Gardening with the Moon

Lunar calendar, sayings, and gardening advice

Long before weather apps and printed calendars, our grandparents relied on the Moon to know when to sow, plant, prune, or harvest. This folk wisdom, passed down through generations in sayings, continues to inspire many gardeners today.

Whether you are convinced by lunar influence or simply curious, this page will help you understand the lunar gardening calendar, interpret the sayings of our ancestors, and find out what day it is today in the Moon's cycle.

How does the lunar calendar work?

Gardening with the Moon is based on two distinct rhythms, which are often confused:

• Waxing / waning Moon — this is the best-known rhythm, from the new moon to the full moon (waxing), then from the full moon to the next new moon (waning). Tradition holds that plant vitality is stimulated during a waxing Moon and directed more toward root development during a waning Moon.
• Waxing / waning Moon — this rhythm corresponds to the Moon's height in the sky, independently of its phase. During a waxing Moon, sap is traditionally believed to circulate toward the above-ground parts of the plant (good for sowing, grafting, and harvesting). During a waning Moon, it is thought to concentrate in the roots (good for planting, transplanting, pruning, and taking cuttings).

In addition, there are the four main phases: new moon, first quarter, full moon, and last quarter, which mark the key stages of the cycle and are the source of many weather sayings.

The 4 types of days: root, leaf, flower, fruit

Throughout its cycle, the Moon passes through different constellations, each traditionally associated with a part of the plant:

• Root day — favorable for root vegetables: carrots, radishes, turnips, potatoes, garlic, onions.
• Leaf day — favorable for leafy vegetables: lettuce, spinach, cabbages, and leafy herbs.
• Flower day — favorable for flowers and flowering vegetables: artichokes, cauliflower, broccoli.
• Fruit day — favorable for sowing and harvesting fruits and fruiting vegetables: tomatoes, zucchini, beans.

By combining the type of day with the current lunar phase, gardeners who follow this tradition adjust their gardening tasks as the weeks go by.

Today's saying and Moon phase, live

Each week, a different saying appears on our homepage, accompanied by the Moon's phase for the day, the type of day (root, leaf, flower, or fruit), and the Moon's brightness level. Find it directly on our homepage.

2026 Lunar Calendar: Key Phases, Month by Month

An overview of the Moon’s four main phases for each month of 2026, along with the associated day type (root, leaf, flower, or fruit) — useful for planning your sowing, planting, and pruning in advance.

Want to know today’s exact phase and day type? See them live on our homepage.

The Gardener’s Sayings, Month by Month

Here is a selection of traditional sayings related to gardening, organized by month and theme. The fruit of our ancestors’ long observation, they combine folk meteorology with farming common sense — to be taken with the lightness they deserve, but often rich in lessons.

January

• “If it freezes on Saint Vincent’s Day, the wine rises like blood.” — Frost in late January is said to herald a good year for wine; it is also the traditional time to prune the vines, before the sap rises.
• “Prepare your new seeds for Saint Marcel’s Day.” — A traditional time to prepare seeds and the year’s growing plan, and to sow under heated cover (carrots, lettuce).
• “January gathers the logs, February burns them all.” — Recalls that January is the month for cutting and storing wood, which is then burned in February.
• “A frosty January, a year of fruit.” — A January with plenty of frost is said to bode well for the year’s fruit harvest.
• “On Saint Vincent’s Day, the sap rises through the vine shoots.” — Confirms that it is time to prune the vines, just before sap circulation resumes.

February

• “A February that is too mild means a spring in turmoil.” — An overly mild February is said to herald an unsettled spring, possibly with late cold spells — be cautious before starting outdoor sowing.
• “If February has no squalls, all the months will have their troubles.” — Warns against an overly calm winter, considered a sign of unsettled weather for the rest of the year.
• “On Saint Agatha’s Day, for one sprout you’ll have four.” — A traditional period for transplanting bulbs, onions, and leeks into the ground.
• “A vine pruned in February fills the basket with grapes.” — February remains a good window for finishing the grapevine pruning if it was not done in January.
• “On Saint Honorine’s Day, the hawthorn buds.” — A late-February marker for the appearance of the first buds on hedges.

March

• “Prune early, prune late, nothing beats pruning in March.” — March is the benchmark month for pruning shrubs and fruit trees.
• “Windy March, abundant orchard.” — March winds were thought to promote the pollination of fruit trees, heralding a good harvest.
• “On Saint Joseph’s Day, prune the garden trees.” — Another traditional marker for pruning garden trees.
• “Prune on Saint Paulinus’s Day to have large grapes.” — Another traditional marker for pruning grapevines at the very beginning of March.
• “March dust, golden dust.” — A dry, and therefore dusty, March was considered a good omen for the year’s crops.
• “March snow scorches the bud.” — A late snowfall in March can damage young buds—sensitive plants are best protected.
• “Sow peas on Saint Patrick’s Day, and you’ll have them whenever you wish.” — A traditional date considered favorable for sowing peas.
• “In March, whoever sows too thickly harvests little.” — Warns against sowing too densely, which produces smaller vegetables because there is not enough room for them to develop.
• “On Saint Joseph’s Day, the swallow comes and goes.” — Traditionally marks the return of the swallows and therefore the arrival of spring.
• “The mildness of Saint Casimir’s Day frightens gardeners and ploughmen.” — Unseasonably mild weather in early March would be suspicious, often followed by a cold snap.
• “On Saint Cunegonde’s Day, the earth becomes fertile again.” — A traditional marker of the warming soil, suitable for the first sowings.

April

• “In April, do not take off a single thread.” — Reminds us that it can still freeze in April despite the fine weather—be cautious before bringing out tender plants.
• “On Saint-Fulbert’s Day, we receive April showers for the winter.” — Recalls the frequency of April showers, which should be anticipated to protect young seedlings.
• “April’s fickleness makes the flowers fall and the plowmen tremble.” — April frosts and strong winds can damage the flowers of fruit trees in full bloom.

April / May

• “Always face the three Ice Saints.” — The Ice Saints traditionally mark the end of the risk of late frosts; people wait until they have passed before planting frost-sensitive plants outdoors (tomatoes, zucchini...).
• “Once the red moon has passed, frost is no longer feared.” — The period known as the “red moon” (mid-April to early May) is traditionally feared for its frosts; it is best to wait until it has passed before planting tender plants.

May

• “Once Saint Servatius has passed, you can sow.” — This confirms the end of late frosts: the main spring sowing can begin safely.
• “In mid-May, winter’s tail; but on Saint Honoré’s Day, plenty of green peas.” — A marker for harvesting the first peas.
• “Beans sown on Saint Didier’s Day yield half a setier.” — A traditional date considered favorable for sowing beans.
• “After Saint Angela’s Day, the gardener no longer fears frost.” — A late confirmation, after the Ice Saints, that the risk of frost has finally passed.
• “As long as May has not reached the twenty-eighth, winter is not quite cooked.” — A reminder to remain cautious until the very end of May before considering winter completely over.

May / June

• “In the vegetable garden, April and May are the keys to the year.” — Most of the season’s sowing and planting takes place during these two months, laying the foundation for the harvest to come.

June

• “Too much rain in June leaves the gardener at a loss.” — Excessive rain in June is believed to encourage fungal diseases in young plants.
• “If it rains on Saint Medard’s Day, it will rain forty days later (unless Saint Barnabas comes to cut the shower short).” — A popular weather saying predicting a rainy summer if it rains that day.
• “Rain on Saint John’s Day carries away the vintner’s pruning shears and the gardener’s basket.” — Rain on this date was believed to signal poor harvests to come.
• “One hoeing is worth two waterings.” — Regular hoeing in June limits evaporation and the need for watering in hot weather.
• “On Saint Anthony of Padua, the weather is always mild.” — A traditional saying heralding fair weather in mid-June.

July

• “When July begins, sharpen your scythe.” — Marks the cereal harvest period and, by extension, mowing grasses after flowering.
• “Those who want fine turnips sow them in July.” — A traditional marker for sowing autumn turnips.
• “July without thunderstorms means famine in the village.” — An overly dry July would jeopardize late-summer harvests.

August

• “In August, gather your fruit without delay.” — The peak season for harvesting tomatoes, peaches, and eggplants, and the beginning of summer preserving.
• “On Saint Abel’s Day, make your mirabelle plum preserves.” — Marks the start of the mirabelle plum season, when the fruit is made into preserves.
• “If August is fine, it is a sign that winter will be mild.” — A sunny August is said to herald a gentle winter.
• “August rain produces truffles and chestnuts.” — August rainfall is said to encourage a good autumn harvest of truffles and chestnuts.
• “Those who sow on Saint Lawrence’s Day waste their seed.” — A warning that sowing this late in summer would be too late for many crops.

September

• “On Saint Onesiphorus’s Day, the sap falls asleep.” — Symbolically marks the slowing of vegetation as autumn approaches.
• “On Saint Apollinaris’s Day, it is the last sowing of lettuce in open ground.” — The traditional final date for sowing lettuce directly in the ground before winter.
• “On Holy Cross Day, pick your apples and knock down the walnuts.” — A marker for the start of the apple and walnut harvests.
• “On Saint Damian’s Day, walnuts are found all along the paths.” — The walnut harvest traditionally begins in September.
• “September is called the May of autumn.” — September is said to offer gardening conditions as favorable as May does in spring.
• “On Saint Regina’s Day, sow your seeds.” — A traditional marker for the final autumn sowings.
• “In September, when the osier willow blooms, the grapes ripen.” — An observation linking the willow’s flowering to the progress of grape ripening.

October

• “In October, those who neither mulch nor fertilize well will harvest nothing.” — Mulching or fertilizing beds cleared in October nourishes the soil for the following spring’s crops.
• “On Saint Denis’s Day, gather your fruit.” — The traditional final window for finishing the harvest of orchard fruit.
• “On Saint Luke’s Day, the beet turns to sugar.” — The beet, having remained in the ground all summer, has finished accumulating its sugar and can be harvested.
• “Saint Simon and Saint Jude—the winter has arrived.” — Symbolically marks the transition to the cold season in the gardener’s calendar.
• “A little summer may return around Saint Géraud’s Day.” — Reminds us that a warm spell is possible in mid-October (the equivalent of Indian summer), but should not be confused with a lasting return of fine weather.

November

• “Whoever plants during Advent gains a year’s head start.” — Planting at the very beginning of winter gives the roots time to establish well before the following spring.
• “On Saint Catherine’s Day, every piece of wood takes root.” — Traditionally considered an ideal time to plant trees and shrubs, as sap retreats toward the roots in autumn.
• “After Saint Clement’s Day, come rain and wind.” — Announces the arrival of late-autumn stormy weather.
• “In November, those who spread no manure harvest nothing.” — A variation of the October saying: the last opportunity to enrich the soil before winter fully sets in.

December

• “If Saint Eligius is very cold, the deep freeze lasts four months.” — A weather saying predicting a long winter when an early cold spell arrives in early December.
• “On Saint Nicaise’s Day, the frosts are born.” — Traditionally marks the arrival of the first severe frosts of winter.

Kitchen garden

• “Sow your carrots on Saint Joseph’s Day and pull them up on Saint Michael’s Day.” — The carrot’s full calendar: sowing in spring and harvesting in late summer or early autumn.
• “Sow your carrots on Saint Catherine’s Day, and they’ll grow nice and plump.” — A lesser-known variation of the Saint Catherine saying, this time applied to sowing winter carrots under cover.
• “When the primroses bloom, it is time to sow the carrots.” — A practical observation: primrose flowering provides a natural sign that it is time to start sowing carrots.
• “In May, do as you please; in June, eat what comes your way.” — May is the month for every kind of task (sowing, planting, weeding); by June, the first harvests are already ready to enjoy.
• “Sow your peas on Saint Benedict’s Day, and you’ll have enough for three months.” — Sowing peas at the very beginning of spring ensures a harvest spread over several months.
• “When the cows go out to pasture, sow your leeks.” — A traditional farming guide: when livestock go out to graze, it is the right time to sow leeks.
• “Ice Saints, beware, for they bring the cold of Saint Urban’s Day.” — Extends caution about the Ice Saints until May 25 (Saint Urban’s Day), the final milestone before frosts are considered to have definitively passed.
• “May dew fills the granary.” — Abundant dew in May was considered a good omen for the year’s harvests.

Fruit trees / orchard

• “When February has begun, you can prune every fruit tree.” — An old agricultural guideline placing the start of fruit-tree pruning in February.
• “Fruit trees have little success when planted too close together.” — Reminds us of the importance of sufficient spacing between fruit trees for healthy growth.
• “Without manure, no good soil; with manure, good fruit for sure.” — Emphasizes the role of soil fertilization in the quality of the fruit harvest.
• “Trees grafted during the new moon bear fruit only after thirty years.” — A traditional belief linking grafting success to the lunar phase — to be taken as folklore rather than a strict rule.
• “If trees are pruned during the new moon, the shoots grow downward.” — Another traditional belief linking the direction in which branches grow to the lunar phase at the time of pruning.
• “Trees intended for useful timber are cut during the old moon, so that worms do not get into them.” — Timber for construction or firewood was traditionally cut during the waning moon, which was believed to protect it from wood-boring insects.
• “Whoever prunes their tree cares for its descendants.” — Good pruning today prepares the tree’s vigor and productivity for years to come.
• “In April, prune what is necessary, and in May, do as you please.” — April remains a time for restrained pruning, while May allows more freedom for garden work.

Flowers

• “April makes the flower, and May takes the credit.” — Buds form in April, but it is in May that flowering fully reveals itself.
• “No tree has borne fruit without first having had flowers.” — Reminds us that flowering is a necessary stage before any fruiting — patience before harvest.
• “The wind does not knock down every flower; the sun does not ripen every fruit.” — Encourages moderation: weather hazards never affect every plant in the garden uniformly.

All year — Moon

• “During the ascending Moon, sap rises: good for sowing, grafting, and harvesting, especially fruit.” — Sap is reputed to circulate more toward the above-ground parts of the plant during this phase.
• “During the descending Moon, sap flows downward: good for planting, transplanting, pruning, taking cuttings, and repotting.” — Vigor is said to concentrate toward the roots, favoring work on this part of the plant.
• “During the waxing Moon, plant vitality is said to be stimulated, making it favorable for sowing and growth.” — The period between the new moon and the full moon, traditionally associated with more vigorous plant growth.
• “During the waning Moon, root vegetables and soil work (fertilizing, amending) are prioritized.” — The period between the full moon and the new moon, considered more favorable to rooting than to above-ground growth.
• “Root day: ideal for sowing or harvesting carrots, radishes, turnips, potatoes, garlic, and onions.” — The Moon passes in front of constellations associated with the element of Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn).
• “Leaf day: ideal for sowing or tending lettuce, spinach, cabbages, and leafy herbs.” — The Moon passes in front of constellations associated with the element of Water.
• “Flower day: ideal for sowing or tending flowers and flowering vegetables (artichokes, cauliflower, broccoli).” — The Moon passes in front of constellations associated with the element of Air.
• “Fruit day: ideal for sowing, transplanting, or harvesting tomatoes, zucchini, beans, and fruit in general.” — The Moon passes in front of constellations associated with the element of Fire.

Frequently asked questions

Do you really need to garden by the Moon?
No scientific study confirms the Moon's influence on crops. It is a popular tradition, not an agronomic rule. Many gardeners use it primarily as a practical guide for organizing their work from week to week.

What is the difference between an ascending Moon and a waxing Moon?
Waxing and waning refer to the Moon's phases (from new moon to full moon and vice versa). Ascending and descending refer to the Moon's height in the sky. These are two different cycles that are often confused.

How can you tell which type of day (root, leaf, flower, or fruit) it is today?
Find today's information directly on our homepage, automatically updated every day.

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