Tips for growing with the Moon in August

Plant your flower bulbs whether in pots or the garden on 6 – 7 August

Use a proprietary organic garlic compound diluted and sprayed on your brassicas to encourage strong growth and to deter pests. Remember that a strong plant can survive an attack of caterpillars whilst a weak one will succumb

Mulch on 10 – 13 when the moon is waxing and in an Earth or Air sign. On a fruit day remove the old canes from summer fruiting raspberries and dig out strawberry plants that have fruited three times leaving the runners to take their place.

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

Roots: Sow seed on 3 (pm) – 5, 12 – 13, 21 (pm) – 23 (am) and 31 – 1 Sept. Radish, onion and Milan turnip can all be sown in the open ground, best sowing day is 22.

Fruits: Sow seed on 1 – 2 (am), 10 – 11, 19 (pm) – 21 (am) and 28 - 29. Runner beans can be sown in the open ground (up to mid August); best sowing days are 1 and 10 - 11.

Leaves: Sow seed on 7 (pm) – 8, 16 – 19 (am) and 26 (pm) – 27. Spring cabbage and Chinese leaves (until mid August), endive, lettuce and salad greens, parsley and spinach (after mid August) can all be sown in the open ground; best sowing days are 8 and 26.

Flowers: Sow seed on 6 – 7 (am), 14 - 15 and 24 (after 10am) – 26 (am). August is a good time to sow many ornamental flower seeds either in trays in the greenhouse or directly in the open ground; best day to sow is 10.

Harvesting in August

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 – 2 (before noon), 4 – 8, 24 – 30 (before noon) and 31 – 1 Sept., when the Moon is descending.

Harvest all other vegetables on 10 – 23 (am) when the Moon is ascending.

No work or harvesting should be done in the garden on afternoon of 2 and morning of 3 perigee, 9 ascending node, 23 afternoon descending node and 30 after 10am perigee.

For more information on growing with the Moon go to
http://intunewithmoon.findhornpress.com/
http://news.findhornpress.com/ogh.html