Moon Planting calendar of December

Before 10:49 AM (10:49), flower day:

INDOORS: 2nd day for planting or repotting amaryllis bulbs indoors.

LANDSCAPING: 2nd day, if not freezing, to plant deciduous flower shrubs, flower vines, and bare-root rose trees (remember to root-dip them) / If not done yet, ridge soil up over graft points for newly planted rose trees, or less hardy varieties; you'll clear them free in spring / Prune your rose trees (the "Christmas pruning") by cutting stems back to around 2 feet (50-60 cm) / Prune summer-blooming clematis vines / Start winter pruning for wisteria: cut all secondary branches back, leaving only 3 or 4 buds on each stump

Position new dogwood trees where you intend for them to grow; you'll graft them over the coming summer / Prune your tree mallows / Protect Hibiscus moscheutos and perennials in flower beds: mulch and cover more vulnerable flowers with winterizing fleece

Plant hellebore and chrysanthemum.

VEGETABLE PATCH: 2nd day to check if your artichoke are still well protected.

After 10:49 AM (10:49), entering a leaf day:

LANDSCAPING: If not freezing, start planting deciduous trees and shrubs, especially those purchased in bare-root state (for evergreens, wait for March-April because they settle in better when soil is a bit warmer); for hedges, plant in a diamond pattern with lots of space between plants if you've got the land for it; mulch to hinder grass growth that would compete with the young saplings / Plant ornamental leafage vines if it's not freezing cold / Prune and trim large deciduous trees, and remove balls of mistletoe if needed / Prune bamboo and hazelnut trees, save stems to use as stakes and poles for beans.

VEGETABLE PATCH: If not done last week, force endives in the garden or cellar / Blanch dandelion clumps.

LANDSCAPING: 2nd day for, if not freezing, starting to plant deciduous trees and shrubs, especially those purchased in bare-root state (for evergreens, wait for March-April because they settle in better when soil is a bit warmer); for hedges, plant in a diamond pattern with lots of space between plants if you've got the land for it; mulch to hinder grass growth that would compete with the young saplings / Plant ornamental leafage vines if it's not freezing cold / Prune and trim large deciduous trees, and remove balls of mistletoe if needed / Prune bamboo and hazelnut trees, save stems to use as stakes and poles for beans.

VEGETABLE PATCH: 2nd day, if not done yet, to force endives in the garden or cellar / Blanch dandelion clumps.

ORCHARD: Plant new bare-root fruit trees if the weather isn't freezing (remember to prepare root dip), making sure you don't bury the graft point by elevating it a bit higher than ground level: soil will settle and bring it down; enrich poor soil with crushed horns; water abundantly and stake the tree with a 6-inch clearance from the trunk (15 cm) / Prune and shape fruit trees exposed to strong winds / Amend with compost and phosphorus & potassium fertilizer along the drip line / It is still time to collect fig tree cuttings: pull stems off to include the heel or cut a portion of the underlying branch off with the cutting (mallet cutting).

Don't garden after 1:40 PM (13:40) – moon is at apogee at 6:42 PM (18:42)

ORCHARD: 2nd day for planting new bare-root fruit trees if the weather isn't freezing (remember to prepare root dip), making sure you don't bury the graft point by elevating it a bit higher than ground level: soil will settle and bring it down; enrich poor soil with crushed horns; water abundantly and stake the tree with a 6-inch clearance from the trunk (15 cm) / Prune and shape fruit trees exposed to strong winds / Amend with compost and phosphorus & potassium fertilizer along the drip line / It is still time to collect fig tree cuttings: pull stems off to include the heel or cut a portion of the underlying branch off with the cutting (mallet cutting).

3rd day for planting new bare-root fruit trees if the weather isn't freezing (remember to prepare root dip), making sure you don't bury the graft point by elevating it a bit higher than ground level: soil will settle and bring it down; enrich poor soil with crushed horns; water abundantly and stake the tree with a 6-inch clearance from the trunk (15 cm) / Prune and shape fruit trees exposed to strong winds / Amend with compost and phosphorus & potassium fertilizer along the drip line / It is still time to collect fig tree cuttings: pull stems off to include the heel or cut a portion of the underlying branch off with the cutting (mallet cutting).

VEGETABLE PATCH: Harvest black salsify, horseradish, common salsify, swede, leek, parsnip, crosnes, and take a few minutes to spread mulch on your crops to make it easier to harvest even when it freezes (also remember to keep a few vigorous and healthy swede, horseradish, and crosnes specimens for seed next year) / Weed and thin carrot sprouts / In warmer territories, plant gray shallot, colored onion (on ridges) as well as white and violet garlic, on a plot that doesn't have too much nitrogen and hasn't been planted with alliums in the past 4 years / Remember to turn your compost and add water if it's too dry; if too wet, add straw / Remove sprouting eyes from potatoes and discard damaged tubers, check on vegetables stored in silos.

VEGETABLE PATCH: 2nd day to harvest black salsify, horseradish, common salsify, swede, leek, parsnip, crosnes, and take a few minutes to spread mulch on your crops to make it easier to harvest even when it freezes (also remember to keep a few vigorous and healthy swede, horseradish, and crosnes specimens for seed next year) / Weed and thin carrot sprouts / In warmer territories, plant gray shallot, colored onion (on ridges) as well as white and violet garlic, on a plot that doesn't have too much nitrogen and hasn't been planted with alliums in the past 4 years / Remember to turn your compost and add water if it's too dry; if too wet, add straw / Remove sprouting eyes from potatoes and discard damaged tubers, check on vegetables stored in silos.

Don't garden after 10:20 AM – lunar node at 3:24 PM (15:24)

VEGETABLE PATCH: 3rd day to harvest black salsify, horseradish, common salsify, swede, leek, parsnip, crosnes, and take a few minutes to spread mulch on your crops to make it easier to harvest even when it freezes (also remember to keep a few vigorous and healthy swede, horseradish, and crosnes specimens for seed next year) / Weed and thin carrot sprouts / In warmer territories, plant gray shallot, colored onion (on ridges) as well as white and violet garlic, on a plot that doesn't have too much nitrogen and hasn't been planted with alliums in the past 4 years / Remember to turn your compost and add water if it's too dry; if too wet, add straw / Remove sprouting eyes from potatoes and discard damaged tubers, check on vegetables stored in silos.

VEGETABLE PATCH: 4th day to harvest black salsify, horseradish, common salsify, swede, leek, parsnip, crosnes, and take a few minutes to spread mulch on your crops to make it easier to harvest even when it freezes (also remember to keep a few vigorous and healthy swede, horseradish, and crosnes specimens for seed next year) / Weed and thin carrot sprouts / In warmer territories, plant gray shallot, colored onion (on ridges) as well as white and violet garlic, on a plot that doesn't have too much nitrogen and hasn't been planted with alliums in the past 4 years / Remember to turn your compost and add water if it's too dry; if too wet, add straw / Remove sprouting eyes from potatoes and discard damaged tubers, check on vegetables stored in silos.

LANDSCAPING: If not freezing, new opportunity to plant deciduous flower shrubs and bare-root rose trees (remember to root-dip them) / If not done yet, ridge soil up over graft points for newly planted rose trees, or less hardy varieties; you'll clear them free in spring / Prune your rose trees (the "Christmas pruning") by cutting stems back to around 2 feet (50-60 cm). / Prune clematis vines / Prune your tree mallows / Position new dog rose where you intend for them to grow; you'll graft them over the coming summer

Before 11:17 AM, flower day:

LANDSCAPING: 2nd day, if not freezing, to once again plant deciduous flower shrubs and bare-root rose trees (remember to root-dip them) / If not done yet, ridge soil up over graft points for newly planted rose trees, or less hardy varieties; you'll clear them free in spring / Prune your rose trees (the "Christmas pruning") by cutting stems back to around 2 feet (50-60 cm). / Prune clematis vines / Prune your tree mallows / Position new dog rose where you intend for them to grow; you'll graft them over the coming summer

After 11:17 AM, entering a leaf day:

VEGETABLE PATCH: Continue blanching frisée, escarole, cardoon, dandelion... as you plan to eat them / Force a new batch of endive roots.

LANDSCAPING: Plant hedge shrubs / Prune bamboo / Prune deciduous trees and remove mistletoe / Plant deciduous trees and shrubs / Plant ornamental leaf vines such as Virginia creeper, ivy, crimson glory vine.

VEGETABLE PATCH: 2nd day to continue blanching frisée, escarole, cardoon, dandelion... / Force a new batch of endive roots.

LANDSCAPING: 2nd day for planting hedge shrubs / Prune bamboo / Prune deciduous trees and remove mistletoe / Plant deciduous trees and shrubs / Plant ornamental leaf vines such as Virginia creeper, ivy, crimson glory vine.

Before 9:58 AM, leaf day:

VEGETABLE PATCH: 3rd day to continue blanching frisée, escarole, cardoon, dandelion... / Force a new batch of endive roots.

LANDSCAPING: 3rd day for planting hedge shrubs / Prune bamboo / Prune deciduous trees and remove mistletoe / Plant deciduous trees and shrubs / Plant ornamental leaf vines such as Virginia creeper, ivy, crimson glory vine.

After 9:58 AM (9:58), entering a fruit & seed day:

ORCHARD: Before the moon switches to ascending this evening, plant new bare-root fruit trees if the weather isn't freezing (remember to prepare root dip), making sure you don't bury the graft point by elevating it a bit higher than ground level: soil will settle and bring it down; enrich poor soil with crushed horns; water abundantly and stake the tree with a 6-inch clearance from the trunk (15 cm) / Prune and shape fruit trees exposed to strong winds / Amend with compost and phosphorus & potassium fertilizer along the drip line / It is still time to collect fig tree cuttings: pull stems off to include the heel or cut a portion of the underlying branch off with the cutting (mallet cutting).

ORCHARD: It is still time to collect graft scions from apple, pear and plum trees if it isn't freezing; select stems as thick as a pencil with eyes or buds along the entire length; slice stem tips and tie them in labeled bundles; bury them in sand 3/4ths of their length deep against a north-facing wall / Harvest kiwi in mild regions, and citrus fruit along the coast.

VEGETABLE PATCH: You can sow faba beans in this phase.

Before 4:11 PM (16:11), fruit & seed day:

ORCHARD: 2nd day for collecting graft scions from apple, pear and plum trees if it isn't freezing; select stems as thick as a pencil with eyes or buds along the entire length; slice stem tips and tie them in labeled bundles; bury them in sand 3/4ths of their length deep against a north-facing wall / Harvest kiwi in mild regions, and citrus fruit along the coast.

VEGETABLE PATCH: 2nd day for sowing faba beans in this time of the year.

After 4:11 PM (16:11), entering a root day:

VEGETABLE PATCH: Sow a few red radish, baby carrot, and colored onion either on a hot bed or under a cold frame.

Don't garden after 1:50 PM (13:50) – moon is at perigee at 6:52 PM (18:52)

VEGETABLE PATCH: 2nd day for sowing a few red radish, baby carrot, and colored onion either on a hot bed or under a cold frame.

Before 1:46 PM (13:46), root day:

VEGETABLE PATCH: 3rd day for sowing a few red radish, baby carrot, and colored onion either on a hot bed or under a cold frame.

After 1:46 PM (13:46), entering a flower day:

LANDSCAPING: Upon cleaning your now-wilted flower beds, remember to keep a few dried stems for everlasting bouquets: grasses, hydrangea, sedum, honesty... / Sow blue gentiana, Jupiter's helm, and, on a hot bed, begonia semperflorens (don't bury the seeds) and pelargonium / In mild regions, under a cold frame, sow biennials.

LANDSCAPING: 3rd day for clearing out wilted flower beds. Remember to keep a few dried stems for everlasting bouquets: grasses, hydrangea, sedum, honesty... / Sow blue gentiana, Jupiter's helm, and, on a hot bed, begonia semperflorens (don't bury the seeds) and pelargonium / In mild regions, under a cold frame, sow biennials.

Before 5:46 PM (17:46), flower day:

LANDSCAPING: 3rd day for cleaning now-wilted flower beds. Remember to keep a few dried stems for everlasting bouquets: grasses, hydrangea, sedum, honesty... / Sow blue gentiana, Jupiter's helm, and, on a hot bed, begonia semperflorens (don't bury the seeds) and pelargonium / In mild regions, under a cold frame, sow biennials.

After 5:46 PM (17:46), entering a leaf day:

INDOORS: Sow watercress and purslane indoors for healthy winter greens / Also set seeds for sprouting in small trays, eat them when sprouted or still very small (seeds available in organic stores) / Sow citrus seeds in nursery pots indoors: they won't really grow to bear good fruit, but as houseplants they're wonderful.

VEGETABLE PATCH: Keep harvesting corn salad, spinach and Brussels sprouts depending on your meal schedules.

INDOORS: 2nd day to sow watercress and purslane indoors, for healthy winter greens / Also set seeds for sprouting in small trays, eat them when sprouted or still very small (seeds available in organic stores) / Sow citrus seeds in nursery pots indoors: they won't really grow to bear good fruit, but as houseplants they're wonderful.

VEGETABLE PATCH: 2nd day to keep harvesting corn salad, spinach and Brussels sprouts depending on your meal schedules.

Fall solstice at 3:27 AM, no impact on gardening tasks

VEGETABLE PATCH: In mild climates, sow faba bean and round pea, directly in the growing bed.

ORCHARD: Harvest the last apples, pears, and kiwi in mild areas, as well as persimmon and medlar (only if it has frozen for these last two) / If not done yet, collect scions from fruit trees that you'll use for grafting in spring: select sprigs that are as thick as a pencil with buds along the entire length, cut the tips off each stem and tie them into bundles; label them; bury them 3/4ths deep in sand at the foot of a north-facing wall (monitor them for deburring as winter ends, because they must be grafted before buds break).

VEGETABLE PATCH: 2nd day, in mild climates, to sow faba bean and pea, directly in the growing bed.

ORCHARD: 2nd day for harvesting the last apples, pears, and kiwi in mild areas, as well as persimmon and medlar (only if it has frozen for these last two) / If not done yet, collect scions from fruit trees that you'll use for grafting in spring: select sprigs that are as thick as a pencil with buds along the entire length, cut the tips off each stem and tie them into bundles; label them; bury them 3/4ths deep in sand at the foot of a north-facing wall (monitor them for deburring as winter ends, because they must be grafted before buds break).

VEGETABLE PATCH: Select seed suppliers after planning out your 2024 vegetable patch. Buy them now when inventories are full and you've got more to choose from. / Sow a few red radish, baby carrot, and colored onion either on a hot bed or under a cold frame.

Merry Christmas Eve!

VEGETABLE PATCH: 2nd day for wrapping up seed selection after planning out your 2024 vegetable patch. Buy them now when inventories are full and you've got more to choose from. / Sow a few red radish, baby carrot, and colored onion either on a hot bed or under a cold frame.

Merry Christmas

VEGETABLE PATCH: 3rd day for wrapping up seed selection after planning out your 2024 vegetable patch. Buy them now when inventories are full and you've got more to choose from. / Sow a few red radish, baby carrot, and colored onion either on a hot bed or under a cold frame.

LANDSCAPING: If not freezing, plant flower trees and shrubs, and bare-root rose bushes / Recover chrysanthemum that have by now lost their flowers and transplant them to the garden / Repot cyclamen and heather that you've kept in pots and garden boxes since fall / Prune your bush roses back to around 2 feet (50-60 cm), as well as summer-flower clematis and all summer-blooming shrubs, if it isn't freezing / Transplant hardy perennial flowers such as pansy, wallflower and primrose to a spot sheltered from wind to have beautiful edges in spring / Add ripe compost to perennial flower beds.

INDOORS: It's still time to settle amaryllis bulbs in their pots, their flowers will decorate your home at the end of winter; only bury the bulbs halfway, and make sure the pots are heavy enough to stay upright despite the weight of the tall flower stems / Start forcing spring bulbs (tulip, narcissus, daffodill, crocus...) so you can have beautiful pot arrangements early on in the season.

Before 7:16 PM (19:16), flower day:

LANDSCAPING: 2nd day, if not freezing, for planting flower trees and shrubs, and bare-root rose bushes / Recover chrysanthemum that have by now lost their flowers and transplant them to the garden / Repot cyclamen and heather that you've kept in pots and garden boxes since fall / Prune your bush roses back to around 2 feet (50-60 cm), as well as summer-flower clematis and all summer-blooming shrubs, if it isn't freezing / Transplant hardy perennial flowers such as pansy, wallflower and primrose to a spot sheltered from wind to have beautiful edges in spring / Add ripe compost to perennial flower beds.

INDOORS: 2nd day to settle amaryllis bulbs in their pots, their flowers will decorate your home at the end of winter; only bury the bulbs halfway, and make sure the pots are heavy enough to stay upright despite the weight of the tall flower stems / Start forcing spring bulbs (tulip, narcissus, daffodill, crocus...) so you can have beautiful pot arrangements early on in the season.

After 7:16 PM (19:16), entering a leaf day:

LANDSCAPING: If not freezing, transplant your Christmas tree outside if you bought one with its roots / Prune and trim deciduous trees, and remove balls of mistletoe if needed; spread pruning paste on large wounds / Plant ornamental ivy / Prune deciduous foliage hedges (compost trimmings or shred them to make RCW) / This time is also favorable for pulling weeds out from lawns: work when the soil is moist, with a weeding knife.

VEGETABLE PATCH: While pruning trees, select long and straight branches that you can repurpose into stakes for pole beans (hazelnut, bamboo...) / Prune lemon verbena, keeping only 3 buds per sprig.

LANDSCAPING: 2nd day, if not freezing, for transplanting your Christmas tree outside if you bought one with its roots / Prune and trim deciduous trees, and remove balls of mistletoe if needed; spread pruning paste on large wounds / Plant ornamental ivy / Prune deciduous foliage hedges (compost trimmings or shred them to make RCW) / This time is also favorable for pulling weeds out from lawns: work when the soil is moist, with a weeding knife.

VEGETABLE PATCH: 2nd day, while pruning trees, for selecting long and straight branches that you can repurpose into stakes for pole beans (hazelnut, bamboo...) / Prune lemon verbena, keeping only 3 buds per sprig.

Before 9:44 AM, leaf day:

LANDSCAPING: 3rd day, if not freezing, for transplanting your Christmas tree outside if you bought one with its roots / Prune and trim deciduous trees, and remove balls of mistletoe if needed; spread pruning paste on large wounds / Plant ornamental ivy / Prune deciduous foliage hedges (compost trimmings or shred them to make RCW) / This time is also favorable for pulling weeds out from lawns: work when the soil is moist, with a weeding knife.

VEGETABLE PATCH: 3rd day, while pruning trees, for selecting long and straight branches that you can repurpose into stakes for pole beans (hazelnut, bamboo...) / Prune lemon verbena, keeping only 3 buds per sprig.

After 9:44 AM, entering a fruit & seed day:

ORCHARD: If not freezing, plant fruit trees, root-dip bare roots and make sure the graft point is an inch or so above ground level (2-3 cm): soil will settle under the tree and it's important that the graft point not be buried; place the stake an open hand's width away from the trunk to avoid wounding as the tree sways with the wind / Plant berry shrubs (raspberry, red currant, black currant...) / Prune and trim old fruit trees / Prune your grapevine: one of the easiest techniques is the "3-bud" pruning, where you cut each sprig back to the structural branch, leaving only 3 buds on each / Prepare cuttings from or marcot fig trees / Start treating against peach leaf curl: spray bordeaux mixture, or fermented nettle or horsetail tea.

ORCHARD: 2nd day, if not freezing, for planting fruit trees, root-dip bare roots and make sure the graft point is an inch or so above ground level (2-3 cm): soil will settle under the tree and it's important that the graft point not be buried; place the stake an open hand's width away from the trunk to avoid wounding as the tree sways with the wind / Plant berry shrubs (raspberry, red currant, black currant...) / Prune and trim old fruit trees / Prune your grapevine: one of the easiest techniques is the "3-bud" pruning, where you cut each sprig back to the structural branch, leaving only 3 buds on each / Prepare cuttings from or marcot fig trees / Start treating against peach leaf curl: spray bordeaux mixture, or fermented nettle or horsetail tea.

Happy New Year!