Gardening with the Moon – January 2023

Garden with the moon through the lunar calendar for january 2023.

This calendar is based on the biodynamic calendar (based on the work of Maria Thun).

That’s where you’ll find my recommendations for your natural vegetable garden gardening with the moon in this month January 2023.

Lunar Calendar January 2023 (PDF)

WARNING: Do not garden when the ground is frozen!

Here’s your lunar calendar for January 2023 for the garden:

lunar calendar-January-2023 – PDF

This January 2023 lunar calendar, like all calendars for the current year, will be available on the training area from the beginning of the year.

Organize your next gardening season in the best possible way by relying on Nicolas Larzillière’s garden notebook.

Gardening with the moon – the basics

Gardening with the moon is in fashion…

Relying on the moon for gardening is a belief from another time for some, evidence based on concrete observations for others…

It is for everyone to do according to their beliefs and beliefs.

Certain works, particularly carried out by biodynamicists, tend to show that the moon, but more generally the stars, would have some influence on the plants.

The ancients closely followed the phases of the moon…

For biodynamicists, it is rather the lunar cycle that is important to take into account.

I have personally observed that it is better to avoid lunar nodes for sowing or planting…

It is also good to see that seeds sown a few days before the full moon (so in the waxing phase of the moon) will germinate much faster than seeds sown in the waning phase…

For the rest, I think these terms are just indications intended to get the most out of your vegetable garden. It’s up to you to do according to your observations and beliefs…

But don’t forget that common sense should prevail on the moon… For example, if it starts to rain heavily the next day when sowing has taken place, it may be better to sow the same day.

Moon phases (about 29 1/2 days)

The ancients took the phases of the moon into account when sowing or planting.

• The moon is growing from new moon to full moon. This period is conducive to working the land, treatments (herbs of course!), transplanting, planting and sowing fruit vegetables. Vegetables harvested at the crescent moon keep better.
• She is decreasing from full moon to new moon. This period is conducive to sowing what should not be sown (salads, spinach, onions). It is also the ideal time to work the land, harvest (more flavor) or even prune the trees and shrubs whose growth you want to limit.

Moon cycle (about 26 days)

The work of biodynamicists shows a priori a greater influence of lunar cycles on plants.

The lunar cycle describes the moon’s path across the sky:

• She is said Ascending* (or increasing) when the trajectory is higher from day to day. The juice then rises in the plant. This period is conducive to sowing, planting bulbs, grafting or harvesting fruits and vegetables for fresh consumption.
• The reverse is said descending* when the trajectory is lower from day to day. The sap descends to the roots. It is then time to plant, transplant, take cuttings, layer, prune, work the land and add organic matter.

* To determine whether the moon is rising or setting, observe its position in the sky relative to a fixed point (the top of a tree, a hill, etc.) at any given time. Observe its position the next day, but 2 hours later: if the moon is higher, it will rise; if it is lower, it drops.

The moon and the signs of the zodiac

The moon revolves around the earth in 27 days, thus passing through each of the twelve constellations of the zodiac.

The different elements are thus associated with 3 zodiac signs:

• • To the constellations of the Earth (Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn) we associate root vegetables (garlic, beetroot, carrot, turnip, shallot, onion, radish, potato) and bulb flowers.
  • To the constellations of air (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius) match flower vegetables as well as annual and perennial flowers, flowering trees and shrubs, and aromatic and medicinal plants from which the flowers are harvested.
  • To the constellations of water (Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio) match leafy vegetables (artichoke, asparagus, celery, chicory, cabbage, watercress, spinach, lettuce, lamb’s lettuce, leek) and the aromatic and medicinal plants from which the leaves are harvested.
  • To the constellations of fire (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius) we associate fruit vegetable (eggplant, cucumber, pumpkin, broad bean, strawberry, raspberry, bean, melon, pepper, peas, tomatoes), cereals and fruit trees.

Personally, I mainly use the lunar calendar as a planning tool for my crops.

I try to respect planting and sowing times as much as possible, as well as days for fruits, roots, leaves or flowers… it’s better to wait for them than to sow in bad conditions!) or even my availability (material but also psychologically… We are more successful in seeding if we have good energy for it.) allow it.

Basically, I don’t consider this moon garden calendar an absolute rule, but rather a simple guide.

My only “prohibition” is the days of lunar or planetary nodes…

Note: the influence of the moon on crops is very relative. The first condition for good harvests is above all good cultivation practices.