In the biodynamic calendar, there are root, flower, leaf, and fruit days. Vegetables and fruits have been cultivated by humans for thousands of years to give us the variety of vegetables that we have today. We grow carrots for the root, which we eat, and cauliflower for the flower, which we eat.
The 12 constellations of the zodiac, mediated by the moon, bring different qualities that have beneficial influences on each part of the plant.
Virgo, Capricorn, and Taurus bring an earthly element, which corresponds to the root.
Scorpio, Pisces, and Cancer bring a watery element, which corresponds to the leaf.
Libra, Aquarius, and Gemini bring an airy/light element, which corresponds to the flower.
Sagittarius, Aries, and Leo bring a fire/warmth element, which corresponds to the fruit/seed.
The moon takes approximately 27.5 days to travel around the earth, passing through all of the 12 constellations of the zodiac in the process. About every 2 and a half days or 55 hours, the moon moves into a new constellation. So, during a calendar month, we pass through all of the constellations.
We transition from a root sign to a flower sign, to a leaf sign, to a fruit sign, and then back to a root sign.
For example, when the moon is in a root sign, it is a favourable time to sow, transplant, and tend to root crops. When the moon is in Libra, it’s a favourable time to work with flowers; when the moon is in Leo, it’s a favourable time to tend to fruits, and when the moon is in Cancer, it is favourable to work with leafy vegetables.
There are also unfavourable times for working in the garden due to solar and lunar events, such as Perigee when the moon is at its closest orbit to the earth. When the moon is in Apogee, furthest from the earth, there are strong light forces that create a small window of time to work with flowers. I will write about these solar and lunar influence in more detail in an upcoming post.
| Root | Carrot, Potato, Beetroot, Parsnip, Turnip, Swede, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Radish |
| Leaf | Spinach, Lettuce, Kale, Cabbage, Swiss Chard, Rocket, Watercress, Collard Greens, Herbs |
| Flower | Ornamental Flowers, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Artichoke, |
| Fruit | Tomatoes, Beans, Pepper, Cucumber, Aubergine, Courgette, Pumpkin, Squash, Apples, Plums |
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