Planting by the Moon: December 2027
Moon gardening calendar for December 2027 (US Eastern Time): the days to sow, plant, prune and harvest by the Moon's phase and sign. Above-ground crops: December 1 (6:00 AM–9:17 PM), 5, 6, 9 (5:36 PM–10:00 PM), 10, 11 (6:00 AM–3:58 PM), 28, 29 (6:00 AM–9:29 AM). Root crops, tubers and bulbs: December 14, 15 (6:00 AM–8:42 PM), 18, 19, 22 (12:01 PM–10:00 PM), 23, 24 (6:00 AM–1:12 PM). Rest days with no planting: December 13 (full moon), 27 (new moon).
Times are Eastern Time (New York): EST, UTC−5, in winter and EDT, UTC−4, during daylight saving time. The Moon changes phase and sign at the same instant everywhere, so only the clock time differs: in Central Time subtract 1 hour, in Mountain Time 2 hours, in Pacific Time 3 hours.
Garden days in December 2027
- Sowing and planting above-ground crops: December 1 (6:00 AM–9:17 PM), 5, 6, 9 (5:36 PM–10:00 PM), 10, 11 (6:00 AM–3:58 PM), 28, 29 (6:00 AM–9:29 AM); best: 5, 6
- Root crops, tubers and bulbs: December 14, 15 (6:00 AM–8:42 PM), 18, 19, 22 (12:01 PM–10:00 PM), 23, 24 (6:00 AM–1:12 PM); best: 14, 15 (6:00 AM–8:42 PM), 22 (12:01 PM–10:00 PM), 23, 24 (6:00 AM–1:12 PM)
- Flower bulbs: December 20 (7:13 AM–10:00 PM), 21 (6:00 AM–8:01 PM)
- Grafting: December 1 (6:00 AM–9:17 PM), 5, 6, 9 (5:36 PM–10:00 PM), 10, 11 (6:00 AM–3:58 PM), 28, 29 (6:00 AM–9:29 AM)
- Repotting houseplants: December 1 (6:00 AM–9:17 PM), 5, 6, 9 (5:36 PM–10:00 PM), 10, 11 (6:00 AM–3:58 PM), 28, 29 (6:00 AM–9:29 AM)
- Watering by tradition: December 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 22, 23, 24
- Fertilizing: December 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28, 29
- Pruning trees and shrubs: December 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26
- Weeding and cultivating: December 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12, 16, 17, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31
- Pest control: December 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31
- Harvesting for storage: December 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26
- Rest days, no planting: 13 (full moon), 27 (new moon)
Moon gardening calendar by day
| Date | Moon phase and sign | Recommended tasks | Not recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 12/01 | Waxing crescent Capricorn | Sowing and planting above-ground crops (6:00 AM–9:17 PM); grafting (6:00 AM–9:17 PM); repotting houseplants (6:00 AM–9:17 PM); fertilizing | Planting root crops and bulbs; pruning; starting plantings 9:17 PM–midnight (void-of-course Moon) |
| Thu 12/02 | Waxing crescent Capricorn → Aquarius 7:26 AM | Until 7:26 AM: fertilizing From 7:26 AM: weeding and cultivating; pest control; harvesting | Until 7:26 AM: sowing and planting above-ground crops, grafting, repotting houseplants (void-of-course Moon); planting root crops and bulbs; pruning From 7:26 AM: sowing and planting; transplanting; pruning |
| Fri 12/03 | Waxing crescent Aquarius | Weeding and cultivating; pest control; harvesting | Sowing and planting; transplanting; pruning |
| Sat 12/04 | Waxing crescent Aquarius → Pisces 8:20 PM | Until 8:20 PM: weeding and cultivating; pest control; harvesting From 8:20 PM: watering; fertilizing | Until 8:20 PM: sowing and planting; transplanting; pruning From 8:20 PM: sowing and planting above-ground crops, grafting, repotting houseplants (window shorter than 2 hours); planting root crops and bulbs; pruning |
| Sun 12/05 | Waxing crescent Pisces | Sowing and planting above-ground crops; grafting; repotting houseplants; watering; fertilizing | Planting root crops and bulbs; pruning |
| Mon 12/06 | First Quarter 12:22 AM Pisces | Sowing and planting above-ground crops; grafting; repotting houseplants; watering; fertilizing | Planting root crops and bulbs; pruning |
| Tue 12/07 | Waxing gibbous Pisces → Aries 8:31 AM | Until 8:31 AM: watering; fertilizing From 8:31 AM: weeding and cultivating; pest control; harvesting | Until 8:31 AM: sowing and planting above-ground crops, grafting, repotting houseplants (void-of-course Moon); planting root crops and bulbs; pruning From 8:31 AM: sowing and planting; transplanting; pruning |
| Wed 12/08 | Waxing gibbous Aries | Weeding and cultivating; pest control; harvesting | Sowing and planting; transplanting; pruning |
| Thu 12/09 | Waxing gibbous Aries → Taurus 5:36 PM | Until 5:36 PM: weeding and cultivating; pest control; harvesting From 5:36 PM: sowing and planting above-ground crops (5:36 PM–10:00 PM); grafting (5:36 PM–10:00 PM); repotting houseplants (5:36 PM–10:00 PM); fertilizing | Until 5:36 PM: sowing and planting; transplanting; pruning From 5:36 PM: planting root crops and bulbs; pruning |
| Fri 12/10 | Waxing gibbous Taurus | Sowing and planting above-ground crops; grafting; repotting houseplants; fertilizing | Planting root crops and bulbs; pruning |
| Sat 12/11 | Waxing gibbous Taurus → Gemini 10:55 PM | Sowing and planting above-ground crops (6:00 AM–3:58 PM); grafting (6:00 AM–3:58 PM); repotting houseplants (6:00 AM–3:58 PM); fertilizing | Planting root crops and bulbs; pruning; starting plantings 3:58 PM–10:55 PM (void-of-course Moon) |
| Sun 12/12 | Waxing gibbous Gemini | Weeding and cultivating; pest control; harvesting | Sowing and planting; transplanting; pruning |
| Mon 12/13 | Full Moon 11:09 AM Gemini | Planning and seed preparation | Sowing and planting; transplanting; pruning; grafting |
| Tue 12/14 | Waning gibbous Gemini → Cancer 1:24 AM | Planting root crops, tubers and bulbs; pruning; watering; fertilizing; pest control | Sowing above-ground crops; harvesting for storage |
| Wed 12/15 | Waning gibbous Cancer | Planting root crops, tubers and bulbs (6:00 AM–8:42 PM); pruning; watering; fertilizing; pest control | Sowing above-ground crops; harvesting for storage; starting plantings 8:42 PM–midnight (void-of-course Moon) |
| Thu 12/16 | Waning gibbous Cancer → Leo 2:41 AM | Pruning; weeding and cultivating; pest control; harvesting for storage | Sowing and planting; transplanting |
| Fri 12/17 | Waning gibbous Leo | Pruning; weeding and cultivating; pest control; harvesting for storage | Sowing and planting; transplanting |
| Sat 12/18 | Waning gibbous Leo → Virgo 4:17 AM | Planting root crops, tubers and bulbs; pruning; fertilizing; pest control; harvesting for storage | Sowing above-ground crops |
| Sun 12/19 | Waning gibbous Virgo | Planting root crops, tubers and bulbs; pruning; fertilizing; pest control; harvesting for storage | Sowing above-ground crops |
| Mon 12/20 | Last Quarter 4:10 AM Virgo → Libra 7:13 AM | Until 7:13 AM: pruning; fertilizing; pest control; harvesting for storage From 7:13 AM: planting flower bulbs (7:13 AM–10:00 PM); pruning; fertilizing; pest control; harvesting for storage | Until 7:13 AM: planting root crops, tubers and bulbs (void-of-course Moon); sowing above-ground crops From 7:13 AM: sowing above-ground crops |
| Tue 12/21 | Waning crescent Libra | Planting flower bulbs (6:00 AM–8:01 PM); pruning; fertilizing; pest control; harvesting for storage | Sowing above-ground crops; starting plantings 8:01 PM–midnight (void-of-course Moon) |
| Wed 12/22 | Waning crescent Libra → Scorpio 12:01 PM | Until 12:01 PM: pruning; fertilizing; pest control; harvesting for storage From 12:01 PM: planting root crops, tubers and bulbs (12:01 PM–10:00 PM); pruning; watering; fertilizing; pest control | Until 12:01 PM: planting flower bulbs (void-of-course Moon); sowing above-ground crops From 12:01 PM: sowing above-ground crops; harvesting for storage |
| Thu 12/23 | Waning crescent Scorpio | Planting root crops, tubers and bulbs; pruning; watering; fertilizing; pest control | Sowing above-ground crops; harvesting for storage |
| Fri 12/24 | Waning crescent Scorpio → Sagittarius 6:50 PM | Until 6:50 PM: planting root crops, tubers and bulbs (6:00 AM–1:12 PM); pruning; watering; fertilizing; pest control From 6:50 PM: pruning; weeding and cultivating; pest control; harvesting for storage | Until 6:50 PM: sowing above-ground crops; harvesting for storage; starting plantings 1:12 PM–6:50 PM (void-of-course Moon) From 6:50 PM: sowing and planting; transplanting |
| Sat 12/25 | Waning crescent Sagittarius | Pruning; weeding and cultivating; pest control; harvesting for storage | Sowing and planting; transplanting |
| Sun 12/26 | Waning crescent Sagittarius | Pruning; weeding and cultivating; pest control; harvesting for storage | Sowing and planting; transplanting |
| Mon 12/27 | New Moon 3:12 PM Sagittarius → Capricorn 3:51 AM | Planning and seed preparation | Sowing and planting; transplanting; pruning; grafting |
| Tue 12/28 | Waxing crescent Capricorn | Sowing and planting above-ground crops; grafting; repotting houseplants; fertilizing | Planting root crops and bulbs; pruning |
| Wed 12/29 | Waxing crescent Capricorn → Aquarius 3:04 PM | Until 3:04 PM: sowing and planting above-ground crops (6:00 AM–9:29 AM); grafting (6:00 AM–9:29 AM); repotting houseplants (6:00 AM–9:29 AM); fertilizing From 3:04 PM: weeding and cultivating; pest control; harvesting | Until 3:04 PM: planting root crops and bulbs; pruning; starting plantings 9:29 AM–3:04 PM (void-of-course Moon) From 3:04 PM: sowing and planting; transplanting; pruning |
| Thu 12/30 | Waxing crescent Aquarius | Weeding and cultivating; pest control; harvesting | Sowing and planting; transplanting; pruning |
| Fri 12/31 | Waxing crescent Aquarius | Weeding and cultivating; pest control; harvesting | Sowing and planting; transplanting; pruning |
Calculated with Swiss Ephemeris, US Eastern Time · How we calculate →
How this calendar is made
The calendar follows the rules of traditional moon gardening. The Moon's phase and sign are calculated for every day in Eastern Time, and the same rules turn them into recommendations for every month.
- Waxing Moon (new moon to full moon). By tradition this is the time to sow and plant crops that bear above the ground: leafy greens, cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, beans, berries, trees and shrubs. Grafting and repotting houseplants also go here.
- Waning Moon (full moon to new moon). The time for root crops, tubers and bulbs: carrots, beets, potatoes, radishes, onions and garlic. It is also the traditional time for pruning, pest control and harvesting crops you plan to store.
- New moon, full moon and eclipses. On these calendar days (Eastern Time) tradition gives plants a rest: no sowing, planting, transplanting or pruning.
- Fertile signs. Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are the most fertile; Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn are also good for sowing and planting. Libra favors flowers.
- Barren signs: Aries, Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius and Aquarius. These days are for weeding, cultivating, pest control and harvesting rather than sowing.
- Void-of-course Moon. Tradition avoids starting plantings while the Moon is void of course. Sowing, planting, repotting and grafting are listed only when at least 2 hours between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM ET stay free of it; when the day is cut short, the open window is shown in brackets next to the task.
- Watering and fertilizing. Tradition singles out the water signs (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces) for watering; on other days water by the weather and the soil. Fertilizing goes on days when the Moon is in a fertile sign or in Libra.
When the Moon changes sign between 6:00 AM and 10:00 PM ET, the tasks are listed separately before and after the change; an overnight change counts toward the sign the Moon spends the day in. Outdoor timing still depends on your USDA hardiness zone and your local frost dates, so use the Moon to pick days within the season that suits your area.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start seeds in December 2027?
By moon gardening tradition, sowing and planting above-ground crops fits December 1 (6:00 AM–9:17 PM), 5, 6, 9 (5:36 PM–10:00 PM), 10, 11 (6:00 AM–3:58 PM), 28, 29 (6:00 AM–9:29 AM) (Eastern Time). The best days are December 5, 6, when the waxing Moon passes through Cancer, Scorpio or Pisces.
When should I plant root crops and bulbs in December 2027?
Carrots, beets, potatoes, onions, garlic and other root crops, tubers and bulbs traditionally go in on a waning Moon in a fertile sign: in December 2027 that is December 14, 15 (6:00 AM–8:42 PM), 18, 19, 22 (12:01 PM–10:00 PM), 23, 24 (6:00 AM–1:12 PM).
Which days in December 2027 are bad for planting?
Rest days with no planting: December 13 (full moon), 27 (new moon). On December 3, 8, 12, 16, 17, 25, 26, 30, 31 the Moon spends the whole day in barren signs, and tradition advises against sowing or planting. Plantings are also not started during void-of-course hours, which are listed in the table.
When should I prune trees and shrubs in December 2027?
Tradition prunes on a waning Moon outside the rest days: December 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26.
Why do moon planting dates differ between calendars?
Calendar makers use different rules. Some look only at the phase, others only at the sign; some skip the days around the new and full moon, others only the calendar day itself. The time zone matters too: a calendar made for another zone can put the Moon's change of sign on a neighboring date. This calendar uses Eastern Time, and its rules are listed on this page.
See also: lunar calendar for December 2027 with void-of-course hours for every day.
Every phase with exact times: Moon phases, full moon calendar and new moon dates. More guides in the astrology library; for the Moon in your own chart, build a free birth chart in the app.