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Moon Gardening and Lunar Folklore
Moon gardening is the folk practice of timing sowing, planting and harvesting by the phases of the moon. The usual rule is to sow crops that grow above ground while the moon waxes, and root crops while it wanes. Scientific evidence for an effect is limited, so treat it as a tradition and a rhythm rather than a guarantee. This guide explains the rules, the folklore behind them and the new and full moon dates for the 2026–27 growing year in UK time.
The basic rules
New moon to first quarter (waxing)
Traditionally the time to sow leafy crops and anything that grows above ground: lettuce, spinach, cabbage, herbs.
First quarter to full moon (waxing)
Fruiting crops: beans, tomatoes, squash, peas and cucumbers.
Full moon to last quarter (waning)
Root crops, bulbs and perennials: potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, fruit bushes.
Last quarter to new moon (waning)
A rest phase in folklore. Weed, prune, turn the compost and harvest crops for storing.
Where the folklore comes from
Moon-timing advice runs from Pliny the Elder's Natural History, written in the first century, through Thomas Tusser's 16th-century English verses on husbandry to farming almanacs across Europe. The modern biodynamic calendar, which grew from Rudolf Steiner's 1924 agriculture lectures, adds the moon's path through the zodiac and divides days into root, leaf, flower and fruit days.
Month by month, with moon dates
November 2026
Plant bare-root trees and roses. New moon: 9 November 2026. Full moon: 24 November 2026.
December 2026
Rest, tidy and read seed catalogues. New moon: 9 December 2026. Full moon: 24 December 2026.
January 2027
Plan beds, order seed, prune apple trees while dormant. New moon: 7 January 2027. Full moon: 22 January 2027.
February 2027
Chit potatoes and sow early indoor seeds. New moon: 6 February 2027. Full moon: 20 February 2027.
March 2027
Sow broad beans and hardy peas; plant onion sets. New moon: 8 March 2027. Full moon: 22 March 2027.
April 2027
Sow salads and brassicas; plant early potatoes. New moon: 7 April 2027. Full moon: 20 April 2027.
May 2027
Sow beans and squash under cover; earth up potatoes. New moon: 6 May 2027. Full moon: 20 May 2027.
June 2027
Plant out tender crops after the last frost. New moon: 4 June 2027. Full moon: 19 June 2027.
July 2027
Water, feed, and harvest herbs. New moon: 4 July 2027. Full moon: 18 July 2027.
August 2027
Harvest and save seed. New moon: 2 August 2027, 31 August 2027. Full moon: 17 August 2027.
September 2027
Plant spring bulbs; lift maincrop potatoes. New moon: 30 September 2027. Full moon: 16 September 2027.
October 2027
Plant garlic; mulch beds. New moon: 29 October 2027. Full moon: 15 October 2027.
Old moon sayings and customs
Timber was felled and pigs slaughtered on the waning moon in many rural traditions, so that the wood would be dry and the meat would keep. A new moon on a Saturday was thought to bring wet weather. Seeing a new moon through glass was unlucky in English folklore, while turning silver in your pocket at the new moon was lucky. These are worth recording as heritage, whether or not you follow them.
Trying it yourself
Sow two rows of the same crop, one on a waxing moon and one on a waning moon, and keep notes on germination and yield. Whatever the result, you will look at the sky more often and learn your garden's rhythm. UK delivery is £3.95, free on orders over £40, and usually takes 2–5 working days.
Does it work?
Scientific trials have not shown clear effects of moon phase on plant growth, but many gardeners enjoy the rhythm it gives to sowing and planning. Treat it as tradition and a pleasant routine.
Using our moon calendar
Our month-by-month moon calendar gives exact UK times for every new and full moon, so you can plan sowing days in advance.
Old moon sayings from Britain
Country lore is full of moon sayings: 'Sow peas and beans in the wane of the moon; who soweth them sooner, he soweth too soon,' wrote Thomas Tusser in 1573. Timber was felled on a waning moon so it would dry well, and pigs were killed on a waxing moon so the bacon would swell in the pan. These are folk beliefs, but they show how closely people once watched the sky.
A simple moon-sowing plan
Mark the new and full moons in a garden diary. In the week after each new moon, sow leafy crops and flowers. In the week after each full moon, sow roots such as carrots and beetroot and plant bulbs. In the last few days before the new moon, weed, prune and tidy. Even if you don't follow the folklore, it spreads garden jobs evenly through the month.
Moon and tides
The moon's pull really does raise the tides, which is part of why people have long believed it affects sap and seeds. The spring tides at new and full moon are the highest of the month.
New and full moons for the 2027 growing year
Sow leafy crops in the days after a new moon and root crops after a full moon, if you follow the tradition.
| Phase | Date | UK time |
|---|---|---|
| New moon | 6 February 2027 | 15:56 GMT |
| Full moon | 20 February 2027 | 23:24 GMT |
| New moon | 8 March 2027 | 09:30 GMT |
| Full moon | 22 March 2027 | 10:44 GMT |
| New moon | 7 April 2027 | 00:51 BST |
| Full moon | 20 April 2027 | 23:27 BST |
| New moon | 6 May 2027 | 11:59 BST |
| Full moon | 20 May 2027 | 11:59 BST |
| New moon | 4 June 2027 | 20:40 BST |
| Full moon | 19 June 2027 | 01:45 BST |
| New moon | 4 July 2027 | 04:02 BST |
| Full moon | 18 July 2027 | 16:45 BST |
| New moon | 2 August 2027 | 11:05 BST |
| Full moon | 17 August 2027 | 08:29 BST |
| New moon | 31 August 2027 | 18:41 BST |
| Full moon | 16 September 2027 | 00:04 BST |
| New moon | 30 September 2027 | 03:36 BST |
| Full moon | 15 October 2027 | 14:47 BST |
| New moon | 29 October 2027 | 14:37 BST |
Words worth knowing
- Waxing: the moon growing from new to full.
- Waning: the moon shrinking from full to new.
- Biodynamics: a farming method that uses lunar and planetary calendars.
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Questions answered
Does moon gardening work?
Evidence is limited and mixed. Many gardeners enjoy it as a tradition and a planning rhythm.
When should I sow seeds by the moon?
Tradition says above-ground crops on the waxing moon and root crops on the waning moon.
What is biodynamic gardening?
A system based on Rudolf Steiner's 1924 lectures that uses a lunar and zodiac calendar.
Where do your moon dates come from?
They are calculated with standard astronomical formulas (after Meeus) in UK clock time and should be accurate to within a few hours.
Is moon gardening proven to work?
No clear scientific evidence shows it does, but many gardeners enjoy it as a tradition and a planning rhythm.
When should I plant by the moon in the UK?
Traditionally, leafy crops in the waxing moon and roots in the waning moon, within the normal UK sowing season.
What should I do at the new moon in the garden?
In tradition, sow leafy crops and flowers in the days just after the new moon.
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