“Shine on, shine on, harvest moon, up in the sky.” More than just
a word in an old familiar tune, the harvest moon may hold the key
to reaping the most bounty from your season’s work.

Certainly, there are proven, scientific ways to know when to
harvest. But for centuries, many people have used the phases of
the moon as a sign for many farm and garden chores.

A Quick Primer

Those who have never turned to an almanac may not be familiar
with the signs and phases of the moon. So a quick primer is in
order.

First, there are 12 signs in a lunar month. They have the same
names as the solar signs. So don’t confuse the two. Whereas a
solar sign is active for around 30 days once each year, a lunar
sign occurs once each month for a little less than two and a half
days.

The lunar signs are named for constellations as ancient people
understood them and are correlated to a part of the body. For
example, Aries (or the ram) relates to the head. Leo (the lion)
relates to the heart.

So when someone says the signs are in the feet, it means the moon
is passing through the sign Pisces (the fishes).

The signs are further grouped into masculine and feminine signs
and also into groups of earth, fire, air and water. For instance,
Libra (the scales, kidneys or reins) is a masculine sign and also
an air sign.

Barren, Fruitful Signs

With a couple of exceptions, signs that represent fire and air,
which are all masculine, are barren signs — times for
harvesting, clearing land, etc.

Signs that represent earth and water, which are all feminine, are
fruitful signs — times for planting. Virgo and Libra are the
exceptions. Virgo is a barren sign and Libra a fruitful sign.

The moon goes through its cycle in 29 days, 12 hours and 44
minutes. During that time, the moon passes through four phases:
new moon, first quarter, full moon and last quarter.

From new moon to full moon, the moon is growing, or waxing. This
is known as the light of the moon. From full moon to new moon,
the moon is shrinking, or waning (the dark of the moon).

Do It by the Moon

So what does this have to do with harvesting?

For many, absolutely nothing. But for a declining segment of
rural America, it’s the authority.

The signs and phases best for harvest depend on the intended use
of the crop. Harvesting crops to be stored without any type of
processing is best done when the moon is waning and in a barren
sign.

Aquarius, Sagittarius or Aries are the weakest of the barren
signs and preferred for such harvests. With air and fire signs,
the produce is at its lowest water content and thus more suitable
for storage. This is important for crops like potatoes and
onions.

Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are water signs. So fruit harvested
under these signs will have a higher water content and won’t
store as well.

Harvesting for Now

But for crops that are to be used right away, the water and earth
(fruitful) signs, along with a waxing moon, may be preferred
because the fruit will be more plump and juicy. However, it may
also make them bruise more easily.

Produce may get ripe when the signs aren’t right. However, you
can target its use based on what’s best for the sign you
harvested under.

For keeping and storage, harvesting under a barren sign is most
important, no matter what the phase of the moon.

Now, there may be no scientific basis for using such tools in
gardening and farming. But just try to tell that to someone who’s
lived by it for the past half-century.