Rooted in Tradition: Laws Pertaining to Planting During the Shemittah Year

“But in the seventh year, the land shall have a complete rest, a Shabbat to Hashem; you shall not sow your field, nor shall you prune your vineyard.”

Vayikra 24:4

Planting and Sowing Seeds

Planting and sowing are both forbidden during Shemittah year, whether this is done by hand or by machine. This law applies to seeds of all kinds as well as saplings, trees, flowers, and plants. It makes no difference whether one planted or sowed in order to harvest a crop, enjoy the flowering shrub, teach children about agriculture, and so forth.

If someone sowed or planted during Shemittah even unintentionally, it must be uprooted from the ground.

Tossing seeds or fruit pits randomly onto a grassy or earthen area with no intention of planting them is permitted. Covering them with earth is forbidden. One should also take care not to toss vegetable food remains onto areas where plants are growing, as this could be considered fertilizing them, which is prohibited.

Transplanting

Plants or trees may be transplanted during Shemittah year as long as they are moved along with the clump of soil around their roots, and as long as they could survive in that state, unattached to the ground, for at least 14 days.

Moving a plant or tree with its roots but without soil is forbidden, as this is considered to be a fresh planting.

Tree Surgery

If one needs to cut down a tree to make space for construction of some kind, a rabbi must be consulted on the permissible way to do this during Shemittah year. During a regular year, one must also ensure that the type of tree may be cut down, as there is a specific Torah prohibition with regard to cutting down fruit-bearing trees.

If tree roots become exposed, one should not cover them with soil unless there is concern that damage will occur to the tree.

Before and After Shemittah

If someone wants to plant or sow at the very end of the sixth year, right before Shemittah begins, he should consult with a rabbi regarding how much time he must allow for the plant to take root and begin growing.

Although one might think that sowing or planting at the very end of the Shemittah year is permitted, as growth will only begin after Shemittah has ended, this is not the case and nothing may be planted during the seventh year.