Best Days by Activity

By Celeste Longacre

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The Old Farmer's Almanac's Best Days for 2021 by Activity! Find out when to start a diet to lose weight, cut hair to increase growth, plant vegetables, quit smoking, lose weight, wean, mow grass to slow growth, and more activities, based on the Moon’s sign. 

To determine the Best Days, we look at several factors, including the position of the Moon in the 12 signs of the Zodiac, as well as the lunar phase. Planetary relationships may also be considered. When positions and/or phases are suitable, tradition says that activities are more likely to yield favorable results.

What are the Best Days to...
Activity Best Days
bake Aug 5, Aug 6, Sep 1, Sep 2, Sep 28
begin diet to gain weight Aug 11, Aug 15, Sep 7, Sep 11, Oct 8
begin diet to lose weight Aug 6, Aug 24, Aug 28, Sep 25, Sep 30
begin logging Aug 18, Aug 19, Sep 14, Sep 15, Oct 12
breed animals Aug 14, Aug 15, Sep 10, Sep 11, Oct 7
brew beer or cider Aug 14, Aug 15, Sep 10, Sep 11, Oct 7
can or pickle vegetables and fruit Aug 23, Aug 24, Sep 1, Sep 2, Sep 28
castrate animals Aug 20, Aug 21, Sep 16, Sep 17, Sep 18
color hair Aug 27, Aug 28, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25
cut hair to discourage growth Aug 27, Aug 28, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25
cut hair to encourage growth Aug 12, Aug 13, Sep 8, Sep 9, Oct 16
cut hay Aug 25, Aug 26, Sep 21, Sep 22, Oct 18
destroy pests and weeds Aug 25, Aug 26, Sep 21, Sep 22, Oct 18
dry fruit, vegetables, or meat Aug 7, Aug 25, Aug 26, Sep 3, Sep 4
end projects Aug 7, Sep 5, Oct 5, Nov 3, Dec 3
get married Aug 12, Aug 13, Sep 8, Sep 9, Oct 5
go camping Aug 16, Aug 17, Sep 12, Sep 13, Oct 9
graft or pollinate Aug 5, Aug 6, Sep 1, Sep 2, Sep 28
harvest aboveground crops Aug 9, Aug 10, Aug 11, Sep 14, Sep 15
harvest belowground crops Aug 27, Aug 28, Sep 23, Sep 24, Sep 25
have dental care Aug 9, Aug 10, Aug 11, Sep 6, Sep 7
make jams or jellies Aug 22, Aug 23, Aug 24, Sep 19, Sep 20
make sauerkraut Aug 23, Aug 24, Sep 1, Sep 2, Sep 28
pick fruit Aug 9, Aug 10, Aug 11, Sep 6, Sep 7
plant aboveground crops Aug 14, Aug 15, Sep 10, Sep 11, Sep 19
plant belowground crops Aug 5, Aug 6, Aug 23, Aug 24, Sep 1
prune to discourage growth Aug 7, Aug 25, Aug 26, Sep 3, Sep 4
prune to encourage growth Aug 16, Aug 17, Sep 12, Sep 13, Oct 18
quit smoking Aug 6, Aug 24, Aug 28, Sep 25, Sep 30
set posts or pour concrete Aug 18, Aug 19, Sep 14, Sep 15, Oct 12
slaughter livestock Aug 14, Aug 15, Sep 10, Sep 11, Oct 7
start projects Aug 9, Sep 7, Oct 7, Nov 5, Dec 5
straighten hair Aug 16, Aug 17, Sep 12, Sep 13, Oct 9
wean animals or children Aug 6, Aug 24, Aug 28, Sep 25, Sep 30

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