Before I started the Blind Pig and The Acorn I never knew much about planting by the signs. I had heard folks talk about it, but it wasn’t something Granny and Pap ever did. The only thing they consulted the zodiac calendar for was making kraut.
They obviously believed there was something to the signs or they wouldn’t have worried about their kraut.
When it came to gardening, Pap was so busy with work, music, church, and coaching baseball that he had to plant whenever he had time and the weather was cooperating.
The first year I planted by the signs I kept it simple and tried to plant in the most fruitful sign of Cancer or under the crab as I heard an elderly lady phrase it. I saw a marked increase in the success of my garden that year.
The following year, with the success of my sign planted garden fresh on my mind, I became so involved in trying to follow the exact sign that I felt like I was playing a mean game of “Mother May I.” I was totally obsessed by the waxing and waning of the moon as well as trying to figure out which zodiac sign I should be planting under. My garden didn’t do as well that year and I didn’t have much fun either. I about drove myself crazy worrying about the signs instead of just working on growing a garden.
The theory behind planting by the signs in a nutshell is: You should plant above ground crops under a fruitful sign while the moon is waxing/increasing. You should plant below ground crops under a fruitful sign while the moon is waning/decreasing.
There are 12 zodiac signs which correspond to the position of the moon during the month. Each sign is represented by a symbol, a part of the human body, and an element of nature (fire, earth, water, air) and has distinct characteristics. For example, Leo-Lion-The Heart is fiery, dry and barren. While Cancer-Crab-The Breast is watery and fruitful.
After my mother may I year of being obsessed with following the exact sign, I decided to simplify my attempt at gardening by the signs by concentrating only on the zodiac sign like I did that very first year. Over the years, I’ve found the signs that work best for my garden are Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus, and Cancer. Those are the days I note monthly and provide free for Blind Pig readers during the growing season.
My favorite sign to plant under is Cancer (under the crab), but if it doesn’t work out to where I can plant under Cancer, I aim for Scorpio, Pisces, or Taurus.
Here’s the best planting signs for March 2024.
Taurus: good for all root crops and above ground crops 12, 13
Cancer: best for planting above ground and root crops 17, 18
Scorpio: best for flowers and above ground crops 1, 27, 28
Pisces: good for planting and transplanting above ground crops, trees and shrubbery 8, 9
Last night’s video: Granny’s Birthday Party.
Tipper
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My mama & daddy planted using the almanac . They planted when it was in a certain body part. I appreciate that I can look up best planting days & work around those. I planted potatoes , onions, carrots beets & garden peas in late February & early March. They are popping up and look good. I have never started seeds inside until this year. They are looking good too. The price of tomato & pepper plants have gotten outrageous!
I am excited to get my seeds in the ground but will hold off until best planting days in April!
I grew up in north east Georgia ,my mama and daddy always planted three good sized gardens ,daddy worked and would plant gardens in the evening. They never went by signs but everything they planted did very good and we had the best fresh vegetables ,I really miss the fresh vegetables ,I think both of them had a green thumb everything they planted lived and grew. They are in heaven now. I really enjoyed watching granny’s birthday party ,she is a very beautiful lady and don’t look her age. Y’all are very blessed to have such a wonderful family. Granny and your wonderful family are in my prayers ,love y’all ❤️
Tipper such a wonderful birthday party for Granny! Happy Birthday Granny! She looked wonderful.
My dad always went by the almanac for planting his garden and it was always good.
We are planting in raised metal beds for our little garden this year. We will plant our green beans along our chain link fence that’s around our cement basketball court. The beans did very well last year but my tomatoes did not.
We are in our 70s and 80s so we can’t put out a big garden like yours.
I just love to read all the comments on your blog. I also injoy listening to Paul and his friends play music and sing he has a good voice.
Love and prayers for all
Joanna
That wa@ interesting Tipper. My Dad always followed the signs in planting. He always did have a good garden until he got where he couldn’t see good. I remember a lady at a church I went to, said she prayed over her garden. if it was the Lord’s will she would have a good garden that year. I hope you guys have a wonderful garden year. I am planning a raise beds of garden this year.
I watched the video of Granny’s birthday party just now. You all did a wonderful job. I think the cake was such a sweet & kind touch. BUT my favorite part of the video was the shot where Granny is looking up at the camera with her beautiful sweater & matching top & matching hair color. She looks SO PRETTY! I agree with what Paul said in one his posts “Granny is the STAR” of the blog, the channels, and all the videos! I don’t mean to leave the rest of you out, but Granny is tough competition & she just “acts naturally”. She is a Jewel and a Star! Happy Birthday, Granny!
Just a thought, when you buy plants such as tomato, how do you know what sign it was when the seed was planted? Which sign is more important, when the seed was planted or when you set out the plant. Or if the seed was planted under one sign but sprouts later under another sign? I gotta quit thinking, I’m about to trip my breaker!
Randy-that’s a good question 🙂
My husband and I plant the last week of April or sometimes depending on the weather the first week of May. We don’t use signs. It’s getting hard for us to work in the garden so we are just going to plant some tomatoes, onions and pepper plants. Enjoyed watching Granny’s birthday part last evening. God Bless you all.
Up here in Michigan, we’re having a doozy of a time trying to figure out what Mother Nature is doing. We’ve had the warmest February ever and March is way above average also. We have crocus blooming, daffodils and iris starting to poke their heads out, and I’ve already got almost a full crop of chives (bout the only thing I can grow in pots on my deck). They’re all about a month early. Still, I don’t think I’m brave enough to start moving any of my flowering plants back outside and I’m sure not confident enough to start planting flowers. We usually have to wait until after Mothers’ Day.
With all the rain we’ve had I’m planting when the ground drys and I have time! The only signs I remember growing up was plant beans on good Friday and cucumbers on May 10 which was my daughter’s birthday. Speaking of birthdays, tell your mother happy birthday today which she shares with my granddaughter!
Everyone have a blessed raining day!
Happy Birthday, Granny!
Do y’all know where I can get one of those old fashioned type calendars that show the signs for planting, sunrise & sunset times?
JC-You might check with your local feed store, insurance company, bank, or funeral home. They often give them away for free. You can also purchase one from me here: https://blindpigandtheacorn.etsy.com/listing/1387744867/celebrating-appalachia-almanac-planting
I have always found planting by the signs to be quite interesting even though we live in town and don’t have the space for a garden. Last year I did grow some tomatoes in a small, raised bed and they turned out great. Back when Daddy planted his gardens, he too was busy like Pap and planted when he could.
I want to wish Granny a very Happy Birthday today and may the Lord continue to bless her each and every day. She looked wonderful and that was such a sweet party. Prayers for her and all of you.
A great uncle of mine was the best gardener I ever knew. He always planted by the signs.
I don’t know much about planting under the Zodiac sjgns or where that all started. Thanks, Tipper, for the primer. My grandparents consulted the almanac; my parents didn’t. Question: Do the signs remain the same year after year, or close to the same?
Gene-if you mean do the signs land on the same day each year they don’t 🙂
Tell Granny Happy Birthday for me. I can always remember her birthday because today is my birthday. Turning 75.
Betty-happy happy birthday!
Happy Birthday Betty! Have a great day.
Happy Birthday Betty!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS BETTY. GOD BLESS YOU BEYOND MEASURE. Jennifer
A big Happy Birthday to Granny!! She looks amazing! I loved that she changed her sweater for her cake!! Love a prayers to the entire family.
I seldom plant anything in March or early April but May will find me waiting for your recommended planting dates. Mom relied on the almanac for gardening and so much more. Some of the things I remember her doing was when the sign was in a body part and never a zodiac sign. Killing weeds, weaning a baby, cutting hair, canning, and having a medical procedure were all a reason for her to research the almanac that hung from a nail on the kitchen wall.
I try to use your dates you post. But, like with Pap, life and weather gets in the way. I have planted cool season; i e. “spring” things already and likely won’t plant summer things until April. I sorta use April 15 Tax Day as a cutoff to be done by.
I’ve gradually come around to the theory that nightime soil temperatures are a major determinant on whether the “summer” garden seeds will sprout. The top 2 inches of soil will just about equalize with air temperature by daylight.
Ron, you have said exactly the same thing my Daddy would say you are just wasting time and seed until the soil temperature warms up, even it sprouts it will not grow until the soil heats up.
Happy Birthday, Granny!!!! What a precious family time to share. My dear precious Mother had rheumatic fever which damaged her heart, when she was a child. She had three heart attacks through the years but she was Daddy’s and our Rock and she lived 87 years. Like you Granny, she was the best green bean cook I’ve ever known and I’m almost as old as you.
I got a little teary eyed so glad you could enjoy and eat all that delicious food! It was wonderful to see those beautiful little girls (great-grandchildren) too. I was just blessed with one brother and he has passed now so the family I was born into have all passed on to heaven, but we sure did have so many, many wonderful times like you just had with your family. I’ll just keep on praying Granny that God will bless you and give you a great year ahead to enjoy more wonderful good times with all your family!
Both my daddy and father in law were like Pap, they both worked and had busy lives and would only plant when the soil conditions were right- moisture and temperature. They would have 1-2 acre gardens (not including the corn field) and that was the only sign they went by. It seemed to me their gardens were just as good as anyone else’s were. I do have a friend that has a pretty garden each year and religiously goes by the signs. By the way it has been raining during the night and so far this morning and the same predicted for Saturday it is going to be awhile before anyone can plow or plant anything in my area, no matter what the signs are. In my area, a lot of people like to have their corn planted by the end of March.
I love the nadapeno too!
I loved your sharing of Granny’s birthday party! Thank you! continuing to hold her in prayer as well as your entire family. God bless you and yours. ❤❤
I am a Libra. Libra is a good sign for blooming things. I guess that’s why I turned out to be a blooming idiot!
My sign is Pisces, the two fish. I guess that means I am either a sucker or carp, both considered trash fish!
Happiest of birthday blessings to Granny today! Praying she has a wonderful day abd a very blessed year.
I’ve never heard of planting by the signs like that. I’m just thankful to have no frost to get my stuff in the ground.
I’m itching to get started, but can’t for another month.
My Granpa Nick Byers always planted by the signs..
We have never worried about planting by the signs, mostly because my husbands work schedule left only so much time to do it. Now that we are retired, we can be more particular about planting days. I will write down the days you posted today, and maybe we can use them to be more successful. I just love reading your blog each day and being entertained and learning new things and ideas. I was so excited to “join” you all for Granny’s birthday party last evening. She just looked so happy and so lovely—made my day. Give her a big birthday hug from me. Have a wonderful day everyone!
I planted my carrots, beets Spanish onions and lettuce when you did. so early, but it looks so far really good timing
Thank you for simplifying a complex topic. I don’t make a food plot, but I grow flowers in pots on my front porch. It’s shady, but gets really hot in July & August. I’ve learned what will & will not do well in my little front porch microcosm. Growing “anything” is enjoyable and rewarding! I’ve learned that I can have beauty with a little packet of seeds or a few roots and bulbs! Happy gardening, everyone!
A beautiful bounty so far, I must say. I gotta catch up…Loved Granny’s Birthday party. Prayers for her and God Bless you guys. I am assuming the gentleman that I didn’t know was Steve….handsome young man.
I really don’t know anything about this except of the fortune teller aspect of zodiac which I think is creepy. I understand what you are saying though