Lunar garden calendar: week of 19-25 October 2026

Lunar garden calendar: week of Monday 19 to Sunday 25 October 2026

A fine week for gardening with the moon: the whole week runs under an ascending moon, with two root days for garlic and shallots, two flower days for bulbs and perennials, then three leaf days for lamb's lettuce and spinach. Here is your biodynamic agenda, day by day.

Contents

• Mon 19 – Tue 20: root days
• Wed 21 – Thu 22: flower days
• Fri 23 – Sun 25: leaf days
• The moment to avoid: Wednesday 21 morning
• Moon phases this week
• FAQ

Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 October: root days

The moon is crossing Capricorn: two root days on the biodynamic calendar. The window for everything growing underground.

• Plant garlic, grey shallots and white onions — autumn planting under an ascending moon is the great classic of the days calendar.
• Sow a last row of radishes under a frame or tunnel for late-autumn harvests.
• Harvest beetroot, carrots and celeriac and clamp them frost-free; parsnips, hardy, can stay in the ground under mulch and be lifted as needed.

Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 October: flower days

The moon crosses Aquarius: two flower days. Careful Wednesday morning though — see "to avoid" below.

• Plant pansies, violas, daisies and perennials: the still-warm soil helps rooting before winter.
• Set out the spring bulbs — tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, crocuses.
• Prepare to overwinter tender bulbs: watch the foliage of tuberous begonias, dahlias, cannas and gladioli — bring them in once it yellows or after the first frosts (often rather in November, depending on the region).

Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October: leaf days

The weekend opens on three leaf days — winter leaf vegetables take the stage.

• Sow lamb's lettuce and spinach under cover: in October, simple protection makes all the difference.
• Plant the last winter lettuces in mild climates and under cover, on the freed beds.
• Harvest leeks and Brussels sprouts — early varieties are starting — and start blanching cardoons and self-blanching celery (tying up, earthing up): harvest follows about a month later.

The moment to avoid: Wednesday 21 before 09:50

On Wednesday 21 October, the moon crosses the ascending node at 09:50 (London time). Lunar-calendar tradition advises against gardening for about five hours either side of the crossing: move Wednesday's plantings to after 15:00 — the flower day is only just beginning then anyway.

Moon phases this week

• First quarter: Saturday 18 October at 17:12 — the moon is waxing all week.
• Full moon: Monday 26 October at 04:11, right at the end of the covered period.

The moon is ascending all week: in the biodynamic calendar, this is the favourable period for sowings and for harvests to eat quickly.

FAQ

What is a "root day"?

In the biodynamic calendar, each day is classified by the constellation the moon is crossing. Root days (Capricorn, Virgo, Taurus) are reputed favourable to root vegetables; leaf days to leaf vegetables, flower days to flowering plants, seed and fruit days to fruit vegetables. The day-by-day detail is in our vegetable garden lunar calendar, October 2026 to September 2027.

Ascending moon and waxing moon — what's the difference?

The waxing moon describes its illumination (growing towards full moon); the ascending moon describes its height in the sky, which rises day after day for about 13 days. They are two independent cycles — this week, the moon is both waxing and ascending.

All times shown are real astronomical instants, London time (GMT). Seasonal tasks follow traditional gardeners' calendars; lunar recommendations belong to tradition — see our guide to the method.

Further reading: gardening with the moon, the complete garden calendar · understanding the biodynamic calendar · and for winter sowings at home, the Germie germination kit.