The phase of the moon affects planting. (photo: planetsforkids.org)
The following are general guidelines for planting according to moon cycles.
Moon opposite to Saturn
It occurs approximately once in 29.5 days.
Best time for:
1. Seed sowing, transplanting, grafting, pruning and layering.
2. Spraying BD501 (Cow horn silica) or bio-pesticides to manage pests.
3. Spraying liquid manures and foliar sprays.
Full moon
This occurs every 29.5 days
Best time for:
1. Sow seeds two days before sowing
2. Apply liquid manures
3. Spraying bio pesticides to control pest and disease.
4. Drench the animals for internal parasites (48 hours before)
New moon
This happens once in 27.5 days
Best time for:
1. Avoid sowing seeds
2. Cutting timber
Ascending periods
The moon moving in an arc from east to west and when this arc gets higher everyday, the Moon is ascending
Best time for:
1. Sowing of crops
2. Spray BD501or pest management practices
3. Spray liquid manures
Descending periods
The moon moving in arc from East to West and this arc gets lower everyday, the Moon is said to be in descending phase.
Best time for:
1. Transplanting of seedlings.
2. Spraying BD500 (Cow horn manure)
3. Making and spreading compost or manures
4. Pruning trees.
5. Land preparation activities.
Nodes
These are the days when moon passes the sun’s path. It creates negative influences on the growth of plants.
Apogee
The moon orbits around the Earth in an elliptic path. The point where the moon is far away to earth is called apogee.
Best time for:
1. Planting potatoes
2. Irrigating the field
Perigee
The moon moves around the earth in an elliptical path. The point where the moon is closest to earth is called as perigee.
Best time for:
1. Spray bio-pesticides to manage pest and disease
Dr.Thimmaiah is the new faculty at the Sustainable Living Department of Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa. He has worked on many projects in India, Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Italy and Costa Rica on low-cost sustainable agriculture adopting the principles of organic, biodynamic and vedic agriculture.