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Using Astrology in the Garden

Planting by the Moon:  Gardeners for ages have known that planting by the moon can help grow better crops. 

In very general terms, waxing moons (time before the full moon) is better for handling above ground crops. 

Waning moon (after the full moon) is better for some root crops and doing garden maintenance like weeding and trimming.

Garden Astrology: Using the planetary positions at the time of planting can affect how that plant grows later on, so think of it as checking the horoscope for your garden. 

Some signs are better for planting than others, some signs are better for pruning and weeding the garden.

Zodiac Home Herb Garden

By Janet Suzalski
Cultivating a zodiac home herb garden has been practiced amongst many civilizations for centuries. In fact, once upon a time every doctor too was an astrologer because having knowledge of astrology and the zodiac was absolutely essential in being able to diagnose and treat many types of illnesses. There are specific illnesses most commonly associated with a particular zodiac sign. Having this knowledge enabled the doctor to assign a particular herb or herbs to the patient.

A zodiac garden is tailored to an individuals astrological sign. Our ancestors studies the universe, the stars, the planets and nature thus structuring their lives around the amazing sciences stored in the universe. Specific to this topic, these findings provided a clear direction for knowing which types of herbs to plant and when to plant them.

Many individuals of today are carrying on this practice and personalizing their gardens to their specific astrological signs. The following is an outline of the twelve astrological signs, the body parts that is ruled by the sign, and the herbs associated with the corresponding sign:

Body: Head
Herbs: carnation, chervil, basil, nettle, catmint, wormwood, geranium, cypress pine.

Body: Neck & Throat
Herbs: primrose, mint, thyme, violet, marshmallow, catnip, rose, carnation, saffron, honeysuckle, jasmine, tansy, wormwood, yarrow, soapwort.

Body: Hands, Arms, Shoulders And Lungs
Herbs: mint, parsley, anise, Dill, lavender, marjoram, licorice, fennel, honeysuckle, horehound, oregano.

Body: Breast And Stomach
Herbs: parsley, sage, aloe, evening primrose, myrtle, cinnamon, lemon balm, hyacinth, bay leaves, water lily.

Body: Back, Spine & Heart
Herbs: dill, lemon balm, tarragon, rue, chamomile, clove, sandalwood, frankincense, camphor, eyebright, sunflower.

Body: Intestines & Nervous System
Herbs: chervil, dill, caraway, mint, morning glory, lily, horehound, lavender, marjoram.

Body: Buttocks, Lower Back And Kidneys
Herbs: Catnip, thyme, elderberry, iris, lilies, ivy, St John's wart, lemon balm, bergamot.

Body: The Genitals
Herbs: catmint, basil, sage, catnip, honeysuckle, nettle, onion, coriander, garlic, wormwood, elder.

Body: Liver, Thighs & Hips.
Herbs: chervil, saffron, sage, basil, sage, borage, nutmeg, clove.

Body: Knees, Bones & Joints
Herbs: dill, tarragon, caraway, rosemary, chamomile, lambs ears, rosemary, marjoram.

Body: Ankles, Circulatory System & Shins
Herbs: daffodil, sage, comfrey, rosemary, valerian, fennel, mint.

Body: Feet
Herbs: sage, lemon balm, basil, lilac, nutmeg, borage, lilies, clove.

Each sign of the zodiac is associated with one of the following four elements; these elements are water, air, fire and earth. As the moon is traveling through a particular sign of the zodiac it is in one of the four aforementioned elements. For instance, if the moon is in an air sign like Libra it is a good time to plant herbs and root crops.

The following is an outline of each element, its corresponding zodiac sign and the ideal time to cultivate and/or harvest your herbs:

Element- Earth: Zodiac Sign: Capricorn, Virgo and Taurus. These signs are fertile signs and therefore a good time for growing herbs.

Element- Water: Zodiac Sign: Scorpio, Cancer, Pisces. It is a good Idea to plant annuals in these signs.

Element- Fire: Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius, Leo & Aries. It is best to harvest during these signs.

Element- Air: Zodiac Sign: Gemini, Libra & Aquarius. Harvesting or cultivating is ideal when the moon is in an air sign.

Happy Zodiac Gardening!

Janet Suzalski is an herb garden enthusiast and enjoys spending her time writing & teaching others about herb gardening. For more great information and tips on cultivating a home herb garden visit her site at and while you are there feel free to sign up to her FREE Mini-Course on Herb Gardening Secrets.   Article Source:

Star Gardening: A Guide to
Gardening by Starlight

Gardening by the Signs of the Zodiac

The first farmers were probably the first practical astrologers. Their crops seemed to respond to the signs in the heavens and this became a convenient method of ensuring good harvests and provided a functional approach to husbandry.

Modern agriculture echoes many of these ancient principles.  Certain seasons brought changing conditions which seemed to either help or hinder the growth of crops. Each season presented different alignments in the constellations and these patterns would evolve into horticultural astrology as it is often practiced today. The following is a brief outline of the zodiacal roots of gardening by the stars and signs of the zodiac.

Pruning by the Moon
It was believed that in order to insure against infestations when pruning vine crops, trees and woody growths the following formula applied. The Moon must be full in the constellations of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, or Sagittarius. When pruning is done during this period the plants will not suffer from parasites nor disease.

Ancient gardeners were believers in never grafting plants or trees when the moon was waning or not visible. Decreasing moonlight or the total absence of moonlight was considered crucial in the successful propagation and grafting of all types of vegetation.

Harvesting by the Signs of the Zodiac
Crops and other plants that were to be preserved for future use were always cut while the light of the moon was decreasing. This was believed to aid in the length of time that produce could be stored without spoiling. This was especially true of timber which was to be used in construction. If wood is cut at the end of the winter and during the decline in moonlight it will be hard and durable.

Plant Regeneration
When cutting or gleaning crops and plants that produce more than one yield the moon should be waxing and in its first quarter. Also, the moon must be high in the sky at this time and in conjunction with the planets Venus or Jupiter. When this equation is followed yields will increase and new growth will be rapid.

Sowing Seeds by the Moon
Sow or plant your garden when the moon is in Taurus, Virgo or Scorpio and is near Saturn. This is the time of maximum benefit for seeds and transplants which, if planted now, will grow with strength and vitality. Also, when the moon is in Libra or Capricorn it is a good time to weed your garden and trim trees and shrubs.

When to Avoid Planting
Never plant any type of vegetation when Saturn is in one of the fixed signs of the zodiac. This will cause poor crops and limited harvests. In ancient times this stellar alignment was associated with famine and death.

pink flowerThe Stellar Gardener
Planting and husbandry by astrological signs should be examined by any gardener as an insightful way to round out ones knowledge of horticulture. The ancients studied the natural order of things. It worked for them and it will still work for us if we care to heed these echoes from the past.

Article Source:  Eugene DeFazzio is the webmaster of

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Moon Gardening: Planting by Moonlight

Moon Phases and Planting

Planting by the phases of the moon is a method of cultivation as old as agriculture and civilization. Based both in tradition and superstition, the character and growth traits of plants were seen to vary with the phases of the moon. Through the corridors of time this rhythm of growth was recorded and passed down to following generations.

Today we have access to this half forgotten knowledge and what has endured is a schedule of plant growth that we can use just as those gardeners of yore. It is an example of mankind's struggle to understand and harness the forces of nature and in so doing master this world.

Moon, Tides, Seeds and Water

The Earth is in a gravity well that is constantly altered by both the sun, moon and planets. The ocean tides are at their highest during the time of the full moon, when the sun and moon are lined up with the earth. The ancients believed that as the moon draws the tides in the seas, it also draws upon all water, causing moisture to swell up in the earth, which promotes growth. This is the best time for planting seeds.

The Full Moon: A window of opportunity for planting seeds

When the moon is full the lunar gravity draws water up and causes seeds to germinate. It was also believed, in ancient times, that the increasing moonlight created balanced root and leaf growth. This, they thought, was the best time for planting above ground annual crops that produce their seeds outside the fruit. Examples of such crops are lettuce, spinach, celery, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and grain crops. Through time and trials cucumbers were thought to like this phase also, even though they are an exception to the rule.

The Second Quarter Moon: A window of opportunity for planting above ground crops

In the second quarter moon (i.e. waxing half moon) the pull of gravity is less, but the moonlight is substantial and on the increase, which was believed to encourage strong leaf growth. It was generally considered a good time for most types of planting and the prime time for this was usually two days before the full moon. The types of crops that prefer the second quarter moon are annuals that produce their fruits above the ground, but the seeds form inside the fruit, such as beans, melons, peas, peppers, squash, and tomatoes.

The Third Quarter Moon: A window of opportunity for planting root crops

When the moon enters the third quarter its light is diminishing (i.e. waning half moon), the light energy is dwindling. But during this time the gravitational pull is still quite high, creating increased moisture in the soil. Also, at this time the moonlight is decreasing, which our forefathers believed was putting energy into the roots. This was thought to be an excellent time for planting root crops which include beets, carrots, onions, potatoes, and peanuts. It is also considered a good time for planting perennials, biennials, bulbs and transplanting because of the active root growth. Pruning is also best done in the third quarter moon.

The New Moon: An opportunity for maintaining the garden

At the time of the new moon both the gravitational pull and the moonlight are decreasing and was thus considered a resting period. Growth during this period was believed to be stable and steady providing strength to the plants and a good time for maintenance. This was predicted to be the best time to cultivate, harvest, transplant and prune.

Brother Sun and Sister Moon

The role of the sun and the moon in agriculture is undeniable. The sun powers the forces of growth and the moon enhances or discourages the various stages of plant formation. This was believed by many generations of gardeners to be the ultimate guide to robust crops. We can either accept or omit this system of understanding the nature of plant maturation but in the end we are but stewards in this cycle of life.

Eugene DeFazzio is the webmaster of
Article Source: Eugene DeFazzio

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