Goodnight Moon

A neighbor and fellow gardener suggested I plant my summer vegetable garden in synch with the moon.  Huh?  I had never contemplated such an idea, but as I digested the information, it made sense.  Fishermen follow tides schedules to catch the largest bounty.  Farmers, too, use the moon to measure the amount of moisture in the ground.



The moon’s gravitational pull on the Earth controls not only high and low tides, but also how dry and moist the ground is.  As a full moon approaches, the ground is thought to be especially moist and is great for planting crops that grow below the Earth’s surface such as potatoes and pumpkins.  The new moon marks the perfect time to plant tomatoes, cucumbers and other plants that bloom above the ground.




In addition, many Indian tribes, especially the Algonquians, gave full moons names to keep track of the seasons.  Reoccurring full moons like June’s Strawberry Moon signifies the best time to harvest summer’s juiciest berries.  The Strawberry Moon is also known as the Rose Moon in Europe where strawberries are not native.  Other cultures refer to June’s moon as the Hot Moon in reference to the start of summer.




Whether or not you’re a gardener, plan a special evening outdoors on June 13 when the Strawberry Moon appears.  Pick up a pint of fresh strawberries, and add them to your beverages, salads and desserts.  Cheers to summer, and cheers to Mother Nature!