Farmers’ Almanac Planting Calendar
Gardening by the Moon (according to the phases of the Moon) is an ancient concept and a fundamental part of the Farmers’ Almanac philosophy. For over 200 years, our print editions have included a Planting Calendar that uses phases and position of the Moon to predict the best times to perform specific gardening tasks. FA readers have long sworn by this method of managing their gardens and crops.
The dates listed below are consistent across all growing zones. Please consider your regional weather and climate before following our suggestions. We also recommend that you talk with a local greenhouse or your agricultural extension office to discover optimal windows of time within which you may use the dates below.
Be sure to check out your frost dates and learn more about your plant hardiness zone (which may have changed a bit when the zones were updated in 2024).
🌱 JANUARY 2026
Jan 22–23 🌿⬆️
Extra good planting days
Fantastic for starting peppers, tomatoes, peas, and vine crops indoors. Strong upward growth energy — perfect for seed trays, greenhouse starts, and dreaming big about summer harvests ☀️🍅
👉 Also great for houseplants and herbs.
Jan 24–25 🚫🌑
Barren days — hands off the soil
No planting! Seeds may sulk or rot.
🧹 Best for: cleaning tools, labeling seed packets, organizing shelves, and garden planning with coffee ☕📒
Jan 26–27 👍🌱
Fine planting days
Good for beans, peppers, cucumbers, melons, and other above-ground crops (indoors or protected).
🌿 Germination should be steady — not explosive, but dependable.
Jan 28–29 ⚠️🌧️
Poor planting days
Seeds struggle now. Avoid sowing.
🔧 Do instead: soil testing, compost turning, sharpening pruners, fixing raised beds.
Jan 30–31 🌟🌿
BEST days for above-ground crops
Excellent for seedbeds, flowers, peas, beans, squash, cucumbers, and leafy greens where climate allows.
✨ Seeds planted now tend to be strong, fast growers.
🌱 FEBRUARY 2026
Feb 1–3 😊🌱
Good planting days
Nice window for lettuce, spinach, onions, leeks, and brassicas indoors.
💧 Also great for watering, light feeding, and transplanting seedlings.
Feb 4–6 🚫😴
Barren days
Growth energy is low.
📦 Focus on seed inventory, ordering supplies, and planning crop rotation.
Feb 7–9 🥕⬇️
Excellent for root crops
Perfect for carrots, beets, radishes, turnips, and potatoes (where soil is workable).
🌍 Roots planted now develop strong, sturdy systems.
Feb 10–12 ⚠️🌫️
Poor planting days
Avoid sowing seeds — slow or uneven results likely.
🪴 Great time to mulch beds and prep soil instead.
Feb 13–15 🌕✨
VERY good planting days
Strong lunar energy!
Ideal for lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, peas, spinach, and flowers grown for blooms 🌼
🌱 Transplants thrive now.
Feb 16–18 🙂🌿
Fine planting days
Good for beans, peas, herbs, and continued seed starting.
🌦️ Not peak power, but totally workable.
Feb 19–21 🚫🌑
Barren days — no planting
Let the soil rest.
🐛 Good time for pest checks, greenhouse cleanup, and tool maintenance.
Feb 22–24 🌟🍃
Excellent planting window
Fantastic for vine crops (squash, cucumbers, melons) and flowering plants.
🌞 Seeds started now grow fast and strong.
Feb 25–27 👍🌱
Good for transplanting
Ideal for moving seedlings into bigger pots and sowing leafy greens.
🪴 Roots handle disturbance well now.
Feb 28 – Mar 1 🌟🥬
Best days for peas & greens
Strong leaf growth energy — perfect for peas, lettuce, spinach, and early spring greens.
🌱 MARCH 2026
Mar 2–4 🌱🚀
Excellent early spring planting days
Top-tier for peas, kale, spinach, lettuce, and early brassicas outdoors where soil is workable.
🍅 Indoors: great for tomatoes and peppers.
Mar 5–7 🚫😴
Barren days
Avoid planting.
🌾 Focus on bed prep, compost spreading, and tidying winter debris.
Mar 8–10 🥕🌿
Good for roots & herbs
Nice days for carrots, beets, radishes, and hardy herbs.
✂️ Light pruning also works well.
Mar 11–13 ⚠️🌧️
Poor planting days
Seeds may stall or rot.
🧤 Best for mulching, watering, and garden repairs.
Mar 14–16 🌕🌟
POWER DAYS
Excellent for above-ground crops, flowers, and transplanting.
🌱 Expect vigorous growth and strong stems.
Mar 17–19 🙂⬇️
Fine for roots & greens
Solid days for root crops and cool-season greens.
🌦️ Not flashy, but reliable.
Mar 20–22 🚫🌑
Barren days — pause planting
Let the garden breathe.
📓 Great for tracking what’s sprouting and adjusting plans.
Mar 23–25 🌟🍀
Excellent for vine crops
Perfect for peas, cucumbers, squash, and climbing plants.
🪜 Set up trellises now!
Mar 26–28 👍🌱
Good transplanting days
Ideal for broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and hardy seedlings moving outdoors.
Mar 29–31 🌟🌿
BEST end-of-month planting days
Fantastic for leafy greens, peas, herbs, and flowers.
🌸 Seeds planted now tend to thrive as spring kicks in.
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Almanac Gardening Calendar Terms Explained
Above ground crops: Crops that produce their yield above the soil (corn, peppers, squash, etc.)
Root Crops: Crops that produce their yield below the soil (potatoes, radishes, carrots, etc.)
Seedbeds: A bed of soil cultivated for planting seeds or seedlings before being transplanted.
Seedlings: Young plants—especially ones that grow from seeds (rather than from a cutting).
Transplanting: To uproot and replant a growing plant or an already well-established plant. (Transplanting suggestions are true for houseplants as well.)
The terms “Favorable,” “Good,” and “Best” are all considered beneficial days for planting. “Favorable” and “Good” mean the same thing. However, “Best” is considered the optimal day for planting seeds. Learn about the associations between zodiac signs and planting in our Zodiac Calendar.
🌙 How Does the Moon Affect Plants on Earth?
Gardeners have looked to the Moon for planting guidance for thousands of years, long before modern calendars or weather forecasts existed. Those who practice gardening by the Moon believe that the same gravitational forces that move the oceans also influence moisture in the soil and within plants themselves.
Just as the Moon’s gravity causes ocean tides to rise and fall, lunar gardeners say it also subtly affects groundwater levels and sap flow in plants. When the Moon’s pull is strongest—during the New Moon and Full Moon—moisture is believed to be drawn upward, closer to the soil surface and into plant tissues.
🌊 Water, Gravity, and Growth
This theory suggests that seeds absorb the most water during the New and Full Moon phases, when gravitational forces are strongest. Because water is essential for seed swelling, cracking, and sprouting, these phases are considered especially favorable for germination.
RELATED: Full Moon Calendar
- New Moon → First Quarter:
Moisture rises, encouraging leaf and stem growth. This is considered the best time to plant above-ground crops like lettuce, tomatoes, beans, and squash. - Full Moon:
Moisture remains high, and energy peaks. Seeds tend to germinate quickly, making this a powerful window for planting, transplanting, and encouraging vigorous growth. - After the Full Moon (Waning Phase):
Moisture slowly recedes downward. This period is traditionally favored for root crops, pruning, harvesting, and soil work.
🌱 Why Gardeners Still Follow It
While modern science hasn’t definitively proven lunar gardening effects in controlled studies, many gardeners swear by it—pointing to stronger seedlings, improved yields, and healthier plants over decades of observation.
Moon gardening doesn’t replace good soil, proper timing, or climate awareness—but instead acts as a natural rhythm, helping gardeners decide when to plant, not what to plant.
For many, it’s less about strict rules and more about working in harmony with natural cycles, slowing down, observing patterns, and trusting the long relationship between the Moon, the Earth, and growing things .
Learn more about Gardening by the Moon.
RELATED: Moon Phases Timeline — 2026
Any questions? Contact [email protected]
🌱 February Gardening To-Do List
As winter lingers, February is all about preparation and patience. While much of the garden may still be dormant, this is the perfect time to plan, inspect, and get a jump on the growing season ahead.
Planning & Prep 📓✨
- Review last year’s garden notes and photos. What worked well? What struggled? Make adjustments to plant spacing, varieties, and layouts for the coming season.
- Order seeds early to ensure the best selection of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Don’t forget pollinator-friendly plants 🐝
- Sketch out your garden plan, including crop rotation for vegetable beds to reduce pests and disease.
Indoor Gardening 🌿🏡
- Start seeds indoors for slow-growing plants like onions, leeks, celery, and some perennials. Use grow lights or a bright south-facing window.
- Continue caring for indoor herbs and houseplants. Rotate pots for even light and water sparingly.
- Check overwintering plants (such as dahlias, cannas, or geraniums) for mold or rot and remove any damaged material.
Maintenance & Winter Checks 🧤❄️
- Inspect trees and shrubs for storm damage. Gently remove broken or hanging branches when conditions are dry.
- Brush heavy snow off shrubs and evergreens to prevent branch breakage.
- Check mulch levels around perennials and shrubs and replenish if needed to protect roots from freeze–thaw cycles.
- Clean, sharpen, and oil garden tools so they’re ready for spring action.
Soil & Compost ♻️🌍
- Turn compost piles on mild days to keep decomposition active.
- Begin collecting kitchen scraps and shredded paper or cardboard to build spring-ready compost.
🌷 March Gardening To-Do List
As days lengthen and temperatures slowly rise, March signals the start of the gardening season. Early action now sets the stage for a productive and beautiful spring.
Early Planting 🌱🌞
- Start more seeds indoors: tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, broccoli, cabbage, and herbs like basil and parsley.
- Direct-sow cold-hardy crops as soon as the soil can be worked: peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, carrots, and beets.
- Plant bare-root trees, shrubs, and roses while they’re still dormant.
Garden Cleanup 🧹🍂
- Gradually remove winter mulch from beds as the ground thaws, leaving some in place to suppress weeds.
- Cut back dead perennial growth, ornamental grasses, and spent flower stalks.
- Remove debris and fallen leaves to reduce hiding spots for pests and disease.
Lawn & Bed Care 🌾🌼
- Rake lawns gently to remove winter debris and allow grass to breathe.
- Edge garden beds and refresh pathways for a clean, defined look.
- Test your soil and amend with compost, lime, or other nutrients as recommended.
Pruning & Protection ✂️🌳
- Prune summer-flowering shrubs and fruit trees before new growth begins.
- Watch for early-emerging pests and address issues promptly.
- Keep row covers or frost cloths handy for surprise cold snaps.
Final Prep & Planning 📦🌸
- Organize seeds, labels, and trays so everything is ready for planting.
- Plan succession planting to keep harvests going all season long.
- Take time to enjoy the first signs of spring—buds swelling, birds returning, and soil waking up 🌷🐦
Fun Garden Folklore
Have you ever heard any of these expressions? Know any others you’d like to add? What do you believe? Tell us in the comments!
- Never plant vegetables that sound alike together. For example: potatoes and tomatoes. According to our Companion Planting Chart, potatoes and tomatoes are not good companions. Both in the nightshade family, they covet the same soil nutrients, and are susceptible to the same diseases. So, it’s better to plant tomatoes and potatoes away from each other. Can you think of any others? Let us know in the comments!
- It’s time to plant when you can sit on your garden soil without pants on and not get cold. This seems to make sense (albeit we recommend sitting on the ground with pants on). Many plants need warm soil temperatures before they germinate and survive outside so if you can sit on the ground comfortably it might be time to plant.
- Planting peppers when you’re mad will make the peppers hotter. This is a curious notion, one that tempts us to head out to the garden, pepper plants in hand, after an argument!
- Never say “thank you” for a plant. If you do, some believe bad luck will come to you or that the plant will die. Instead, say something that compliments the gift – “Oh, this flower will look great in my garden.”
- Don’t wear perfume in the garden unless you want to be pollinated by bees. Bees and mosquitoes are attracted to sweet smelling scents, so this one may be sound advice.
- Always plant your potatoes and green beans on Good Friday. This really depends on where you live and when Good Friday lands – anywhere between March 20 and April 23. For many areas of the country, these dates are too early to put anything in the ground. Yet for warmer areas, Good Friday does align with the start of spring and could be a good reminder to go outside and plant.
Join The Discussion!
What are your gardening plans this season?
Do you have any tips, tricks, or garden folklore from your family to pass down?
What questions do you have for the Farmers’ Almanac?
Share your thoughts, experiences, and challenges in the comments here!
Hi… I’m trying to subscribe for all-access and the links are not working!
Good evening, I realized about 2 months ago I sowed some seeds and when they come up with their sprout so long and the leaves head small, then they fall down on the side then a week after they died. Question: can you please tell me what is going on?
sadnice ste sijali u nepogodnim uvjetima, a nije baš vrijeme za sijanje. sada je vrijeme sa berbu: endivije, radiči, kelj, brokula, cvjetača, mrkvica, poriluk…. itd.
Pozdrav, u pravu ste da je ovo odlično vrijeme za žetvu, no ovo je odlično vrijeme za sjetvu sjemena na južnoj hemisferi. Zato savjetujemo ljudima da provjere detalje svoje lokacije prije nego što se konzultiraju s našim preporučenim aktivnostima. Hvala vam na komentaru! Srdačan pozdrav iz Farmers’ Almanaha.
Please advise which planting dates to use for microgreen n sprouts (e.g. lentil sprouts)
sada je pravo vrijeme. leće?! pokušajte: bosiljak, rukola, rotkvica.
Would like to know when to transplant in Oct.
Do you have an Almanac for the Caribbean area
Hi Camille, We do not sell an Almanac for the Caribbean, but our Best Days for planting, fishing, and stargazing, etc., still apply to you. We recommend our Premium Membership, which gives you access to 12 months of these dates: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/online-memberships. Be sure to select the “Premium” option. Let us know if you have any other questions! 🧡
Greetinz I plant on a Caribbean island of Commonwealth of Dominica
I bought a plant @ a nursery & didn’t notice until home that all the leaves were covered with mildew. I sprayed it & tried to pick all the mildewed leaves off. It is a herbaceous perennial, Coreopsis (Bright Touch). I tried to remove the fallen leaves in the container also. I will remove it from the container & remove as much of the soil as possible. Giving it good fresh potting soil & a new container, will it still have mildewy leaves on it’s new growth? Is it worth trying to rescue?
Hi Marti, Thanks for your inquiry. We’ve published an article inspired by your question: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/powdery-mildew-treatment. Best wishes with your Coreopsis. Please let us know how it goes!
I have been gardening by the moon for many years. When I was a child I would love to stand in front of the seed display and being in awe at all of those plants. So I would pick out a flower pack of seed (just one) and would plant them around the home.
Sometimes I would have pretty flowers, sometimes just a plant that looked more like a common weed. I
knew nothing about there being better days to plant my flowers.
Enough about my childhood.
I have a question that has been on
on my mind for ever and that is:
if I’m planning on the last day
of a preferred planting day, exactly when does the time end and then
No more good planting day? Does that good planting day end when the sun goes down or at midnight?
Maybe I didn’t get all of the seeds planted, but I want to plant a few more seeds. So, what time is the witching hour when that day goes from an excellent day to “seeds
planted now will rot in the ground “?
Hi George, Thank you for your question. We are unable to disclose the precise minutes and seconds of our formula. Rest assured that when you plant with intention and abide by our suggested days, you will see fantastic results! Let’s please keep the conversation going. We would love to see what you discover. Feel free to share pictures here. We are also happy to answer any questions you may have along the way! Best wishes from all of us at FA.
My hydrangea is about 4 to 5 yrs old and is growing so beautifully but has never had any flowers. Not sure what to do.
Hi Jace, Thanks for sharing this challenge with us. To help you, we put together this article with 5 things that may be going wrong, as well as recommendations. Best wishes and please let us know how it goes!: https://www.farmersalmanac.com/hydrangea-not-blooming-heres-what-to-do
Some hydrangeas bloom on old wood. Pruning at the wrong time could remove future blooms. Find out what kind of hydrangea you have and look up when and how to prune. Keeping my fingers crossed for you!
What can i do for water logged pepper plants
Hi Rajesh, Sorry to hear that your pepper plants are water logged! Here are 5 pointers for you:
1) Stop watering immediately and wait for the top of the soil to dry out a bit before watering again. Also, make sure that your pot has drainage holes and isn’t sitting in standing water. Elevate it to allow for more airflow.
2) If you can, gently repot into fresh, well-draining soil. Remove any mushy, discolored roots in the process.
3) Remove any damaged leaves. Prune off yellow or wilting leaves so the plant can focus energy on new growth.
4) Avoid fertilizing until the plant recovers. Stressed roots can’t absorb nutrients, and fertilizer could cause further damage.
5) Move the plant to a shady spot. This reduces the plant’s water demand while its roots recover from stress.
Please let us know how it goes! Best wishes from all of us at FA.