State-Journal.com - Planting By The Signs: May at a glance

Hopefully the weather will continue to become more settled and we'll be enjoying more of the lovely days we've had this week. If that happens then we can get down to some serious gardening as the days continue to lengthen and the soil temperatures continue to warm.
And for those of you who like to plan in advance, here's an overview of the month of May according to the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac. Elsewhere on this page, too, are the specifics for this week.
Please remember that statistically we still have a couple of weeks until Mother's Day when the last danger of a killing frost should pass. If you're planting frost-sensitive transplants now just be prepared to cover them should we experience a cold snap.
Given the number of days between planting and germination, seeds that produce non-frost-resistant plants (like bush beans) should be safe to plant now, but that said there is still a risk that they could get nipped.
You be the judge: If there are no more frosts then you could have the earliest crop of beans on the block. And if the little plants do get nipped then you'll just need to replant.

Ember Days
Before we begin I want to mention the occurrence of Ember Days this month.
A few times each year we encounter them " and sometimes they occur in the midst of a planting month like May. Well, gardening fans, we have three of them this month. Without extensive explanation " which I haven't been able to find anyway " Ember Days are super killing days and you don't want to be participating in any planting activity on an Ember Day " period, none, zip, zilch!
Reserve these days for killing, deadening, cultivating, cleaning out fencerows " anything but planting.
They will occur on May 14, 16-17. The May 14 day is a Leo day anyway, so that's already a killing sign and you wouldn't be planting. May 16-17, however, are ruled by flowering signs. Personally I wouldn't risk planting anything on an Ember Day no matter what the phase or sign!
I once read about a man who drove a nail into a full-grown tree on a day ruled by a killing sign (Leo or Aries) in May and it killed the tree dead! I cannot testify to the efficacy of that tale, but if you have something you want to get rid of permanently, do it in on May 14 with Leo ruling on an Ember Day and it should be done in for good!
Now, here's the overview. If you have specific questions, as always, my contact information is below.
May is an incredible month for planting so I hope you're ready to go!

The Moon
The dark moon is in force until 8:18 a.m. Monday, May 5, when the new moon " or no moon visible in the sky " comes into force. During the dark moon proceed with dark-moon activities listed below " and any spring planting activities should be restricted to those things that produce below the ground during the dark moon.
The dark moon comes back into force at 10:11 p.m. May 19 and continues until the next new moon at 3:23 p.m. June 3.
The moon is in the light phase for most of May 5 and until 10:10 p.m. May 19. Light moon is the time for planting above-ground producers and the light-moon activities mentioned below.

The Signs
Remember: Check to see if the moon is in the light or dark phase (information above) and determine, especially with veggies, if it produces above (light moon) or below (dark moon) the ground before planting.
Fertile signs: the most fertile signs in the zodiac rule these days. If you're repotting plants, starting seeds in a greenhouse or cold frame or doing any planting in your garden then these days will be well suited: May 1-2, 28-29, Pisces, the feet; May 5-6, Taurus, the neck; May 10-11, Cancer, the breast, and May 19-21 Scorpio, the secrets.
Killing signs: No planting, transplanting, or dealing with things you want to thrive should occur on these days: May 3-4, 30-31, Aries, the head, and May 12-14, Leo, the heart.
So-so days: These aren't particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so. They're mentioned below with regard to the best time for making changes: May 22-23, Sagittarius, the thighs; May 24-25, Capricorn, the knees, May 26-27, Aquarius, the legs.
Flowering days: These are "bloom days" and well suited for planting flowers since it's the blooms you're after: May 15-16, Virgo, the bowels, and May 17-18, Libra, the reins. Remember that two of these four days are Ember Days when no planting should occur.
Gemini days: These are especially suited for planting beans. Gemini rules the arms and days it's in force this month are May 7-9 and both are in the light moon phase. You won't find any finer days for planning beans and by the time their little heads come through the soil all danger of frost should be past, statistically speaking.
There you have it: The whole month of April! Now let's just hope and pray for some dry ground and settled, warmer weather.

General tips
Again, here are a few general tips for activities other than planting:
>If you have gravel to pour on a drive or roadway, do that in the light of the moon so it won't sink. Same applies for stones on a garden path: Place them when the moon is in the light phase so they don't sink. This month the light moon dates are May 5 through most of May 19.
>If you're setting fence posts, do that in the light of the moon so the posts don't sink.
>If you're putting on a new shingle roof, do that when the moon's in the dark phase so that the shingles stick down and don't curl up on the ends. The dark moon is in force now and until 8:18 a.m. May 5 and then May 18 through June 2.
>If you have changes to make like stopping smoking, starting a diet or exercise program, weaning small animals or children " anything that requires a change " here's the formula: The moon in the dark phase and the signs going out of the body, past anything that functions. Here are the days that fit this month, May 1-2 and then May 22-29.
The signs that are in force are the so-so signs that rule, in order: the thighs, knees, legs and feet.
If you have questions and/or comments, call me here at Your Hometown Newspaper, 227-4556 or e-mail pcase@state-journal.com.