Does the moon influence tomato growth?
Planting by the moon is a method that has been practised in rural communities for over two thousand years. It is believed that planting by the phases of the Moon provides a superior garden. Seeds germinate faster. Plants are hardier and more disease-resistant. They blossom sooner and bear more fruit.
Just as importantly, they better resist the stress of harsh weather, drought and insect infestation. We have not tried this yet, but we include this information because it is widely practised in rural communities and many people swear by it.
What are the moon’s phases?
The moon waxes (increases) and wanes (decreases) over a period of about twenty-eight days.
This cycle from New Moon to New Moon is called the lunation cycle and is divided into four parts commonly called quarters or phases.
The best way to use moon gardening techniques is to buy a special calendar. Fortunately, so many modern gardeners use moon planting, that calendars are generally available in good gardening shops in most areas. You can also buy then on-line. Other sources for Moon phase information are the weather page of your local newspaper, almanacs and gardening magazines.
FIRST QUARTER: The first quarter/phase begins at New Moon. Many calendars will show it as a blackened moon (dead moon) indicating that there is no moonlight to be seen on the first night since the moon lies between the earth and the sun. The New Moon is waxing and is a time for new beginnings that favour personal growth and in the garden it is time for germination. The Earth begins to breathe in.
SECOND QUARTER: The second quarter/phase starts about seven-plus days after the New Moon and ends with the Full Moon. The sun and moon are ninety degrees apart. The waxing powers of the moon are especially strong at this time – more births come into this world during this phase. This is the best quarter for planting tomatoes.
THIRD QUARTER: The third quarter/phase begins at Full Moon – the moon has covered half of its journey around the Earth. This is when the sun and moon are opposite and sunlight shines fully on the moon. Calendars often indicate this day as white full moon. The Full Moon stands for illumination, completion and unrest. Fertilize (organic) during the 3rd or 4th quarter when the moon is in a water sign.
FOURTH QUARTER: The fourth quarter/phase begins halfway (about twenty-one days into the lunation cycle) between the Full Moon and next New Moon. The sun and moon are again at ninety degrees apart and the waning powers of the moon are especially weak. This phase is a time of reorganization, reflection and riddling oneself of unnecessary things in order to make room for the coming New Moon. Cultivate the soil, weed the garden, employ pest management and remove unwanted plants.
Anyone who sees the tides change due to the pull of the Moon’s gravity on earth will not doubt the influence of the Moon on daily life. Similarly you can observe the same rhythms in the rising and falling of sap in plants, in changes in weather and rainfall.
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Annette Welsford has a partial degree in Horticulture and a Post Graduate Certificate in marketing. Having lived in the cold, temperate and hot parts of Australia and the UK, she has gained experience over the years with gardening in a variety of climates. Annette also worked for a fertilizer company where she was responsible for developing, editing and publishing a range of technical manuals on nutrition and fungal diseases for a wide range of horticultural crops including tomatoes. Annette is Managing Director of Commonsense Marketing Pty Ltd, a publishing and marketing company, responsible for the editing, design and worldwide marketing of the How to Grow books, and other products. Commonsense Marketing also provides expert offline and online marketing consulting and design services to a variety of small to medium sized businesses.
