[Glen]

I have been reading various allotment diaries owned by people who plant by the moons cycle. Does anyone know of any books on this subject or can anyone share a little information?

[jack russell]

if you do a search on here glen there has been much discussion on this topic in the past

[Glen]

Have done a couple of searches but have found nothing of substance. #i wondered if there were any books on this subject?

[compostqueen]

lunar planting is ancient and I can recall a telly prog about an old guy (who looked remarkably young) who was an estate gardener who practiced lunar planting, was out at midnight planting   The waxing and waning moon governs planting times and there is quite strong evidence I understand which underpins this

I think Amazon has the books on it and the lunar planting diary

[Eristic]

Have done a couple of searches but have found nothing of substance.

There is a good reason for that. There is no substance. Ask yourself why would tuesday be better than monday except maybe for the weather. The moon even if it had any effect on plants, still manages to appear each and every night, and remains the same size regardless of how much sunshine lights it up.

It has been said that using the moon as a calander has been going on for thousands of years and I believe there is some truth in that but I have a powerful computer system to keep track of the seasons for me. That's all the moon system of planting is. It's a crude calendar that takes no account of prevailing weather conditions.

Excuse me while I go outside and check the seaweed.

[gobs]

Have done a couple of searches but have found nothing of substance.

There is a good reason for that. There is no substance. Ask yourself why would tuesday be better than monday except maybe for the weather. The moon even if it had any effect on plants, still manages to appear each and every night, and remains the same size regardless of how much sunshine lights it up.

It has been said that using the moon as a calander has been going on for thousands of years and I believe there is some truth in that but I have a powerful computer system to keep track of the seasons for me. That's all the moon system of planting is. It's a crude calendar that takes no account of prevailing weather conditions.

Excuse me while I go outside and check the seaweed.

Yes and yes, all it is and we have much better calenders nowadays.

[shaun]

is there a connection with the word lunar (moon cycle) and the word lunatic (madman) :?  

[gobs]

Yes.

Cyclic outburst.

[sophiejo]

Maria thun has written books on biodynamics, which considers the moon and sun when planting. I started reading about it earlier this year. They make a calender every year that shows the optimum days for sowing and planting. Thought i would give it a go. It would be interesting if there was some benefit.
 I am perservering for the mo but am finding it very restrictive, what with two small kids and the rain! Also there are only about 3 days in march and april that you should plant roots! Everyones different though and it may work for you.

[gobs]

Roots are said better to be sown, than planted/transplanted. And I sow a lot of carrots and beetroot sucessionally all along the season, successfully.

[shaun]

http://www.chat.allotment-garden.org/viewtopic.php?t=1882&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

this post started off quite well then it just got plain silly  

[gobs]

Oh, you have discussed this in great detail, then.  

And yes, Shaun they grow plants on the space station.

[shaun]

this has been discussed many times gobby and i'm still not buying it  

[gobs]

Well, it must have some effect, as it's there, but I wouldn't go to great lengths about it.

Plants have hormones to grow with and against Earth's gravity(root and leaf/stalk) which is six times as strong as the Moon's, and I don't think anybody yet observed photosynthesis in moonlight.

Are these calendars changing at all with the changing position and movement of the Moon year on year, just out of interest.

[Stripey_cat]

Just because we can't explain something doesn't mean it can't exist.  That said, I'm fairly sceptical.  The only reason I'm not completely sceptical is that the one guy I know who really goes in for lunar planting is an old, experienced market gardener, with something like 70 years of gardening behind him, who isn't superstitious about other things.  His results are always excellent, although that could just be the years of experience rather than the moon!