Lunar calendar for gardeners and vegetable growers for 2020
2020 marks the Year of the Metal Mouse. It favors those who work the land and stockpile resources. To please the Mouse, plan your gardening in advance and consider planting a new garden, if needed.
Content
Why is the lunar calendar needed and what are its benefits?
The lunar calendar is truly a very useful tool in everyday gardening. Using it, you can plan your work for the coming days, as well as your rest periods. Knowing the Moon's sign, as well as its waxing or waning phase, allows gardeners to work more efficiently in their garden. Choosing the right date will also help save energy.
How to use it
When choosing a day for gardening, it's important to consider the agronomic activity first and then select the dates. For example, if you've planned to plant fruit trees, and that day is unfavorable for this activity, consider replacing it with pest control. Or, if you've decided to prune dead branches on fruit trees, only the days around the New Moon (usually one day before, one day after, and one day after) are suitable for this.
For planting berry bushes, it's best to choose days when the Moon is in Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces. The flavor and aroma of the resulting berries will be more intense.
Favorable days for various jobs (table by month)
It's worth paying attention to which crops are favored by the zodiac signs. Some gardeners have trouble remembering which zodiac sign is best for planting a particular crop. This table has been compiled to help.
| Works | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mature plants, trees and shrubs | 10–15, 19, 20 | 10-14, 17-18, 22, 23 | 9, 10, 13–14, 18, 19 | 11, 12, 15–17, 20, 21 | 1, 2, 28, 29 | 6, 9, 10, 14, 15, 19 | 5–7, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16 | 3, 6, 7, 8, 11–13, 16 | 4, 5, 9, 10, 13–15 |
| Planting of stone fruit and pome fruit seedlings: apple, pear, quince, plum, cherry, cherry plum, sweet cherry, apricot | 1, 2, 3, 28, 29 | 1, 27, 28 | 7, 24 | 4, 5 | 1, 2, 28, 29 | 4, 25, 26 | 1, 2, 22–23, 28, 29 | 18, 19, 24, 25 | 21–23 |
| Planting shrubs: currants of all kinds, raspberries, gooseberries, sea buckthorn, lemongrass, hawthorn | 1–7, 12, 14, 15, 19, 20, 23–25, 28, 29 | 1–6, 9, 11–18, 22, 23, 25–31 | 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 14, 18, 19, 23–30 | 4–7, 11, 12, 15, 16, 20, 23–26 | 1–5, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 22, 23, 26–30 | 2, 3, 7–13, 21–24, 29–31 | 1, 3–5, 7–11, 14, 15, 17–19, 21–23, 27, 30–31 | 1, 5–10, 14–17, 22, 23, 26–28 | 1, 2, 4–8, 11–14, 19, 20, 24, 25, 28–31 |
| Planting strawberries, wild strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, honeysuckle, and grapes | 1–7, 24, 25, 28, 29 | 1–6, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 | 1, 2, 7, 24–29 | 4, 5, 6, 23–26 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 22, 23, 28–30 | 1, 4, 25–28 | 1, 2, 22–25, 28, 29 | 18–21, 24, 25, 29, 30 | 17, 18, 21–23, 26, 27 |
| Preparing cuttings for grafting and rooting | 1–8, 20, 24, 25, 28, 29 | 1–6, 11,13,17, 18, 22, 29, 30 | 1–8, 10,14, 23–30 | 2-7, 9, 11,12, 15-17, 23-26, 30, 31 | 1–4, 7, 8, 17, 18, 22, 23, 28–30 | 1–4, 9, 10, 14, 15, 25–28, 31 | 3–5, 8–11, 13, 14, 17–19, 27, 30, 31 | 1, 5, 6, 10, 13–17, 25–28 | 1, 2, 5, 7, 9, 11–13, 19, 20, 24, 25, 28–30 |
| Tree grafting | 1–3, 6, 7, 24, 25, 28, 29 | 1, 4–6, 7, 27, 28 | 1, 2, 5–7, 24, 28, 29 | 2–6, 25, 26, 30, 31 | 1–4, 22, 23, 26–30 | 1, 4, 23–28 | 1, 2, 20–25, 28, 29 | 18–21, 24, 25, 29, 30 | 17, 18, 21–23, 26, 27 |
| Pruning branches and shoots | 16–18, 21, 22 | 19–21 | 11, 12, 15–17, 20–22 | 8, 9, 13, 14, 18, 19 | 6, 9, 10, 11, 14–16, 19, 20 | 7, 8, 1–13, 16–18 | 4, 8, 9, 13, 14, 17, 18 | 4, 5, 9, 10, 14, 15 | 3, 6–8, 11, 12 |
| Pest control, disease control | 19–22 | 19–21 | 11–17, 20, 21, 22 | 8, 9, 11–14, 18, 19 | 7–11, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20 | 6–8, 11, 12, 13, 16–18 | 4, 8, 9, 13, 14, 17, 18 | 4, 5, 9, 10, 14, 15 | 3, 6–8, 11, 12 |
| Watering trees and shrubs, spraying | 1–7, 12, 14, 15, 18–20, 23–29 | 1–6, 9–14, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24–31 | 1–14, 18, 19, 23–30 | 2–12, 15–17, 20–31 | As needed | As needed | As needed | 1, 7–10, 13–16, 22, 23, 25–28 | 1, 2, 6–8, 11–14, 19, 20, 24, 25, 28–30 |
| Application of mineral fertilizers | 1–8, 24–29 | 1–9, 25–31 | 1, 2, 5–7, 23–30 | 2–6, 23–31 | 1–5, 22–30 | 1–5, 21–31 | 1, 2, 20–31 | 1, 18–30 | 1:17–31 |
| Application of organic fertilizers | 10–21 | 10–23 | 8–22 | 7–21 | 6–20 | 6–19 | 4–19 | 3–17 | 2–15 |
When planning crop fertilization, it's important to consider the moon's position. During the waxing moon, plant sap flows upward, making chemical fertilizers the preferred time to apply. During the waning moon, organic fertilizers are best applied.
Explanations of the calendar
At first glance, it might seem like there's not enough time for individual activities. But that's not true. Think about how many times a month you manage to complete each of them, and you'll understand. To effectively use your gardening time, it's important to clearly understand which agricultural practices are important to you and which you don't use.
February
Snow retention is crucial this month. It allows the soil to accumulate sufficient moisture during the snowmelt. To achieve this, it's necessary to pile snow under fruit trees when clearing paths, and to spread it out. cropped or broken branches. If a sharp cold snap is predicted, snow should be collected as far away from the roots as possible to avoid damaging the trees. It's important to remember that roots can extend further than 1 meter from the tree's crown.
To protect against rodents, tree trunks are wrapped in matting and spruce branches. You can also trample the snow around them.
In February, winter grafting is carried out on prepared scions.
March
All damage to trees is covered garden pitch.
To prevent sunburn, whitewash trunks. You can use water-based paint or special products, such as "Protection."
Pruning of dry branches begins with older trees, as they bud faster.
April
Before bud break, it's important to shape the crown. In young trees, branches and the central core should not be pruned more than ¼ of their length.
In the second half of April, if the snow has melted, young seedlings are planted in the holes prepared in the fall. In this case, the seedling's crown can be left at ground level. If the holes were prepared in the spring (at least 7-10 days in advance), the crown should be left 4-5 cm higher.
May
During flowering, recurrent frosts may occur. Fumigation can raise the ambient temperature by 1–2°C.
Plants require fertilizer. In May, this is applied to furrows around the crown, dug to a depth of 8–10 cm and 1–1.5 m from the base. The most common fertilizer is organic fertilizer, at a rate of 1 kg of cow manure per 20 liters of water.
During bud formation, treat the garden for pests. Depending on the chosen product, directions for application are provided on the packaging.
June
At the beginning of the month, propagation of the main fruit trees and shrubs using green cuttings begins: cherries, plums, sea buckthorn.
After flowering, the garden is fertilized urea At a rate of 40–50 g of fertilizer per 10 liters of water. This amount is sufficient for 2–3 trees. Repeat feeding after 10–15 days.
When pests appear, treat berry bushes in accordance with the instructions for the product.
On raspberries, weak shoots are removed, and on strawberries, runners that are beginning to form are removed. Strawberries are watered regularly at a rate of 20–30 liters per square meter.
July
Mass harvesting and its processingImmediately after harvesting, gooseberries and currants are fed with complete mineral fertilizers (preferably with microelements). Dissolve 1 tablespoon of Kemira Universal or a special fertilizer for berry crops in 10 liters of water.
August
Harvest continues in August. New strawberry patches are being planted en masse.
September
After the berry harvest, trees and shrubs are pruned extensively. Fertilizers containing phosphorus and potassium are applied to help plants prepare for winter. Up to 30 grams of complex fertilizer is required per square meter. These are scattered along the crown and raked into the soil. Then, water.
October
Planting holes are prepared for spring transplanting of seedlings. For apple and pear trees, a hole 45–60 cm deep and 60–80 cm in diameter is needed. Fill the hole with fertile soil mixed with 100 g of superphosphate and 50–60 g of potassium sulfate. The latter can be replaced with 0.5 liters of wood ash.
November
In the second half of the month, whitewash skeletal branches to protect trees from sunburn and small rodents. Young trees can be wrapped in matting or fine-mesh netting.
Snow retention is carried out in berry fields.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
- Aries - you should be careful when working with cutting and sharp tools (knife, axe, scissors).
- Taurus - planting fruit trees and shrubs (especially rose hips and honeysuckle) is encouraged.
- Gemini - love planting and transplanting blackberries, raspberries, strawberries.
- Cancer: It's best to avoid planting plants that will overwinter outdoors. The exception is plants that will be covered in snow.
- Leo - planting fruit trees and shrubs is favorable (despite the fact that the sign is unproductive).
- Virgo - it is good to plan and plant the future garden.
- Libra - during the waxing moon, planting a new garden.
Unfavorable days (table by month)
It is not recommended to carry out work related to planting and replanting plants on the days of the New Moon and Full Moon.
| February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | |
| Unfavorable days by month | 9, 23 | 9, 24 | 8, 23 | 7, 22 | 5, 21 | 5, 20 | 3, 19 | 2, 17 | 2, 16, 31 |
The lunar calendar is a great aid for clearly planning necessary work. It's better to do less, but ensure that the work is completed within the optimal timeframe. If you check the weather forecast at the beginning of the month and create a detailed work plan for the upcoming period, you can confidently count on its effectiveness.
