Tips for growing with the Moon in July

Plant your strawberry plants or runners on 4–5 of month.

Water plants more during dry periods, to ensure that roots go deep water generously but less often. To prevent water evaporation hoe a few hours after watering, preferably in the evening. Good days to water in July are 1–2, 5–6, and 9–10. Keep the soil mulched as much as possible to also prevent water evaporation.

Mulch/earth up your sweet corn and thin leaves on tomatoes on 4–6 (before 6pm), 13 (afternoon) – 15 (before 6pm) and 23–24. Remember to also keep pinching out the side shoots on your tomatoes.

Feed your tomato plants comfrey tea or liquid seaweed feed to support the growth of the fruits.

Once you have harvested your new potatoes sow a green manure crop such as mustard or field beans, or any dwarf bean seeds you happen to have left over! Remember to sow on the correct leaf or fruit day.  

Planting by the Moon

When the Moon is in a Fire constellation (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), plant activity is concentrated mainly in the development of fruits and seeds. This is a good for growing tomatoes, French beans, peas, apples, raspberries, strawberries and cereals of all kinds (and for maintenance and planting seeds where appropriate).

When the Moon is in an Air constellation (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius), the flowering parts of a plant grow well, so this is the time to cultivate vegetables such as cauliflowers, broccoli and globe artichokes, also ornamental flowers.

When the Moon is in a Water constellation (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces), the leaf parts of the plant grow well making this the time to work on salad vegetables, spinach, chard and all the brassica family.

When the Moon is in an Earth constellation (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) roots develop well making it the perfect time to focus on the root crops such as carrots, potatoes and celery.

In July this means that you should be sowing and hoeing the land at the following times:

Roots: Sow seed on 8–9, 16–17 and 25-26. Beetroot, carrots, radish, and Milan turnip can all be sown in the open ground, best sowing days are 16–17.

Fruits: Sow seed on 4–6 (before 6pm), 13 (afternoon) – 15 (before 6pm) and 23-24. French beans, broad beans, peas and runner beans can be sown in the open ground; best sowing days are 4–5.


Leaves: Sow seed on 3, 11–12, 20-22 and 30–31. Cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce and salad greens, parsley and radicchio can all be sown in the open ground; best sowing days are 20 – 22.

Flowers: Sow seed on 1–2 (before 6pm), 10, 18-19 and 28–29. Cauliflower, broccoli and Calabrese can be sown outdoors; best day to sow is 10.

Harvesting in July

Various factors influence the quality and preservation of fruit and vegetables after harvest. As a general rule, choose an ascending Moon for harvesting plant parts that grow above ground and a descending Moon for parts that grow below ground, but avoid the perigee, lunar nodes and stormy weather. Fruit and vegetables that do not store well will last much longer if you avoid harvesting during Water signs and constellations (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces).

Remember if you're harvesting to immediate use you can do so on any day other than the perigee the ascending node and the descending node. Follow the information below if you are harvesting to storing/freezing.

Harvest your root vegetables on 1-6, 8-12 and 28–31, when the Moon is descending.

Harvest all other vegetables on 13 (pm) – 26 July when the Moon is ascending.

No work or harvesting should be done in the garden on 7 perigee, 13 (am) ascending node and 27 descending node.

For more information on growing with the Moon go to
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