I went into the local dollar store, and not only found the long envelopes, but also spotted a plastic covered daily planner that looked like it would be really handy for garden schedules and notes. I wish now I'd bought two, one for practice and one for real!
Having nothing else to do with my life these days, I decided to read up on planting by the moon. My grandmother, who was the best gardener in my world, always planted according to the phases of the moon. Although I'd never paid much mind to the practice, I figured "why not?" I mean, it sure can't hurt, can it? Actually, I had just read May Dreams Gardens, and Carol referred to her blog about "By the Light of the Silvery Moon". There she stated "According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac for 2010
, I should plant the onions and radishes and other root crops between the full moon and the new moon. This will be between March 1 – 14 this year or after March 29th. I should then plant the peas, lettuce, and spinach sometime between the new moon and the full moon, between March 15 – 29th."Armed with this information and my new daily planner, I found an excellent moon phase calendar website, and began plotting my seed planting schedule. Then, to be doubly sure to have the best garden ever, I also noted the best days for planting according to Ed Hume Seeds "Moonbook".
On the planner's calendar, I entered "R" (for root crops) on all dates between full and new moons, and "L" (for leafy crops) on dates between new and full moons. I then entered "P" (for planting days) according to the dates given in Moonbook.
*click photo to enlarge*Here is why I wish I'd purchased two books. I "practiced" on this one, using an ink pen. I really need to give it a bit more studying. I'm sure I didn't get all my veggies listed, and I need to peruse the time line further. The "P" dates just didn't quite fall on the days I want to "P"! I may have to ignore the Moonbook dates and just go by the moon phase.
*click photo to enlarge*I printed out my garden plan and inserted the pages inside the plastic cover. That way I'll have my entire garden reference right at my fingertips, in a waterproof/dirt proof cover.
I feel as though I got a lot of bang for my buck at the dollar store!
Well, i'm not sold on the whole farmer's almanac thing, but then again - I'm pretty weird! On the tomatoes, I certainly understand your dillemma. Heck, I wanna try them all!
ReplyDeleteI hope your "p" dates pan out for you and produce a bumper crop. Enjoyed your story about the Mexico trip. For a granny, you sure live dangerously!
ReplyDeleteEG, it's just that I'm bored out of my freaking mind! But I'll be heading home soon, I have hotel reservations for Feb. 28th.
ReplyDeletePretty soon I'll be growing tomatoes in the front driveway ;-)
walk2write, I'm one of those people who makes planting schedules and garden plans every year, but seldom follow them. I just get the urge to plant, and I do! Wherever!
ReplyDeleteOh, I LOVE the cover of the book. That's just fantastic!!
ReplyDeleteRibbit, I thought it would be pretty handy to have in the garden. I'll redo it with the actual plant names once I get them planted. I don't know how many times I'd be in my garden last year and wonder what variety tomato I was picking. If I get in the habit of taking this book out with me (or mount a mailbox in the garden to keep it in), maybe I'll be better able to identify what I'm harvesting!
ReplyDeleteI always say that I would start a gardening notebook but never do....I supposed such things are meant only for the disciplined (which I am not unfortunately). I've been meaning to pick up a book about biodynamic farming,which I think also partly involves planting by the moon phases. So many gardeners swear by it. Maybe you will become a convert by the end of the summer!
ReplyDeleteI have a friend that swears by the moon planting schedule. I've always been too impatient and just plant when I feel like it. It's never been an issue, but I do wonder if I might eke out a slightly larger harvest if I paid attention to the moon.
ReplyDeleteI really like the planner... likely much better than my tablet and three ring binder. ;) I'm so anxious to get started with the seeds. Tell me "not yet".
ReplyDeleteThomas, I kept extensive notes on the laptop last year....planting dates,harvest dates and amounts, etc., but it wasn't right out in the garden with me, so there were times I'd want to note something but forget by the time I got inside. I've seen mailboxes in gardens, to hold pencil and paper. I think that's what I'd like to do. Or even just have it handy in the garden shed.
ReplyDeleteBiodynamic farming is an interesting concept, but when I get to the point of stuffing cow horns with poop and burying them in my garden...well, that's when I'll retire ;-)
The Mom, that's the way I've always been. I love to plan, but seldom follow those plans. I'm really going to try this year. Really!
ReplyDeleteI think garden planning is sublimated digging in dirt. I keep wondering if it isn't time to start seeds. I may crack and start peppers just to get them in the ground.
ReplyDeleteDi, NOT YET! But sooner for you than for me. I planted too early last year, except peppers which were perfect. My tomato plants got too large, I'll delay starting those by a week or two this year.
ReplyDeleteI have been reading about planting by the moon too. After seeing that huge moon a few days ago it kind of brings it to your attention. I am going to plant some more onions Feb 5-6, does that sound right? I read that the last few days are barren times and you should not sow things... I'm only slightly confused :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed by the planner -- and your printed-out garden plan. My "plan" this year is a pencil sketch and a calendar based on Clemson University's agricultural research planting dates for this area. I figure this is one of the few times in my life I'll be living down the road from an agricultural university, so I should use their timetables -- altho I admit to being curious about gardening by the moon. :)
ReplyDeleteLove the planner. I started seeds and planted by the FA Moon dates last season. I think I did alright. Will try and do it again this year.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck! :-)
Well maybe next time buy one, but write in pencil. Pen always gets you into trouble. I love how you have your garden plan all in plastic. I haven't even made a garden plan. I keep thinking about it just to have it on the blog, but who am I kidding? I so rarely put my plans on paper.
ReplyDeleteYour plan looks great. That is interesting about the moon and planting. I am going to plant tomatoes for the first time. I though I would give it a go!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed visiting your blog and you have a very cute dog!
Dan, yes...between full and new, according to that calendar. Now remember, I've never done this before! Liisa said she did it last year, though, and you know how nice her garden looked and performed. On the other hand, I plant haphazardly, and don't have too many failures ;-)
ReplyDeleteLiisa, thanks, I'll need a lot of luck for me to stay on a schedule!
ReplyDeleteDaphne, that's the problem down here....the only pencil I have is out in the shed, in my tool box. I don't ever remember to buy pencils here, as I don't have a junk drawer! At home, I can find nearly everything in my junk drawer.
ReplyDeleteI love the plastic, too. I might have to drive all the way back to Blythe to buy another one.
Amy, moon phase planting is a very old concept that is still being practiced by many today. I'm not convinced it works, but willing to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your tomatoes! Last year was my first to grow them from seed, and now I'm hooked.
Annie is a cutie, as is her brother Otto. Wait until you see the photo of her that I'm putting in today's blog ;-)
Stefaneener (I almost missed your comment!), I love to play in the dirt. An impeccable manicure is not one of my many virtues. Give me good old dirt under the fingernails any day.
ReplyDeleteMeredith, I've always planted, more or less, according to the schedules given by our county extension office and WSU. I say more or less, because I really just plant as the urge hits me! I am not terribly structured with my planting timetable.
ReplyDeleteI received a Farmer's Almanac for Christmas, but haven't even touched it. Now you've given me reason to. Oh boy. One more thing to read and get confused about!
ReplyDeleteAG! I was just reading an article about planting by the moon phases. According to the moon phase down here, I should be planting root crops this weekend. I wonder if that means I should plant some of my carrots now? Having an almanac on hand would be a good investment, huh? Wonderful charts and calendars. I'm sure you'll make it work. You ALWAYS do!
ReplyDeleteKalena Michele, you don't need to get the almanac, just follow that link to the moon phase calendar, the one I gave on this blog. It has phases for every month and for multiple years. Then get yourself a calendar and mark the full moons and the new moons. Mark each day between full and new with an "R" and each day between new and full with an "L". For all crops that grow below ground, plant on "R" days, for the leafy crops that grow above ground, plant on "L" days. Dan says the last few days are "barren days". I hadn't heard this, but to be safe, maybe stick to the middle days that you've marked.
ReplyDeleteAnnie's Granny, I'm back to say: I sure do like your new "do" with that lovely straw hat. What a great photo, lady!
ReplyDeleteLOL, Di! As I was telling Kitsap, in another post comment, it's not a new photo. It was taken a few years ago, but doesn't it make me look more like a gardener?
ReplyDelete