Planting Garlic by the moon
- Jana Yockey
- Jul 16
- 4 min read
Is There Something to It?
I recently came across a post about planting with the moon cycles, and it caught my attention. Over the years, plenty of customers have told me they plant garlic on Halloween or during the New Moon, but honestly, I never gave it much thought—until now.
The headline on that post said the gardener had “wasted thousands of dollars on seeds that didn’t produce.” That got me curious. Could the moon really make that much of a difference?
Turns out, many gardeners swear by lunar planting, especially for root crops like garlic. The basic idea is to time your planting according to the moon’s phases, with the belief that it can influence water in the soil, root development, and even overall yield. According to the lore (and plenty of passionate online communities), planting garlic during a waning moon or new moon promotes stronger root growth and bigger bulbs.
I started digging into the theory a bit more and even looked back through the notes we’ve kept over the years here at Garlic Gods. And honestly—it started to make sense.
We typically plant between October 7 and October 14, just before our irrigation is shut off on October 15. Interestingly, in years when the waning moon lined up with those planting dates, our yield was better—and the bulbs noticeably larger. Coincidence? Maybe. But I’m beginning to think there’s something to it.
I’ll be testing this lunar planting theory more deliberately in the coming seasons and keeping detailed notes. But looking back at our October 2023 planting and our 2024 harvest, which was one of our best yet, I can’t ignore the possibility that the moon played a role.
Stay tuned—I’ll keep sharing what I learn as we experiment. And if you’ve had success planting garlic by the moon, I’d love to hear about it.
🌑 New & Waning Moon Phases
New Moon: Energy is said to be drawn toward the roots—ideal for planting bulb and root crops like garlic according to old Farmers Almanac.
Waning Moon (Full → New): Thought to promote strong root development. Many gardeners recommend planting garlic in this phase to help bulbs grow larger underground.
🌑 1. New Moon
The Moon is between Earth and the Sun.
The side facing Earth is in shadow, making the Moon invisible.
Best time for planting root crops like garlic (especially in biodynamic gardening).
🌒 2. Waxing Crescent
A small sliver of the Moon begins to appear on the right side.
Light increases daily.
🌓 3. First Quarter
Half the Moon is visible (right side in the Northern Hemisphere).
Occurs about a week after the New Moon.
🌔 4. Waxing Gibbous
More than half of the Moon is lit, growing toward full.
Good for above-ground crops in gardening.
🌕 5. Full Moon
Earth is between the Moon and the Sun.
The entire face of the Moon is illuminated.
High energy time in many lunar traditions.
🌖 6. Waning Gibbous
Light begins to decrease (left side starts to fade).
Often associated with releasing or harvesting.
🌗 7. Last Quarter (Third Quarter)
Half the Moon is lit (left side in the Northern Hemisphere).
Time to prepare for rest, review, or root crop planting.
🌘 8. Waning Crescent
Only a small sliver of light remains on the left side.
Leads back into the New Moon.
Ideal for planting garlic and other underground crops.
🌙 Quick Tip for Garlic Growers:
Plant garlic during the waning moon, especially the waning crescent or new moon, to encourage strong root development.
Waning Crescent Moon to New Moon dates for the 2025 planting season:
September 14-20, with the new moon on September 21
October 13-20, with the new moon on October 21
November 11-18, with the new moon on November 19
December 11-18, with the new moon on December 19
2026 Waning Crescent to New Moon dates
September 13-19, new moon September 20
October 13-18, new moon October 19
November 11-17, new moon November 18
December 11-17, new moon December 18
🧄 Why Garlic & Moon Go Together
Garlic is a root/underground crop, and by planting during the waning or new moon, you're tapping into the lunar energy believed to concentrate downward—potentially encouraging stronger bulbs.
While definitive science is pending, planting by the moon is harmless, fun, and rooted in age-old traditions. Weather planting during this moon cycle works or not, there is no harm in giving it a try.
Combining Tradition with Quality Seed: Garlic Gods
To get the most from lunar planting, start with high‑quality seed garlic—and Garlic Gods has got you covered. Their seeds are specifically selected for farm‑quality performance: large cloves, vigorous sprouting, and excellent disease resistance.
🔧 In Summary
Principle | Detail |
Lunar timing | Plant during new or waning moon for stronger roots & bulbs |
High-quality seed | Choose Garlic Gods seed for top-tier varieties and vigor |
Fall planting | Plant before the ground freezes so that the roots have time to develop before garlic goes dormant for the winter |
Care & maintenance | Proper depth, spacing, and mulch if needed before winter snow approaches |
Planting with Lunar Cycles
Planting garlic by the moon isn’t guaranteed to boost yields, but it connects you to time‑tested wisdom—and it certainly won’t hurt. With well‑grown Garlic Gods seed, you’re setting yourself up for flavorful, jumbo-size bulbs. Enjoy the mix of cosmic timing and earthly care—and may your harvest be abundant!