Planting by the moon is an idea as old as agriculture. It's based both in folklore and superstition, but there are scientific ideas to back it up. The Earth is in a large gravitational field, influenced by both the sun and moon. The tides are highest at the time of the new and the full moon, when sun and moon are lined up with Earth. Just as the moon pulls the tides in the oceans, it also pulls upon the subtle bodies of water, causing moisture to rise in the earth, which encourages growth. The highest amount of moisture is in the soil at this time, and tests have proven that seeds will absorb the most water at the time of the full moon.

Phases of the moon

The moon has four phases, or quarters, lasting about seven days each. The first two quarters are during the waxing or increasing light, between the new and the full moon. The third and fourth quarters are after the full moon when the light is waning or decreasing.

At the new moon, the lunar gravity pulls water up and causes the seeds to swell and burst. This factor, coupled with the increasing moonlight, creates balanced root and leaf growth. This is the best time for planting above ground annual crops that produce their seeds outside the fruit. Examples are lettuce, spinach, celery, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and grain crops. Cucumbers like this phase also, even though they are an exception to that rule.

In the second quarter the gravitational pull is less, but the moonlight is strong, creating strong leaf growth. It is generally a good time for planting, especially two days before the full moon. The types of crops that prefer the second quarter are annuals that produce above ground, but their seeds form inside the fruit, such as beans, melons, peas, peppers, squash and tomatoes. Mow lawns in the first or second quarter to increase growth.

After the full moon, as the moon wanes, the energy is drawing down. The gravitation pull is high, creating more moisture in the soil, but the moonlight is decreasing, putting energy into the roots. This is a favorable time for planting root crops, including beets, carrots, onions, potatoes and peanuts. It is also good for perennials, biennials, bulbs and transplanting because of the active root growth. Pruning is best done in the third quarter, in the sign of Scorpio.

In the fourth quarter there is decreased gravitational pull and moonlight, and it is considered a resting period. This is also the best time to cultivate, harvest, transplant and prune. Mow lawns in the third or fourth quarter to retard growth.

A daytime moon?

Ever wonder why you can sometimes see the moon when it's still daylight out?

Actually, you can see any celestial object in the daytime sky, provided the object is bright enough and large enough. So, if the moon is bright enough to be seen by day, why can't we see it every day? When the moon is full, and at its brightest, it sits directly opposite the sun in the sky, which means it is below the horizon while the sun is up. The new moon rises during the day, but sits too close to the sun to be seen. It sets at night, which is why the night sky is dark during the new moon. It's only as the moon gets close to its quarter phases that the conditions are ideal for it to be seen during the day. That is, it is bright enough, far enough away from the sun to be seen, and rises or sets during daylight hours. When all of these conditions come together, and when the sky is clear enough, the moon becomes visible during the daytime. It doesn't matter whether or not it's day or night, the moon shines the same way all the time: because it's reflecting the light of the sun.

Usually we don't notice it in the daytime, because its glow is obscured by the glare of the daylight sky. But if the sky is dark enough (like late in the afternoon or early in the morning, or if the sky is partly overcast) you will see the moon shining.

Typically, you will see the daytime moon when it's full or near to full, for two reasons.

The full moon reflects more light and thus has a better chance of being noticed that in a half or quarter moon. The closer the moon gets to the new phase (either waxing or waning), the closer it gets to the position of the sun and is thus lost in the sun's glare.

Red moon

There are few situations that can cause a red moon. The most common way to see the moon turn red is when the moon is low in the sky, just after moonrise or before it's about to set below the horizon. Just like the sun, light from the moon has to pass through a larger amount of atmosphere when it's down near the horizon, compared to when it's overhead. The Earth's atmosphere can scatter sunlight, and since moonlight is just scattered sunlight, it can scatter that too. Red light can pass through the atmosphere and not get scattered much, while light at the blue end of the spectrum is more easily scattered. When you see a red moon, you're seeing the red light that wasn't scattered, but the blue and green light have been scattered away. That's why the moon looks red.

Blue moon

The name blue moon can have two definitions. A blue moon can be the second full moon in a calendar month. Or it can be the third of fourth full moons in one season.

Whenever two full moons appeared in a single month (which happens on average every 21/2 to 3 years), the second has been christened a "Blue Moon." Thus the phrase once in a blue moon. This expression refers to occurrences that are uncommon, though not truly rare.

Butch Carico is a Cabell County Master Gardener.