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Planting by the Signs: February at a glance

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Soon it will be time to start our outdoor gardens, especially if you enjoy an early garden – something I’ve never been much of a fan of because of the volatile weather in our area. During February, in fact, there are those cold-loving crops we can plant – like peas – if you have the space and inclination.

But I won’t get into the specifics of all that. I’ll just tell you what’s up when according to the phases of the moon and signs of the zodiac and encourage you to call or write if you have questions. My contact information is below.

Next Sunday I’ll publish my annual explanation of the system I’ve been recommending to you for years now. But for now, here’s the information about the moon’s phases and signs for February.

The Moon

The dark moon is in force now and will remain there until the new moon -– or light moon – comes into force at 9:51 p.m. Feb.  13. Proceed with only dark-moon activities through Feb. 12  (and most of Feb. 13) and then light moon activities beginning Feb. 14 and until the next full moon at 11:38 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 28.

The Signs

Remember: Check to see if the moon is in the light or dark phase (information above) before proceeding with planting or other activities, indoors or out.

Fertile signs: the most fertile signs in the zodiac rule these days. Feb. 6-7, Scorpio (the secrets); Feb. 16-17, Pisces (the feet); Feb. 20-21, Taurus (the neck); Feb. 24-25, Cancer (the breast). There are 10 days during February ruled by the fertile signs Scorpio, Pisces, Taurus and Cancer.

Killing signs: No planting, transplanting, or dealing with things you want to thrive should occur on these days. Reserve them for cultivating, cleaning out fence rows, removing debris from your old garden – anything but planting: Feb. 18-19, Aries  (the head); Feb. 26-28, Leo (the heart). There are five killing days, those ruled by either Aries or Leo this month.

So-so days: These aren’t particularly fertile nor destructive, just so-so: Feb. 8-10, Sagittarius  (the thighs); Feb. 11-12, Capricorn (the knees); Feb. 13-15, Aquarius  (the legs). There are seven days this month ruled by the so-so signs: Sagittarius, Capricorn and Aquarius. And stand by because you’re going to hear about these signs again later here in the “Time to Make Changes” section.

Flowering days: These are “bloom days” and well suited for planting flowers  – indoor ones in pots or planters, too – since it’s the blooms we’re after: Feb. 1-2, Virgo (the bowels); Feb. 3-5, Libra (the reins). There are five flowering days in February ruled by the two flowering signs, Virgo and Libra.

Gemini days (bean days), Feb. 22-23. Gemini rules the arms. While it’s about 3.5 months too early for bush or pole beans, if you’re into peas then you can plant them on either of these days if the ground is dry enough. Start thinking about getting them out during the first part of February.

As I mentioned last week, the late Dr. Harry Cowherd always said peas need to be in the ground no later than Washington’s Birthday, and that’s Feb. 22. So while these days are too late according to The Doc, I think you’d be okay with them. And believe it or not, peas do love the cold, crazy as it may seem.

There you have the month of February.

Time to plow

While it’s still too early for outdoor planting, it’s not too early to plow your garden for 2010. In fact you can do that anytime this month even if the “water follows you down the furrow.” Just get it done before March because if you plow wet ground after February you’re going to have unending trouble with clods during the gardening season.

Time to make changes

If you have changes to make like starting a diet, stopping smoking, scheduling elective surgery – anything requiring a change  – the best time is when the moon is in the dark phase and the signs are going out of the body, past any part that “functions.”

This month that time will be Feb. 8-12. In March it’s  March 7-14.

A couple of ‘repeats’

Let me repeat a couple of things I’ve mentioned in columns before since they’re still most timely:

>Sow seed in February: One dark-moon planting activity you can do in February is planting grass seed, if you need to do that. The best time for that (according to the Extension Office) is in the fall, but I’d say a close second is when the dark moon is in force in February.

Old timers say  (and I guess I qualify as an “old timer” now) there’s actually no better time than to plant seed than during a “dark moon in February.” Well, folks, we have the dark moon in force through most of Feb. 13, so have at it.

>Get a soil test now: Before the planting season gets to full speed, why not get a soil test to see exactly what your garden, lawn or field needs in order to bring it up to snuff. Contact the Extension Office, 695-9035, for details.

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 the gravel 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 you can pour gravel or set stones Feb. 14-27 since the light moon will be in force.

>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. Time this month is Feb. 1-12.

If you have questions, e-mail me a pcase@state-journal.com or call me here at Your Hometown Newspaper, 227-4556.