Interpreting Mother Nature's Calendar for Perfect Planting Times

As gardeners we deal with the ups and downs of the weather but nature has its own special signs that tell us when the seasons shift and when to plant. Gardeners can look at the signs in nature to plan their planting times which can lead to more crops and stronger plants. In this post we explore how to read the signs of nature's seasons and plan our gardening work around them.

Keeping an eye out for clues in the natural world

Plants and animals depend on the climate and environment to survive and thrive together. These signs from nature can help us figure out the right time to plant move or pick our crops.

1. Tree Budding and Leafing Out: In early spring trees like maples and willows show us the changing season. When the trees start to grow new leaves it usually means the soil is getting warmer so you can go ahead and plant tough vegetables such as spinach and peas.

2. Crocus Bloom Time: These bright flowers signal that spring is here and also serve as a reminder. When crocuses start to open up it is often a good time to put in your cool-season plants.

3. Forsythia Bloom: The yellow flowers of forsythia show up in spring and mean it is time to plant potatoes and onions. These plants thrive in the warmer soil and the nice spring weather.

4. When lilac bushes start to grow their leaves it can be a good time to plant delicate vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers. It usually shows that the chance of frost is going down.

5. Frog calls and bird songs are signs that the weather is getting warmer. You can hear more frogs and see birds singing and building nests. When you hear the spring peeper frogs croaking it might be a good moment to put your corn in the ground.

6. Dandelions are usually seen as weeds but they can actually show us important things. When they spread over the grass and open land it means the ground is warm enough to start planting warm-season crops such as beans.

Insects are active during different times of the year.

Insects are important for keeping track of the seasons in nature. Watching how insects behave can really help you figure out when to do things in your garden.

When ladybugs and bees show up in the garden it means that flowers are starting to grow and it's a good time to plant fruiting plants.

When ants start moving around a lot and earthworms come up from the ground it shows that the soil is getting warmer which helps plant roots grow better.

The dark sky at night and the different shapes of the moon

Some gardeners pay attention to the stars and planets instead of just what is happening on the ground to help them decide what to do. Lunar gardening is an old practice that uses the phases of the moon to help with gardening activities.

New Moon is seen as a decent time to plant leafy vegetables and seeds.
**First Quarter:** This is a good time to plant seeds that grow above the soil like beans and peas.
When the full moon is out it’s a great time to plant root vegetables such as carrots and turnips because people believe the moon’s pull helps them grow deeper into the soil.
**Last Quarter:** A time for cutting grass trimming plants and dealing with weeds.

Paying attention to the signs in nature and the phases of the moon can help you make better choices for your garden that fit with the natural rhythms around us. If gardeners pay attention to these signs from nature they can better time their work and create a stronger and more productive garden.