The difference between Universal and Gardening calendars

[Lunarium Author]

Quite a few users have noticed that there is a difference between the
times and dates of the Moons entry into the Signs of the Zodiac, as
given by Universal and Gardening calendars.

For example, according to the Universal Lunar Calendar (http://
www.lunarium.co.uk/calendar/universal.jsp) the Moon will enter
Aquarius at 9:51pm on the 4th of May, London time, while according to
the Lunar Gardening Calendar (http://www.lunarium.co.uk/calendar/
gardening.jsp), the same will happen on the 6th of May, at 10:24pm.

I am still planning to write a detailed article that will explain all
the different ideas surrounding different versions of the lunar
gardening calendar, as well as various symbols used in its current
implementation. The complete article will still have to wait but I
want to present here a brief explanation, and then refer to it those
people who ask questions about the differences.

First of all, the Lunar Gardening Calendar shows the Moon's entry into
the Signs calculated for the Sidereal Zodiac. You can read about the
difference between the two Zodiacs in a lesson in the Astro School
(http://www.lunarium.co.uk/astroschool/lessons/lesson-3-the-
zodiac-3.jsp) but briefly, the difference between them is about 23
degrees of ecliptical longitude, hence the difference of approximately
two days between the Moon's entry times.

There are two main schools of Lunar Gardening (as far as I know): the
American school and the European. The American school uses the
ordinary Tropical Zodiac, its rules are quite simple and the Universal
Lunar Calendar can be used by those who follow this school.

The European school follows more or less precisely the teachings of
Rudolph Steiner. According to him, not the Tropical Zodiac should be
used in lunar gardening but the actual constellations of the starry
sky. So his disciples didn't use any Zodiac but instead the
constellations of the starry sky, as they were defined in the times of
Steiner.

These days European researchers like Nick Kollerstrom argue that
Sidereal Zodiac should be used, not the constellations, and I find
Nick Kollerstrom's argument convincing. This is why the Lunar
Gardening Calendar uses Sidereal Zodiac - but in the future I am
planning to add Steiner's constellations too, as an option.

The European school of lunar gardening also uses various other factors
like moonrise, moon set, the perigee, planetary aspects and the Moon's
transit through her nodes. All these are represented in the Lunar
Gardening Calendar - but aren't explained yet. They will be explained
in the future article - thank you for your patience.

[Tansel]

Lunar gardening is very interesting, however I know very little. The
few
basic rules I remember are; plant the plants which grow above the
ground
during the waxing of the moon and plant those which grow below the
ground (like carrots, potatoes etc...) during the waning moon. I
suppose
tomatoes should be planted during a waxing Cancer, but I'm not sure
which quarter is better.

So I should use sidereal zodiac to calculate a Cancer Moon for the
above
example?

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[Lunarium Author]

What you are writing is an example of the American system. For it, you
should use the Universal calendar.

In the European system the reasoning is different. There are Root Days
(when the Moon is in the Earth signs), Leaf Days (Water signs), Flower
Days (Air signs) and Fruit Days (Fire signs). This is where you are
supposed to use the Sidereal Zodiac.

More about this later.