Planting by the moon — aligning farm activities with cosmic rhythms
The biodynamic calendar is a planting guide based on the movement of the Moon through the twelve zodiac constellations. Each constellation is associated with one of the four classical elements — Earth, Water, Fire, and Air — which correspond to the four parts of a plant: Root, Leaf, Fruit/Seed, and Flower.
By timing farm activities to align with these cosmic rhythms, biodynamic farmers achieve better germination rates, stronger plants, improved flavour, and longer shelf life — all without any additional chemical input.
| Crop Type | Element | Moon in Constellation | Best Activity | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌱 Root Days | Earth | Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn | Sow, transplant, harvest root crops | Carrot, Radish, Beetroot, Potato, Turmeric |
| 🌿 Leaf Days | Water | Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces | Sow, water, harvest leafy crops | Spinach, Cabbage, Lettuce, Coriander, Curry Leaf |
| 🌸 Flower Days | Air | Gemini, Libra, Aquarius | Sow flowers; harvest for aroma and colour | Jasmine, Rose, Marigold, Sunflower |
| 🍅 Fruit/Seed Days | Fire | Aries, Leo, Sagittarius | Sow, harvest fruit and seed crops | Tomato, Brinjal, Chilli, Mango, Paddy, Groundnut |
Rest period. Avoid sowing. Good for soil preparation and applying BD 500 Horn Manure.
Sap rises. Best for sowing above-ground crops, transplanting, and applying BD 501 Horn Silica.
Peak energy. Harvest for best flavour and storage. Apply CPP and compost preparations.
Energy descends. Best for sowing root crops, pruning, weeding, and applying BD 500.
Founding President, TNBDA
Pioneer of Tamil BD Calendar
The Tamil BioDynamic Calendar is a landmark contribution to Indian biodynamic farming — developed by Sri T. Navaneethakrishnan Aiya, Founding President of the TamilNadu BioDynamic Association.
Recognising that most Tamil Nadu farmers are more comfortable in their native language, Sri Navaneethakrishnan has simplified and adapted the international biodynamic calendar into Tamil, aligning it with the traditional Tamil Panchangam (almanac) system. This makes the calendar intuitive and accessible to every Tamil-speaking farmer.
Aligned with Tamil months (Chithirai to Panguni) and traditional Nakshatras for easy cross-reference with existing farmer knowledge.
Optimised for Tamil Nadu's two main cropping seasons — Kharif (Kuruvai/Samba) and Rabi — with specific guidance for paddy, sugarcane, banana, and vegetables.
Accounts for Tamil Nadu's unique monsoon patterns (Northeast and Southwest), temperature ranges, and regional soil types.
Includes specific guidance on when to apply BD 500, BD 501, CPP, and compost preparations based on Tamil lunar calendar dates.
Fully written in Tamil script — breaking the English language barrier that has long prevented Tamil farmers from accessing biodynamic knowledge.