Spring 2017 Gardener’s Almanac

By The Heirloom Gardener Editors
Published on February 27, 2017
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Photo by Svetlana Naumova: www.Etsy.com; SvetaNPrints
Look to the sky for planting dates and unusual meteorological events this spring.

March 2017

March 12. Clocks spring forward for daylight saving time, which coincides with the full “Worm Moon” or “Sap Moon.”

March 15. The Ides of March corresponded with several Roman holidays and became notorious as the date Julius Caesar was assassinated.

March 20. The vernal (spring) equinox marks the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

Gardening by the moon. Plant aboveground crops on March 6 and 7; harvest March 2, 3, 29, and 30. Plant below-ground crops March 15, 16, 17, and 25; harvest March 20, 21, and 22.

April 2017

April 1. April Fools’ Day is celebrated with practical jokes and harmless pranks.

April 11. April’s full “Pink Moon” heralds the arrival of creeping phlox (Phlox subulata).

April 16. Easter. Use purple cabbage to dye eggs blue, red onion skins for lavender, and turmeric for yellow.

April 28. Plant something special; it’s Arbor Day!

Gardening by the moon. Plant aboveground crops April 3, 4, and 30; harvest April 7 and 8. Plant below-ground crops April 12, 13, 22, and 23; harvest April 17 and 18.

May 2017

May 10. Buddhists celebrate Vesak, which commemorates Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and death, on May’s full “Flower Moon.”

May 22. Canadians celebrate Victoria Day.

May 26. Ramadan begins at sundown on this day.

May 29. Gather flowers and pay your respects; Memorial Day honors fallen U.S. veterans.

Gardening by the moon. Plant aboveground crops May 1, 27, and 28; harvest May 4, 5, and 6. Plant below-ground crops May 19 and 20; harvest May 23 and 24.

June 2017

June 9. June’s full moon is known as the “Strawberry Moon,” the “Rose Moon,” and the “Honey Moon.”

June 20. The summer solstice (Litha) marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and is the longest day and shortest night of the entire year.

June 23. Midsummer’s Eve is a solstice celebration closely observed in northern Europe.

Gardening by the moon. Plant aboveground crops June 5, 6, 7, and 25; harvest June 1, 2, 28, and 29. Plant below-ground crops June 15, 16, and 17; harvest June 20 and 21.

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