Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

nafex - Re: [NAFEX] Grafting by the moon (totally on topic)

nafex@lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: "Kieran &/or Donna" <holycow@frontiernet.net>
  • To: "North American Fruit Explorers" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] Grafting by the moon (totally on topic)
  • Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 15:20:12 -0500

I read about grafts being more likely to take when done during a waxing moon (going towards a full moon) rather than a waning moon (going towards new moon).

Sarah and all,
I borrowed and read a book years ago by a couple named Kolisko I think. they did a lot of really interesting research on things like the moon's influence on plants. They planted various seeds at different times in the cycle and pretty well proved that the very best time to plant in 2 days before the full moon. To eliminate the simple fact that planting at one time in the annual cycle is better than another time, they planted a flat of tomatoes in the greenhouse every 2 weeks, full moon and new moon, for 20 years. In general, plants that are planted in a waxing moon use more water all their lives, and contain more water, than those planted in a waning moon. This makes sense of the advice to plant root crops in a waning moon, even though they will produce less, because a drier root is likely to rot less in storage. Also they said if you have a crop that suffers a lot from fungus diseases, maybe you'd want to plant it in the waning moon.
I have tried to use this info in the 14 or so years since I read it, and as I have done no controlled studies myself, I can't tell you if it really works. HOWEVER, it has made me a better gardener. I perceive now that I have 13 deadlines a year, and I make the most of them. My lackadaisical attitude in the past meant that it would start in raining and I'd say, oh, if only I had hoed up that spot to plant greens in before this started.... Once my full moon deadline for the month is past, I start thinking about what I'm going to plant the next month. I pull weeds, I think about next month and I get ready. And yes, I'd prefer to do my grafting on a waxing moon, but if it's waning I just figure it'll be slower to take. No real worry in that regard. And I figure that trees are different, they are going to have a long life so I don't worry that much about when I transfer them from pot to ground. Donna



  • Re: [NAFEX] Grafting by the moon (totally on topic), Kieran &/or Donna, 04/02/2009

Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page