According to the lunar calendar, the above-ground parts of the plant are best harvested in the waxing month, and everything below ground in the waning month, because by the full moon the energy flow in the plant is moving upwards, towards the top of the plant, and all the power and goodness of the plant is in the leaves.
In the descending month it is the other way round - all the energy moves downwards to the roots and concentrates there. So it is the best time to dig the roots.
However, it's not that simple! It turns out that you still have to take into account that the Moon is waxing and waning in its 27-day cycle - i.e. the time the Moon is visible to the sky decreases or increases respectively during this cycle. Throughout this movement, it influences processes on Earth. The Moon is descending when its apparent time in the sky decreases from rising to setting, while it descends lower each night relative to the horizon. During this time, plant sap flows slowly and is more concentrated underground.
The Moon is waxing when it begins its ascending journey - the next 14 days respectively. Plant juices then circulate rapidly, with a tendency to ascend. All the forces are concentrated in the surface parts - this is harvest or gathering time. At this time it is advisable to collect not only medicinal herbs, but also fruits for storage, to cut shoots for cuttings, to cut grass for fodder, etc. - the harvest will dry well and will be rich in valuable substances. Jams, juices, yields and flavours will be good.
The worst time to gather plants is on a full moon, that is the New Moon and the days close to it when the moon is not visible in the sky. Sowing and planting are not recommended at this time, but you can work the soil in weedy areas, weed, cut back intrusive bushes so that they do not grow back so quickly. However, it is more situational, as the plant may have already flowered by the time the moon phase is right, so you have to look at the conditions.
To make it easier to follow the moon phases and use their energy to your advantage, it's worth buying a planner that already shows the moon phases for each day, or more conveniently, a calendar that shows not only the moon phases, but also all the information on the recommended activities for each day. Why not use the forces of nature to your advantage?
In Latvia, the hottest period for gathering herbs is the beginning of summer, especially the time of the dawn, when every blade of grass is full of nature's energy. Who doesn't know that the power of the Midsummer Grass is the greatest!
References:
http://tava-pasaule.lv/arstniecibas-augi-ievaksanas-laiks-un-izmantosana-terapija/
