Moon Gardening

Ever heard of Feng Shui & Gardening? Found this an interesting read and wanna share with all of you.

Sunday March 8, 2009
Moon Gardening
VASTHU SASTRA BY T.SELVA

The ancient rhythms of Nature are still the most effective.

WANT to have an awesome garden or a great harvest? Follow the phases of the Moon, as the ancients did.

In Vasthu Sastra, besides ensuring the land is of the proper shape, and plants and object placed correctly, choosing the right time to plant is also important in creating harmony. Because, just as the Moon is known to influence the human body and behaviour and the tides of the sea, it also has an effect on planting, nurturing, and harvesting.

The Moon’s different phases can stimulate root and leaf growth and spur seeds to sprout faster. Flowers bloom larger and brighter, fruits grow juicy, and gardening generally becomes more effective in certain phases. Till today, farmers in India observe Moon stages when planting to ensure fruitful yields.

To explain it very simply, the Moon’s gravitational pull tugs on the surfaces of Earth’s oceans, causing high and low tides; due to the positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth at various points, the highest tides occur during the new Moon phase, and when the Sun and Moon are lined up with Earth.

Vasthu Sastra precepts say that the Moon also causes moisture to rise in soil, which encourages growth. Studies have shown that the highest amount of moisture in the soil occurs when the Moon is in its full phase; this is also when – as tests have proven – seeds will absorb the most water.

The Moon has four phases, each lasting about a week: new, first quarter, full, and last or third quarter. “Waxing” is the term describing the Moon on its way from new to full, and “waning”, when it is moving from full to the last quarter; the latter is also known as the dark of the Moon.

New Moon: Seeds should be sown during this phase because the new Moon helps seeds to swell and burst easily. This is when ocean tides are highest – and it is also when gravity pulls water up in soil. This factor, along with the increasing moonlight, creates balanced root and leaf growth.

Plants that should be planted in this phase: cereal crops, like maize and barley; leafy greens like asparagus, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and tomatoes.

Crops that prefer the first quarter, a few days before the full Moon: beans, melons, and pepper.

Full Moon: The Moon’s influence on water is at its strongest during this phase; this is the best time to harvest, and the best time to do it is before midday. This is also the best phase in which to do any baking because the Moon’s influence improves yeast and encourages dough to rise.

Waning Moon: It is best to plant root vegetables such as carrots, onions, groundnuts, and potatoes in this period.

Dark of the Moon: The decreased gravitational pull during this phase offers the best time to prune, do maintenance work, and prepare the ground for planting.

Some farmers who plant according to Moon phases also follow match the phases with their Zodiac cycles, but this can be too complicated for home gardeners. If you’re interested in this aspect, you should consult an astrologer.

Vasthu Sastra also points out that tall plants should be placed in the southern and western quadrants of the plot of land, and vegetables should ideally be planted in the northern and eastern quadrants.

Also, it is recommended that the plot should be one level, or higher in the south-west quadrant and lower in the north-east portion.

About the author:
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T. Selva, The Star’s Sunday Metro Editor, has spent years researching and writing about the ancient Indian science of construction, better known as ‘Indian feng shui’.

He is the first disciple of 7th generation Vasthu Sastra Master Yuvaraj Sowma from Chennai, India.