Does the phases of the moon affect crop plantings?

Question

When I was a young boy growing up on a large farm during the middle 1950's, just about all of the older farmers around us planted "by the signs of moon".

The 'signs' were in the feet, loins, etc.

When I was a senior in college, I asked a botany professor if there was anything to this. He said thaat when HE was a graduate student at a well respected college in the mid-west, one of his projects was to plant a garden by the signs of the moon, and also another garden at the same time, not going by the signs of the moon.

He stated that he was amazed at the outcome.

Any comments?

Answer 1

well in india moon activites r really imp in relation 2 crop planting

BD 500 Application

During an Descending Moon Period

in the afternoon/evening (sunset)

at the beginning of the plant's growth

and just before harvest

BD 501 Application

During an Ascending Moon Period

in the morning (sunrise)

at the beginning of the plant's growth

and just before harvest

ALSO

on Moon opposite Saturn day

in the morning (sunrise)

to strengthen against fungus & improve quality

Seed Sowing

On Moon opposite Saturn day

48 hours before Full Moon

during an Ascending Moon Period

AVOID NODE, APOGEE, PERIGEE & NEW MOON

for the particular constellation effect:

Root Plant -- Earth constellation day

                            Capricorn/Makara

                            Taurus/Vrishaba

Leafy Plant -- Water constellation day

                    Pisces/Mina

Flowering Plant -- Air/Light constellation day

                           Gemini/Mithuna

                           Aquarius/Kumbha

Fruit or Seed Plant -- Fire/Warmth constellation day

                      Sagittarius/Dhanush

                      Aries/Mesha

Compost Making

Best during Descending Moon period

Compost Spreading

During Descending Moon period

in cool weather

depending on soil conditions

and crop requirements

Cultivation & Soil Preparation

Best during Descending Moon period

when weather and soil conditions permit

NOTE: Cultivation and working the soil when it is wet can cause structual damage

Transplanting Seedlings, Container Grown Plants, Trees and Shrubs

Best during Descending Moon period

at appropriate season

Harvesting

Best during Ascending Moon period, except for roots and potatoes,

which are best during Descending Moon Period

Fruit, green vegetables, hay and silage

keep better and maintain quality in storage

if harvested during an Air/Light Flower period:

Gemini/Mithuna or   Aquarius/Kumbha

Grains and Seeds for saving

best when harvested during a Fire/Warmth seed period:

Sagittarius/Dhanush or Aries/Mesha

Roots and potatoes

best harvested in a Descending Moon period

when the Moon is in the Earth root sign  Virgo/Kanya

AVOID Harvesting at Full Moon, Perigee and during a Water constellation leaf day, such as  Pisces/Mina, since these are times of more water in the Earth, so the crops would hold too much water for satisfactory storage.

Liquid Manure Application

Best just before Full Moon

in the afternoon

several times during crop growth, as needed

Plant Potatoes

Best during Apogee

Fungus Control

During Full Moon and Perigee

Spray with BD 508 prior to & during these days

These are stress times, they bring watery influences to the Earth

which can lead to fungus attacks, esp. during warm weather.

ALSO

On Moon opposite Saturn

Spray with BD 501 in the early morning (sunrise)

which will strengthen the plant to resist fungus

Pruning

Best during Descending Moon period

Fruit trees & berry shrubs at appropriate season

on a Fire/Warmth day, if possible

Leo/Simha or Sagittarius/Dhanush

Flowering shrubs and roses at appropriate season

on an Air/Light day, if possible

Gemini/Mithuna or   Libra/Tula

Peppering

At Full Moon, several times during the growing season

Best when Sun in following constellations for specific pests:

Sun in  Aries/Mesha for larvae

Sun in   Taurus/Vrishaba for hardshell insects

Sun in  Gemini/Mithuna for flies

Sun in   Cancer/Karkata for snails & slugs

Answer 2

My grandmother planted according to the Farmer's almanac and the phases of the moon.  She always had a productive garden.  However she didn't have a control garden in which the plants were planted at random times and phases of the moon.  So maybe there is something to it but I don't know of any definitive studies related to planting according to phases of the moon.