Plant library
What can I grow now?
17 plants in the library can be sown in April. Narrow it further by space, goal or region — or step through the months below.
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AmaranthचौलाईAmaranthus tricolorThe monsoon green that grows itself — heat-proof, rain-proof, ready in a month.Chow Chowइस्कुसSechium eduleThe squash that covers a whole roof in one season across the eastern hills.CucumberखीराCucumis sativusFast, thirsty and best trained up a net where air can move around it.
DrumstickसहजनMoringa oleiferaThe fastest useful tree there is — 3 m in a year, edible leaves and pods.
Elephant Foot YamजिमीकंदAmorphophallus paeoniifoliusOne corm fills a large pot and returns a much bigger one in a year.Green GramमूंगVigna radiataSixty days from sowing to dal, and sproutable on a kitchen shelf.Indian Water FernअजोलाAzolla pinnataA floating fern that fixes nitrogen — fertiliser and fodder that grows itself.JuteपटसनCorchorus olitoriusBengal’s fibre crop, and its young leaves are a monsoon green.LemongrassगंधतृणCymbopogon citratusA clump of scented grass that mosquitoes avoid and tea drinkers cannot do without.
LotusकमलNelumbo nuciferaThe national flower — a big tub, full sun and patience is all it takes.MakhanaमखानाEuryale feroxBihar’s pond crop — prickly floating leaves and the popped seed of fasting food.OkraभिंडीAbelmoschus esculentusSummer staple for a sunny terrace; pick every second day or pods turn woody.PapayaपपीताCarica papayaFruit inside a year from seed — the fastest fruit a household can grow.Poi Saagपोई सागBasella albaA thick-leaved climbing spinach that thrives in the worst of the monsoon heat.Sacred Lotus Stemकमल ककड़ीNelumbo nucifera (rhizome)The same lotus, grown in deep mud for the crisp rhizome of the Kashmiri kitchen.Seabuckthornलेह बेरीHippophae rhamnoidesA cold-desert shrub of Ladakh, nitrogen-fixing and vitamin-dense.