We did it! We made it to March! The end of winter is nigh, and spring will bring back the green we have all likely been craving since the first snowflake of winter. While a lot of gardening begins in spring with planting seedlings and clearing up flower beds, I thought, instead of rehashing that information, I would share some fun Appalachian gardening folklore that I found. I have always found these to be fascinating and wonder how often kernels of these superstitions are actually true.
If you have a scarecrow in your garden, be sure to gift it new (to it) clothes to secure its good graces in keeping critters at bay. Some folks say not to put a scarecrow out before Easter and to take it down and burn it at midnight on Halloween. If they have clothes, no one should wear them after a scarecrow has worn them, or else bad things will befall that person. I’m not sure if I think you should burn a scarecrow, but it makes sense to refresh them every year before setting them out into your garden. It is also recommended to give them a name!
There were a few neat planting superstitions that I found pertaining to sowing seeds specifically. It is recommended to plant potatoes and green beans on Good Friday in rows that run north to south. Try to make your rows as straight as possible, because God prefers things straight as an arrow. When you plant seeds, do it in groups of threes–one for the crow, one to grow and one for the good. Another old superstition is that anything planted on the first day of spring will thrive.
Something else I have come across while looking for fun bits to share is that you should never say thank you if given a plant, or else it will die. From what I gather the idea is that plants grow best if they are “stole,n” and some folks will even turn around after giving away a plant or cutting. This is not something I have ever experienced, but it’s intriguing to be sure. Do not try this at any local store or garden center! I am not responsible for any shoplifting charges! Blame the ancestors!
I have heard and read many tips to plant during various phases of the moon. Above-ground plants should be planted under a waxing moon, while plants that grow below ground should be planted under a waning moon. If you look in the Farmer’s Almanac, you will find other tips regarding what to plant during what moon phase. It is something that has been done for centuries, so there must be something to it. While there has been no solid evidence overall when testing planting things to these schedules, there have been a few observations that coffee plants and their circadian rhythms are affected by the full moon. Sometimes science and old wisdom agree to disagree, and sometimes they line up. There’s really no harm in planting things at various times, so if you’re up to it this year, experiment and see how true this idea is for you.
While we have come a long way in understanding how plants work and the best gardening conditions for them to grow, it is fun to look at the wisdom and lore that have accompanied gardeners in the past. I often wonder how some of these widely known superstitions have come to be, and whether they actually work or are just presumed to work. If you’re feeling adventurous this gardening year, pick a superstition or two to try out. I’d love to know if any of them work as described! For me, I will try to keep a better eye on the moon as I’m planning out my little raised beds this year. Happy Spring!
