Farmers’ Almanac Planting Calendar
Gardening by the Moon (according to the phases of the Moon) is an ancient concept and a fundamental part of the Farmers’ Almanac philosophy. For over 200 years, our print editions have included a Planting Calendar that uses phases and position of the Moon to predict the best times to perform specific gardening tasks. FA readers have long sworn by this method of managing their gardens and crops. Get All-Access to see the next 12 months and receive a copy of the Almanac shipped free!
The dates listed below are consistent across all growing zones. Please consider your regional weather and climate before following our suggestions. We also recommend that you talk with a local greenhouse or your agricultural extension office to discover optimal windows of time within which you may use the dates below.
Be sure to check out your frost dates and learn more about your plant hardiness zone (which may have changed a bit when the zones were updated in 2024).
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12th – 13th
Seeds planted now tend to rot in ground.
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14th – 16th
Plant seedbeds and flower gardens. Good days for transplanting. Fine planting days for fall potatoes, turnips, onions, carrots, beets, and other root crops.
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17th – 20th
Clear ground, turn sod, or kill plant pests. Good harvest days.
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21st – 23rd
Excellent for sowing grains, hay, and forage crops. Plant flowers. Good days for planting peas, beans, tomatoes, peppers, and other aboveground crops in southern Florida, Texas, and California.
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24th – 25th
Start seedbeds. Excellent time for planting aboveground crops that can be planted now, including leafy vegetables which will do well.
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26th – 28th
Clear fencerows, wood lots, and fields, but do no planting.
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29th – 30th
Any aboveground crops that can be planted now will do well.
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Almanac Gardening Calendar Terms Explained
Above ground crops: Crops that produce their yield above the soil (corn, peppers, squash, etc.)
Root Crops: Crops that produce their yield below the soil (potatoes, radishes, carrots, etc.)
Seedbeds: A bed of soil cultivated for planting seeds or seedlings before being transplanted.
Seedlings: Young plants—especially ones that grow from seeds (rather than from a cutting).
Transplanting: To uproot and replant a growing plant or an already well-established plant. (Transplanting suggestions are true for houseplants as well.)
The terms “Favorable,” “Good,” and “Best” are all considered beneficial days for planting. “Favorable” and “Good” mean the same thing. However, “Best” is considered the optimal day for planting seeds. Learn about the associations between zodiac signs and planting in our Zodiac Calendar.
how Does The Moon affect plants on Earth?
Those who swear by this ancient growing method say the water in both the ground and in plants are affected by the gravitational pull of the Sun and Moon, similar to the ocean tides.
RELATED: Full Moon Calendar
This theory holds that seeds absorb the most water during the “new” and “full” Moon phases, when the tides are highest, which aids germination. Learn more about Gardening by the Moon.
Any questions? Let us know in the comments!
September Gardening To-Do List
September is a time to enjoy the fruits of your labor: luscious ripe tomatoes, corn, and crisp apples. But there is still much to be done in the garden.
- After the long, hot days of summer, plants need plenty of water. Continue to water plants thoroughly, especially those that are not drought resistant. A good water rule of thumb is water infrequently, but slowly and thoroughly, in order to completely saturate the soil. A thorough watering twice a month through mid-late fall should do the trick.
- Keep pruning to a minimum in September. Plants need to channel their energy into winter dormancy rather than stimulating new growth by pruning. Evergreen hedges can be trimmed for aesthetic purposes.
- September is an ideal time to plant herbaceous perennials, trees, and shrubs, still allowing enough time for the roots to set before the ground freezes. You may even be able to find good deals on perennial plants at your local garden center. When choosing, be sure the plants look healthy as this will impact its ability to survive through the winter.
- Divide and replant spring blooming perennials and water deeply to encourage root development.
- Plant grass seed on well-prepared soil surface. Cool-season grasses (via our friends at BobVila.com), such as bluegrass and ryegrass, fare best with early fall sowing when temperatures are cooler and natural rainfall can aid germination.
- Replace your containers and pots with cool-season flowers, such as chrysanthemums, fall-blooming asters, ornamental cabbage, and pansies.
- Dig up outdoor herbs, such as rosemary, chives, thyme, and marjoram and replant them in pots for growing indoors for fresh herbs through the winter.
- Remove any dead branches that pose a hazard from falling.
- Protect tree trunks and newly planted shrubs from deer, rabbits, and voles with metal fencing, wire cylinders, or hardware cloth.
- Check your vegetable garden daily and harvest vegetables as they ripen. If an early frost is expected, cover with frost fabrics or light blankets.
- Pick unripened tomatoes before chilly nights and allow them to ripen indoors. See how to ripen green tomatoes.
- Towards the end of the month begin harvesting late-season squash and early pumpkins.
- Harvest any cool-season vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, peas, radishes or swiss-chard that you may have planted in August.
- Plant any winter crops such as lettuce, spinach, arugula, kale, garlic, cabbage, brussel sprouts, swiss chard, beets, cauliflower, leeks, and carrots. See tips for how to plant Brussels sprouts.
- Remove any spent plants from your gardens. Only compost healthy plant matter, disposing of any diseased plants.
- Prepare your compost for the onslaught of autumn yard waste. Compost any grass clippings, fallen leaves, yard waste, and kitchen scraps. Be sure to avoid adding diseased plants and keep your compost moist.
- Pull any weeds from the garden or lawn before they go to seed and take over, making your job easier come spring.
- Plant spring bulbs, such as daffodils, tulips, and crocuses. Planting bulbs in September will allow the roots to grow a bit before turning dormant over winter.
- Collect, dry, and save seeds from your favorite plants to sow the following spring.
- Plant needled and broadleaved evergreens before the end of September. Water them deeply upon planting and then weekly until the ground freezes.
- Score some deals on gardening supplies, planters, potting soil, and even plants before the season comes to an end and they make room for holiday items.
Join The Discussion!
What are your gardening plans this season?
How long have you been a gardener?
What questions do you have for the Farmers’ Almanac?
Share your thoughts, experiences, and challenges in the comments section here!
I bought a plant @ a nursery & didn’t notice until home that all the leaves were covered with mildew. I sprayed it & tried to pick all the mildewed leaves off. It is a herbaceous perennial, Coreopsis (Bright Touch). I tried to remove the fallen leaves in the container also. I will remove it from the container & remove as much of the soil as possible. Giving it good fresh potting soil & a new container, will it still have mildewy leaves on it’s new growth? Is it worth trying to rescue?
I have been gardening by the moon for many years. When I was a child I would love to stand in front of the seed display and being in awe at all of those plants. So I would pick out a flower pack of seed (just one) and would plant them around the home.
Sometimes I would have pretty flowers, sometimes just a plant that looked more like a common weed. I
knew nothing about there being better days to plant my flowers.
Enough about my childhood.
I have a question that has been on
on my mind for ever and that is:
if I’m planning on the last day
of a preferred planting day, exactly when does the time end and then
No more good planting day? Does that good planting day end when the sun goes down or at midnight?
Maybe I didn’t get all of the seeds planted, but I want to plant a few more seeds. So, what time is the witching hour when that day goes from an excellent day to “seeds
planted now will rot in the ground “?
Hi George, Thank you for your question. We are unable to disclose the precise minutes and seconds of our formula. Rest assured that when you plant with intention and abide by our suggested days, you will see fantastic results! Let’s please keep the conversation going. We would love to see what you discover. Feel free to share pictures here. We are also happy to answer any questions you may have along the way! Best wishes from all of us at FA.
My hydrangea is about 4 to 5 yrs old and is growing so beautifully but has never had any flowers. Not sure what to do.
Hi Jace, Thanks for sharing this challenge with us. To help you, we put together this article with 5 things that may be going wrong, as well as recommendations. Best wishes and please let us know how it goes!: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/hydrangea-not-blooming-heres-what-to-do
Some hydrangeas bloom on old wood. Pruning at the wrong time could remove future blooms. Find out what kind of hydrangea you have and look up when and how to prune. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!
What can i do for water logged pepper plants
Hi Rajesh, Sorry to hear that your pepper plants are water logged! Here are 5 pointers for you:
1) Stop watering immediately and wait for the top of the soil to dry out a bit before watering again. Also, make sure that your pot has drainage holes and isn’t sitting in standing water. Elevate it to allow for more airflow.
2) If you can, gently repot into fresh, well-draining soil. Remove any mushy, discolored roots in the process.
3) Remove any damaged leaves. Prune off yellow or wilting leaves so the plant can focus energy on new growth.
4) Avoid fertilizing until the plant recovers. Stressed roots can’t absorb nutrients, and fertilizer could cause further damage.
5) Move the plant to a shady spot. This reduces the plant’s water demand while its roots recover from stress.
Please let us know how it goes! Best wishes from all of us at FA.
Hello! We’re reaching the end of a “barren period,” and I’ve got to get some transplants in the ground, it’s hot and they’ll bolt in pots. Can you spell out what you mean by “favorable for cultivating?”
Hi there everyone.im starting a pepper farm any tricks and idears. ?
How do I print the gardening by the moon calendar for each month
Hi Joan,
Easy: I make notes in a Calendar that I have when there’s a full moon, 1st quarter, new moon etc. I also keep track of when I plant etc. on the same calendar.
I need to plant a whole lawn after removing all the shrubs, probably 10k sq feet. When to plant, what to fertilize with how often to water?
We’re starting a flower garden at a local high school to get students more involved in extra curriculum activities to help increase school pride and academic achievements.
What an awesome idea! Happy planting!
Sounds supper fun for the kids and adults. Happy Planting and Growing.
I’ve been an avid flower gardener for 30+ years, as was my mother. She taught me to garden by the moon and I never deviate from that plan. My flower gardens are always beautiful and I get asked what my secret is. I always tell them above all, garden by the moon!
Happy planting season!
Wonderful! Happy gardening!!
Thank you – we’re so happy to have you here in our community!