Favorable days for gardening in central Russia in 2020

Taking the lunar phases into account before sowing seeds or planting crops is crucial. The influence of the moon and its cycles can be both favorable and unfavorable. That's why we've developed a 2020 sowing calendar for all vegetable and flower growers in central Russia. These tables will be useful for gardeners in the Moscow region and central Russia.

How to determine the phase of the moon

Determining the phases of the moon is easy, but it's important. Each phase affects crops. During a particular lunar phase, crop growth can accelerate or slow down. The cycle consists of eight phases, with 29.5 days for each phase to change. The phases are:

1. New Moon. The New Moon marks the beginning of a cycle. During this period, Earth's satellite is positioned between our planet and the Sun.
2. Waxing. This is the first quarter. A small part to the right is illuminated by the Sun.
3. First quarter. The moon and our planet are in close orbit. Half the moon is visible, and it has essentially completed a quarter of its orbit around the blue planet.
4. Waxing. Earth's satellite is located between the first quarter and the crescent. The planet appears convex.
5. Full Moon. During this period, the entire Moon can be seen. It is located behind our planet and the Sun.
6. Waning. This phase is similar to phase 4 (Waxing), as the Moon becomes gibbous again. It is not entirely illuminated, and the entire left side is visible.
7. The last quarter. The Earth's satellite and the Sun gradually draw closer, and the left side is very bright. At this time, only one-quarter can be seen, convex to the left, before all phases end.

Now the night light will repeat its phases again and again, the first phase starting with the new moon.

Waxing Moon

It is believed that for crops that thrive upward, a positive period occurs during the waxing moon. It's best to begin sowing during the waxing moon: crops will grow fully. Tubers (potatoes, sweet potatoes, Jerusalem artichokes) and root vegetables (beets, carrots, radishes) should be planted and sown seven days before the New Moon.

The New and Full Moon phases are negative for any work on the plot; planting and sowing are prohibited during this time: there is a risk of plant diseases and slow crop growth.

Waning Moon

For root crops and other plants whose life force flows primarily to the lower parts, the ideal growth period is the waning moon cycle. Abundant watering will be beneficial during the waning moon, as the water actively sinks to the very bottom of the rhizome. This is also the best time for planting.

Planting days in the region

Planting seedlings should take place on favorable days for temperate climates. While the growing region and variety should be taken into account, the lunar calendar is used as a guide and adjusted accordingly. The table shows the days when gardening is possible:

The sowing date for seeds is determined by counting backwards. The date by which you would like to harvest your first crop is chosen as the starting point. From this date, the growing season of the crop is calculated backwards. This is the number of days from the time the seedling emerges from the soil until the first fruits ripen. This period is usually indicated on seed packets or can be found in reference books. Then, 3-5 days are subtracted from this period (this is the time it takes for the seedlings to establish themselves when planted in the garden; this can be reduced to zero by growing the seedlings in individual peat pots and planting them directly in the open air). Then, another 5-7 days are subtracted (this is the period from sowing the seed until the seedling emerges from the soil). The resulting number is the approximate sowing date for seedlings.

The resulting sowing date must be adjusted based on the age of the seedlings before transplanting them into open ground. The planting date for the seedlings depends on the location of the plant. If planting in a heated greenhouse, this is early April. For a regular greenhouse or hotbed, the date is May 15th.

Sowing in open ground

In May, when the sun begins to warm the soil in your dacha, you can sow seeds of fast-growing plants in your garden. In the central regions of the country, sowing begins on April 15th. Afterward, be sure to place a sign at the beginning of each garden bed with the name of the variety and the sowing date.

Beginner gardeners with small plots often make their beds wide to accommodate as many plants as possible. However, this is only seemingly practical. In reality, it leads to significant yield losses. This is due to inconvenient seasonal maintenance, resulting in many crops suffering from a lack of moisture and nutrients. Plants will be inadequately ventilated and exposed to light, which will negatively impact crop development and lead to the spread of pests and diseases. Properly planting beds at a width of 700-1000 mm will ensure comfortable gardening and will not affect the yield.

Three basic factors influence the uniformity of seed germination when sowing in the garden:

1. Soil moisture level. In spring, the soil is already moist, so crops don't need to be watered excessively.
2. Seed sowing time and temperature. The sowing time completely determines whether the seeds will be planted in cold, uncomfortable soil or warm, comfortable soil. From year to year, the sowing season typically shifts by a week or a week and a half in either direction, so the timing is based on weather conditions rather than specific dates.
3. Covering. To speed up germination, cover the bed with polyethylene or agrofibre. Ideally, the material should be opaque, as this will better absorb the sun and heat the soil more effectively. This will create a favorable microclimate, allowing the seeds to germinate quickly and evenly. This will reduce germination time by 1.5-2 times.

By following the recommendations you can get a rich harvest.

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Dive and landing times

A planting calendar will tell you when it's best to plant and transplant crops. These two tasks are crucial, so they should be carried out carefully and at the optimal time. Experienced vegetable growers offer the following advice:

1. Tomato varieties. Sowing: March 15-29. Transplant into the garden at 55-70 days of age (when night frosts have not returned). If a greenhouse or hotbed is available, plant the seeds earlier and grow under supplemental lighting.
2. Sowing eggplant seeds is March 15th, picking at the stage of two true leaves. Planting in the ground at the age of 60-70 days in the last days of May, when night frosts will no longer return. In cold weather (less than 15 ^OC) must be covered with spunbond.
3. Peppers. Seeds are sown in early March. They are planted in the garden at 70-80 days. Sowing in a greenhouse can begin on February 15th; the plants must be given light.
4. Cucumbers. Sow seedlings in late April. Transplant into the garden at the 3-4 true leaf stage (approximately a month) in late May or early June, when night frosts are no longer likely. Seedlings can be planted in greenhouses a couple of weeks earlier.
5. Broccoli and cauliflowerSowing seeds begins on March 15th. Planting in the garden at the age of 35-40 days.
6. Early cabbage. Sowing from March 15. Planting seedlings in the garden from May 15 to May 29.
7. Mid-season cabbage. Sow seeds in late April. Plant in the ground at the end of May.
8. Late cabbage. Sowing begins on April 15. Transplant to the garden between May 15 and 28 at 35-40 days of age.
9. Root celery. Sowing seeds from February 20 to March 10. Picking occurs when the plants have two true leaves (approximately 30-40 days). Planting in the garden occurs in late May.
10. OnionTurnip. Seeds are sown in early March. Planting begins in early May.
11. Everbearing strawberries. Sow seeds in early March to early April. Pick at 1-2 true leaves (approximately 7-10 days). Plant in the garden when the sixth true leaf appears (45-50 days).

Picking seedlings is the transplanting or replanting of still young shoots from a small pot where the seeds were sown into a larger container filled with new soil.

Planting trees and shrubs

The lunar calendar lists favorable planting days. Planting fruit seedlings in spring helps prevent them from freezing, but this comes with some risk. All work must be completed before the growing season begins, while the crop is dormant. Furthermore, seedlings planted in spring usually suffer from heat, water shortages, and pests, so they require thorough care. A positive aspect of spring planting is that any plants, even heat-loving ones, can be planted during this period.

A table is provided listing negative days when it is forbidden to work in the beds or in the garden:

Try to avoid these dates when working in the garden.

How do zodiac signs influence

When compiling the lunar calendar, scientists take into account the phases of the moon, but also its position within the constellations. This also affects crops. The moon's position in certain constellations has a positive effect on the development of a particular plant, while other constellations, on the contrary, have a negative effect on crops. The following signs are considered favorable:

1. Scorpion.
2. Cancer.
3. Fish.

When the Moon is in one of these constellations, sowing and planting are permitted. Neutral signs:

1. Scales.
2. Taurus.
3. Capricorn.
4. Sagittarius.

Unfavorable:

1. Aquarius.
2. Twins.
3. Virgo.
4. Lion.
5. Aries.

Among them, Aquarius and Leo are the most negative signs for sowing and planting crops, where they rarely take root. When the Moon is in these signs, gardening is not recommended.

After reviewing the lunar sowing calendar for the temperate zone, with favorable and unfavorable dates for planting and cultivating crops in 2020, vegetable growers and gardeners should understand that these recommendations are not for informational purposes only, but for practical application. The gardener's calendar for the temperate zone provides advice on when to begin sowing and planting, so it's important to remember this and refer to it periodically, always comparing your experience and intuition with the advice of experts.