The different phases of the moon have an influence on agriculture and gardening. Farmers have long seen how the lunar phases affect their crops. For this reason, it is highly recommended for the farmer to know the lunar calendar and, in this way, use it as a kind of “instruction manual” for crops.
In this article, we wanted to summarize the different studies on the influence of the phases of the moon on agriculture.
The influence of the phases of the moon on agriculture and crops
Phrases like “your crop will grow better if you grow it with a crescent moon” are not popular inventions, many are confirmed phenomena. The moon is known to contribute to the development, germination or fruiting of crops .
For example, plant sap, seed rooting or photosynthesis are affected by the moon and its different phases. For this reason, sowing a plant one day or another is not the same , since the lunar phases vary between days, which will mean that a plant thrives in one way or another.
How to take advantage of the new moon in agriculture
The new moon or new moon is the phase of the moon in which it does not reflect light and is behind the sun’s radiance, so during this phase the moon is not visible from the Earth and its rays decrease drastically.
Given these few lunar rays during this phase, the roots or leaves of the plants grow at a much slower rate. This means that in agriculture it is a phase of little or no crop growth . Rather, it is a resting stage . In addition, during this stage the sap of the plants is much more concentrated in their roots and in the soil there is a great availability of water.
Being a resting stage, the plants suffer less stress, so it is an ideal time to carry out those plant maintenance tasks that we could not in another time. These include:
- Control of adventitious plants.
- Hilling or covering certain plants with soil.
- Pay .
- Eliminate weeds and wilted leaves.
- Pruning or tutoring certain plants.
- Plant specific varieties that require this time.
How to take advantage of the first quarter of the moon in agriculture
In this phase the moon increases its surface and its visibility. In addition, during this phase the moon is approaching the Earth and its pressure increases on our planet. The moon takes the shape of a circle split in half and its light is increasing.
The sap now begins to rise towards the top of the plants, which undergo balanced growth, affecting the foliage and roots more. The water begins to circulate more through the soil and to be more absorbed by the roots.
These are some of the tasks to be carried out in the first quarter phase in agriculture :
- Prune fruit trees and those that are sick.
- Cultivate sandy soils.
- Plant flowers and leafy vegetables.
- Perform grafting, as successful rooting is more likely.
- Avoid watering flowering plants.
How to take advantage of the full moon for agriculture
The moon manages to see itself totally, like a complete circle. This phase marks the middle of the lunar month and its rays are increasing. During this phase the crops have greater movement of water and sap . The sap is concentrated in the foliage, which grows faster, while the roots develop more slowly. However, pests can appear at this stage .
Some tasks to perform to take advantage of this phase are:
- Perform pruning tasks.
- Grow leafy fruits and vegetables as they thrive.
- Plant perennial species.
- Perform transplants.
- Carry out vegetative propagation, but without cutting the plants.
How to take advantage of the last quarter of the moon for agriculture
The moon takes the shape of a decreasing semicircle and its visibility begins to decrease. This moon phase carries little activity in crops . The sap of the plants is concentrated again in its roots and, consequently, the foliage grows less, while the development of the lower part of the plants increases.
Some tasks to take advantage of the last quarter phase of the moon in agriculture are:
- Planting root vegetables, such as carrots or turnips.
- Elimination of wilted leaves.
- It is the best time to perform transplants.
- Fertilize the plantation soil.
- Plant long-leaved trees.