and this helps destroy the weeds. As mentioned above with the barren sign when it comes to tilling applies here too. You want to cultivate in the barren signs of Leo, Gemini, Virgo, Aquarius, or Aries. 

Fertilizing

Fertilizing your plants has to two factors to consider. The chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers, and the signs under which to use them. 

The signs under which to spread the fertilizer are the fruitful signs: Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces.

If you are using a chemical fertilizer you want to apply it to your plants under the 1st or 2nd quarter of the moon. Why? Chemical fertilizers are not in absolute concord with the soil and plants it is being applied to as it isn't fully of the natural world. This causes them to not be naturally absorbed by the plants Thus, applying it under the Light of the Moon aids in the break down of the chemicals and helps the plants to integrate the fertilizer. 

Organic fertilizers need to be applied when the moon is in its 3rd or 4th quarter. Since they are organic they are part f the natural world. That makes them part of the natural order of plant life. Because of this spreading the organic fertilizer during the Dark of the Moon hastens the process of organic decomposition. 

Watering and Irrigation

Generally, all gardens have to watered some time. Common sense (and the rules of the Signs) dictates that you should water your garden when the moon is in one of the water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces). Should one of the water signs not be near on the calendar the earth signs Taurus or Capricorn are generally helpful. 

Watering or irrigation of the garden is not overly controlled by the phase of the moon. Keep in mind that deep watering is preferable to frequent shallow watering. Deep watering is the process of drenching the plant's root system to make sure it gets adequate water absorption. The water should soak about 8 inches or more below the soils surface. 

When it comes to phases of the moon and watering you might want to consider irrigation under the 1st or 2nd quarter as opposed to the 3rd or 4th quarters. Since the moon's energies are influx during the Light of the Moon it will aid in absorption of water, especially for fruit/vegetable growth.