Phases of the Moon
 

There's a strong believe here in Puerto Rico that you have to plant or transplant bananas on the last quarter of the moon(decreasing light), if you do it on the first quarter (increasing light) the plant will give you poor fruit (small and few bananas). Is it true? What do you think of these?

Re: Phases of the Moon
 

Many cultures have planting cycles for various crops that relate to astronomical cycles. Some cultural traditions that may seem unsupported by modern science at first do in fact make use of interesting natural cycles, with or without the direct knowledge of such cycles by the practitioners. In my opinion, if you are actively involved in a culture that follows these traditions and you believe it will make for larger fruit bunches, then its probably best you plant your bananas in accordance with the tradition.

If you don't believe in those traditions, then follow the tradition you do believe in. My personal tradition to ensure large fruit bunches is to plant the banana plant in an open sunny place with loose soil, make sure it gets lots of water and add copious amounts of compost, manure and other organic matter. At this point, prayer can only add to your success of getting a rewarding harvest, so if you feel like it will help, then pray! Just make sure not to kneel on the manure.

Re: Phases of the Moon
 

Gabe , Thanks, I loved the last part or line of the Quote!! :bananas_b

Re: Phases of the Moon
 

Yo Mayiyo,

It is interesting that the aborigines here, the Orang Asli, still follow this ancient tradition/belief in the planting of their bananas here.

Re: Phases of the Moon
 

Lunar Calandar planting is indeed big here, some of the older and friendlier folks in my barrio are always telling me that i should be planting seeds in the days approaching the full moon.

but then they also say that anything you plant during lent will grow healthy and give plentiful fruit. I imagine this is where the indigenous methods clash with old world Christian beliefs.

This past full moon cycle I did plant some gandules and frijoles, with some amazingly rapid growth, but then it was just before this past weeks heavy rains.

I figure that if the moons gravitational pull can cause the tide to rise and fall, then it must also have some effect on plants among other things. To what extent, I truly do not know though.

The sun is setting and its been a scorcher. I gotta go put down some water. My tomaters are therstah.

Re: Phases of the Moon
 

In my experience planting on a full moon helps, in Florida either the one before or after lent depending on location, for protection of late cold spells. En Puerto Rico es no problama. No es mucho frio. In Puerto Rico there is not much cold to worry about.

Good luck with your Gandules, mine got a little frozen back about a week ago.

Re: Phases of the Moon
 

Maybe I will try my tc and embryo rescue and germination experiments just before the full moon. Nothing else seems to work! :ha:

Re: Phases of the Moon
 

Scot, if you happened to work late/overtime and into full moon, don't go howling...:ha:

Re: Phases of the Moon
 

Awwww, that's no fun. Ya gotta bark at the moon. Aaa-oooooooooohhhhhhhhh!

Re: Phases of the Moon
 

here its the torrential rains and high winds that soften up the ground and blow my plants over, or wash away topsoil leaving roots exposed, and the occasional drought.

the gandules are actually flowering here this time of year, been doing so since christmas time. I'm having issues with worms this year. next year I'll get the jump on them though.

Also one must indeed howl at the moon and also possibly listen to Warren Zevons Warewolf in London. LoL