The Almanac Companion

MOON
GUIDE
 Calendar Calendar

Phases of The Origin of Full-Moon Names
the Moon
n Historically, the Native Americans who lived in the area that is
now the northern and eastern United States kept track of the seasons
New by giving a distinctive name to each recurring full Moon. This name
was applied to the entire month in which it occurred. These names,
and some variations, were used by the Algonquin tribes from New
England to Lake Superior.
When Will the Moon Rise Today?
n A lunar puzzle involves the timing of moonrise. If you enjoy
the out-of-doors and the wonders of nature, you may wish to
commit to memory the following gem:
The new Moon always rises near sunrise;
The first quarter near noon;

Name Month Variations The full Moon always rises near sunset;
W a x i n g

Full Wolf Moon January Full Old Moon The last quarter near midnight.
Full Snow Moon February Full Hunger Moon
Moonrise occurs about 50 minutes later each day.
First
Quarter Full Worm Moon March Full Crow Moon
Full Crust Moon Many Moons Ago
Full Sugar Moon
Januarys full Moon was called the Wolf Augusts full Moon was called the Stur-
Full Sap Moon
Moon because it appeared when wolves geon Moon because this large fish,
Full Pink Moon April Full Sprouting Grass Moon howled in hunger outside the villages. which is found in the Great Lakes and
Full Egg Moon Lake Champlain, was caught easily at
Februarys full Moon was called the Snow this time.
Full Fish Moon Moon because it was a time of heavy
Full Flower Moon May Full Corn Planting Moon snow. It was also called the Hunger Septembers full Moon was called the
Moon because hunting was difficult and Corn Moon because this was the time to
Full Full Milk Moon
hunger often resulted. harvest corn.
Full Strawberry June Full Rose Moon
Marchs full Moon was called the Worm The Harvest Moon is the full Moon that oc-
Moon Full Hot Moon
Moon because, as the Sun increasingly curs closest to the autumnal equinox.
Full Buck Moon July Full Thunder Moon warmed the soil, earthworms became It can occur in either September or
Full Hay Moon active and their castings (excrement) October. At this time, crops such as corn,
began to appear. pumpkins, squash, and wild rice are
August
W a n i n g

Full Sturgeon Moon Full Red Moon ready for gathering.

Full Green Corn Moon
Last
Full Harvest Moon* September Full Corn Moon
Quarter
Full Barley Moon
Full Hunters Moon October Full Travel Moon
Full Dying Grass Moon
Full Beaver Moon November Full Frost Moon
Full Cold Moon December Full Long Nights Moon
New
*The Harvest Moon is always the full Moon closest to the autumnal
equinox. If the Harvest Moon occurs in October, the September full
Moon is usually called the Corn Moon.
Aprils full Moon was called the Pink Moon
because it heralded the appearance
Octobers full Moon was called the Hunters
of the moss pink, or wild ground phlox
Moon because this was the time to hunt
one of the first spring flowers.
in preparation for winter.
Mays full Moon was called the Flower Moon
because blossoms were abundant every- Novembers full Moon was called the
Beaver Moon because it was the time
where at this time.
to set beaver traps, before the waters
Junes full Moon was called the Strawberry froze over.
Moon because it appeared when the
strawberry harvest took place. Decembers full Moon was called the Cold
Moon. It was also called the Long Nights
Julys full Moon was called the Buck Moon Moon because nights at this time of year
because it arrived when male deer were the longest.
started growing new antlers.

Planting by the Moons Phase
According to this age-old practice,
cycles of the Moon affect plant growth.
n Plant flowers and vegetables that bear crops above
ground during the light, or waxing, of the Moon: from the
day the Moon is new to the day it is full.
n Plant flowering bulbs and vegetables that bear crops
below ground during the dark, or waning, of the Moon:
from the day after it is full to the day before it is new again.
Get local seed-sowing dates at Almanac.com/PlantingTable.
n Aboveground crops are marked *.
n (E) means early; (L) means late.
n Map shades correspond to shades of date columns.
AREA 4
AREA 3
AREA 2
AREA 1
AREA 1 AREA 2 AREA 3 ARea 4
Planting Moon Planting Moon Planting Moon Planting Moon
Dates
* Barley
Favorable
Dates Favorable Dates
2/153/7 2/1525
Favorable Dates Favorable
3/154/7 3/1527 5/156/21 5/1525, 6/821 6/130 6/823
* Beans (E) 3/154/7 3/1527 4/1530 4/1525 5/76/21 5/925, 6/821 5/306/15 6/815
(L) 8/731 8/720 7/121 7/821 6/157/15 6/1523, 7/815
Beets (E) 2/728 2/79, 2/2628 3/154/3 3/284/3 5/115 5/18 5/256/10 5/266/7
(L) 9/130 9/14, 9/2030 8/1531 8/2131 7/158/15 7/238/5 6/157/8 6/247/7
* Broccoli plants (E) 2/153/15 2/1525, 3/1115 3/731 3/1127 5/1531 5/1525 6/125 6/823
(L) 9/730 9/719 8/120 8/620 6/157/7 6/1523
* Brussels sprouts 2/113/20 2/1125, 3/1120 3/74/15 3/1127, 4/1015 5/1531 5/1525 6/125 6/823
* Cabbage plants 2/113/20 2/1125, 3/1120 3/74/15 3/1127, 4/1015 5/1531 5/1525 6/125 6/823
Carrots (E) 2/153/7 2/263/7 3/731 3/710, 3/2831 5/1531 5/2631 5/256/10 5/266/7
(L) 8/19/7 8/15, 8/219/4 7/731 7/7, 7/2331 6/157/21 6/247/7 6/157/8 6/247/7
* Cauliflower plants (E) 2/153/7 2/1525 3/154/7 3/1527 5/1531 5/1525 6/125 6/823
(L) 8/731 8/720 7/18/7 7/822, 8/67 6/157/21 6/1523, 7/821
* Celery plants (E) 2/1528 2/1525 3/731 3/1127 5/156/30 5/1525, 6/823 6/130 6/823
(L) 9/1530 9/1519 8/159/7 8/1520, 9/57 7/158/15 7/1522, 8/615
* Collards (E) 2/113/20 2/1125, 3/1120 3/74/7 3/1127 5/1531 5/1525 6/125 6/823
(L) 9/730 9/719 8/1531 8/1520 7/18/7 7/822, 8/67
* Corn, sweet (E) 3/1531 3/1527 4/117 4/1017 5/106/15 5/1025, 6/815 5/306/20 6/820
(L) 8/731 8/720 7/721 7/821 6/1530 6/1523
* Cucumbers 3/74/15 3/1127, 4/1015 4/75/15 4/1025, 5/915 5/76/20 5/925, 6/820 5/306/15 6/815
* Eggplant plants 3/74/15 3/1127, 4/1015 4/75/15 4/1025, 5/915 6/130 6/823 6/1530 6/1523
* Endive (E) 2/153/20 2/1525, 3/1120 4/75/15 4/1025, 5/915 5/1531 5/1525 6/125 6/823
(L) 8/159/7 8/1520, 9/57 7/158/15 7/1522, 8/615 6/730 6/823
* Kale (E) 2/113/20 2/1125, 3/1120 3/74/7 3/1127 5/1531 5/1525 6/115 6/815
(L) 9/730 9/719 8/1531 8/1520 7/18/7 7/822, 8/67 6/257/15 7/815
Leekplants 2/154/15 2/263/10, 3/284/9 3/74/7 3/710, 3/284/7 5/1531 5/2631 6/125 6/17, 6/2425
* Lettuce 2/153/7 2/1525 3/131 3/1127 5/156/30 5/1525, 6/823 6/130 6/823
* Muskmelons 3/154/7 3/1527 4/155/7 4/1525 5/156/30 5/1525, 6/823 6/130 6/823
* Okra 4/156/1 4/1525, 5/925 5/256/15 5/25, 6/815 6/157/10 6/1523, 7/810 6/257/7
Onion sets 2/128 2/19, 2/2628 3/131 3/110, 3/2831 5/156/7 5/266/7 6/125 6/17, 6/2425
* Parsley 2/203/15 2/2025, 3/1115 3/131 3/1127 5/1531 5/1525 6/115 6/815
Parsnips 1/152/4 1/272/4 3/731 3/710, 3/2831 4/130 4/19, 4/2630 5/1031 5/2631
* Peas (E) 1/152/7 1/1526 3/731 3/1127 4/155/7 4/1525 5/1531 5/1525
(L) 9/1530 9/1519 8/731 8/720 7/1531 7/1522 7/1025 7/1022
* Pepper plants 3/120 3/1120 4/130 4/1025 5/156/30 5/1525, 6/823 6/130 6/823
Potatoes 2/1028 2/2628 4/130 4/19, 4/2630 5/131 5/18, 5/2631 6/125 6/17, 6/2425
* Pumpkins 3/720 3/1120 4/235/15 4/2325, 5/915 5/1531 5/1525 6/130 6/823
Radishes (E) 1/213/1 1/272/9, 2/263/1 3/731 3/710, 3/2831 4/1530 4/2630 5/156/5 5/266/5
(L) 10/121 10/13, 10/1921 9/730 9/2030 8/1531 8/2131 7/1031 7/2331
* Spinach (E) 2/73/15 2/1025, 3/1115 3/154/20 3/1527, 4/1020 5/1531 5/1525 6/125 6/823
(L) 10/121 10/418 8/19/15 8/620, 9/515 7/179/4 7/1722, 8/620 7/208/5 7/2022
* Squashes 3/154/15 3/1527, 4/1015 4/1530 4/1525 5/156/15 5/1525, 6/815 6/130 6/823
Sweet potatoes 3/234/6 3/284/6 4/215/9 4/265/8 5/156/15 5/266/7 6/130 6/17, 6/2430
* Swiss chard 2/73/15 2/1025, 3/1115 3/154/15 3/1527, 4/1015 5/131 5/925 5/1531 5/1525
* Tomato plants 3/720 3/1120 4/730 4/1025 5/1531 5/1525 6/115 6/815
Turnips (E) 1/202/15 1/272/9 3/1531 3/2831 4/730 4/79, 4/2630 5/1031 5/2631
(L) 9/110/15 9/14, 9/2010/3 8/120 8/15 7/18/15 7/17, 7/238/5
* Watermelons 3/154/7 3/1527 4/155/7 4/1525 5/156/30 5/1525, 6/823 6/130 6/823
* Wheat, spring 2/1528 2/1525 3/120 3/1120 4/730 4/1025 5/156/10 5/1525, 6/810
* Wheat, winter 10/1512/7 10/1518, 11/317, 12/27 9/1510/20 9/1519, 10/418 8/119/15 8/1120, 9/515 8/530 8/620
 Best Days for 2013
This chart is based on the Moons sign and shows the best days each month for certain activities. Celeste Longacre
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec.
Quit smoking 2, 6, 29 3, 7, 26 2, 10, 30 7, 26 4, 9, 31 5, 28 2, 25, 29 22, 26 22, 27 2, 19, 24 21, 26, 30 18, 23, 29
Begin diet to lose weight 2, 6, 29 3, 7, 26 2, 10, 30 7, 26 4, 9, 31 5, 28 2, 25, 29 22, 26 22, 27 2, 19, 24 21, 26, 30 18, 23, 29

Begin diet to gain weight 15, 19 11, 16 15, 25 12, 17 19, 23 15, 19 12, 17 9, 13 9, 18 6, 15 11, 16 8, 13

Cut hair to 14, 15, 19, 20 11, 12, 15, 16 15, 16 11, 12, 23, 24 21, 22 17, 18 14, 15 11, 12 7, 8 15, 16 11, 12 8, 9
encourage growth

Cut hair to 4, 5, 31 1, 27, 28 10, 28 6, 7 4, 5, 31 5, 6, 27, 28 2, 3, 29, 30 25, 26, 27 22, 23 4, 22, 23 1, 2, 28, 29 25, 26
discourage growth

Have dental care 1, 2, 3, 29, 30 25, 26 24, 25, 26 21, 22 18, 19 14, 15, 16 12, 13 8, 9 4, 5, 6 2, 3, 29, 30 25, 26, 27 23, 24

Start projects 12, 13 11, 12 12, 13 11, 12 11, 12 9, 10 9, 10 7, 8 6, 7 6, 7 4, 5 4, 5

End projects 9, 10 8, 9 9, 10 8, 9 8, 9 6, 7 6, 7 4, 5 3, 4 3, 4 1, 2 1, 2

Go camping 8, 9 4, 5 4, 5, 31 1, 27, 28 25, 26 21, 22 19, 20 15, 16 11, 12 8, 9 5, 6 2, 3, 30, 31

Plant aboveground crops 14, 15, 11, 12, 20, 21 16, 17 13, 14, 19, 20 16, 17, 13, 14 9, 10 6, 7, 4, 11, 8, 9

Plant belowground crops 6, 7, 29 2, 3, 26 2, 3, 29, 30 6, 7 4, 5, 31 1, 27, 28 7, 25, 26 3, 4, 30, 31 27, 28 24, 25 20, 21, 22 1, 27, 28, 29

Destroy pests and weeds 16, 17, 18 13, 14 12, 13 9, 10 6, 7 2, 3, 29, 30 1, 27, 28 23, 24 19, 20, 21 17, 18 13, 14 11, 12

Graft or pollinate 24, 25 20, 21 20, 21 16, 17 13, 14, 9, 10, 15 7, 8, 11 3, 4, 1, 27, 30, 31 24, 25, 28 20, 21, 18, 19, 22

Prune to encourage growth 17, 18 13, 14 12, 13 19, 20 16, 17 12, 13 9, 10, 11 15, 16 11, 12 8, 9 13, 14 10, 11, 12

Prune to discourage growth 8, 9, 28 4, 5 4, 5, 31 1, 27, 28 6, 7, 26 2, 3, 30 1, 27, 28 23, 24 2, 3, 29, 30 27, 28 23, 24 20, 21

Harvest above-ground crops 19, 20 15, 16 15, 16 11, 12, 21, 22 18, 19 14, 15, 16 12, 13 8, 9 13, 14 10, 11 15, 16 13, 14

Harvest below-ground crops 2, 3, 29, 30 7, 8, 26 6, 7 2, 3, 30 8, 9, 27, 28 4, 5, 6 2, 3, 29, 30 25, 26, 27 4, 22, 23 2, 3, 29, 30 25, 26, 27 23, 24

Can, pickle, or make 6, 7 2, 3 2, 3, 29, 30 6, 7, 8, 26 4, 5, 31 1, 27, 28 7, 25, 26 3, 4, 30, 31 1, 27, 28 24, 25 20, 21, 22 1, 27, 28, 29
sauerkraut

Cut hay 16, 17, 18 13, 14 4, 5, 31 9, 10 6, 7 2, 3, 29, 30 1, 27, 28 23, 24 19, 20, 21 17, 18 13, 14 11, 12

Begin logging 10, 11, 18 7, 8 6, 7 2, 3, 29, 30 27, 28 23, 24 21, 22 17, 18 13, 14 10, 11, 12 7, 8 4, 5

Set posts or pour concrete 10, 11 7, 8 6, 7 2, 3, 29, 30 27, 28 23, 24 21, 22 17, 18 13, 14 10, 11, 12 7, 8 4, 5

Breed animals 6, 7 2, 3 2, 3, 29, 30 25, 26 23, 24 19, 20 16, 17, 18 13, 14 9, 10 6, 7 3, 4, 30 1, 27, 28, 29

Wean animals or children 2, 6, 29 3, 7, 26 2, 10, 30 7, 26 4, 9, 31 5, 28 2, 25, 29 22, 26 22, 27 2, 19, 24 21, 26, 30 18, 23, 29

Castrate animals 12, 13 9, 10 8, 9 4, 5 29, 30 26, 27 23, 24 19, 20 15, 16 13, 14 9, 10 6, 7

Slaughter livestock 6, 7 2, 3 2, 3, 29, 30 25, 26 23, 24 19, 20 16, 17, 18 13, 14 9, 10 6, 7 3, 4, 30 1, 27, 28, 29