Planting by the Moon Guide for Texas

The Moon Planting Calendar

• Various versions of the moon planting calendar are available, some with more detail than others. The general principle is to plant leafy greens in the first quarter of the rising moon, fruiting plants in the second quarter and rooting crops during the first week of the waning moon. The full moon and dark moon are considered best for weeding and plowing. Most calendars consider the influence of the planets in conjunction with the moon phases.

Other Influences in Texas

• The moon calendar applies universally, but the planting advice may vary with the locality of the calendar. Thus a calendar devised for Zone 4 or 5 that advises that planting begin in May may not be appropriate for the Texas climate, which covers Zones 8a to 9b, according to the USDA Plant Hardiness Map. In this area, most vegetables can be grown year round.

Considerations

• Use of the moon planting calendar should never be given priority over other important factors, such as the lateness or earliness of the season, soil and air temperatures, rain, or the particular requirements of your own microclimate. Local knowledge of the growing season is a great gardening asset.