Plant library
What can I grow now?
34 plants can be sown in April in North-East India. Narrow it further by space, goal or region — or step through the months below.
High rainfall, cooler hills. Sow two to four weeks earlier than the plains.
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Areca NutसुपारीAreca catechuSlim palm of the wet south-west and north-east, grown in dense stands.Areca PalmसुपारीAreca catechuThe slender betel-nut palm of the wet coasts, grown in dense shaded gardens.Assam Lemonकागजी नेमुCitrus limon var.The thin-skinned Assam lemon, fragrant enough to scent a whole kitchen.
Assam TeaचायCamellia sinensis var. assamicaThe tea of the Brahmaputra valley — one bush on a balcony is enough for a pot.BalsamगुलमेहंदीImpatiens balsaminaA monsoon annual of verandah pots, with seed pods children cannot leave alone.
Betel LeafपानPiper betleThe paan vine — grown in shaded enclosures across Bengal and the east.Black Pepperकाली मिर्चPiper nigrumThe vine that made the Malabar coast; needs a tree to climb and constant humidity.Blue Vandaनील ऑर्किडVanda coeruleaThe blue vanda of Meghalaya — tessellated flowers, and protected in the wild.CardamomइलायचीElettaria cardamomumGreen cardamom of the Western Ghats — deep shade, cool air and steady rain.Cardamom Largeबड़ी इलायचीAmomum subulatumBlack cardamom of Sikkim — deep shade under alder, at hill altitudes.
Chow Chowइस्कुसSechium eduleThe squash that covers a whole roof in one season across the eastern hills.ColocasiaअरबीColocasia esculentaBig-leaved and happy in a wet corner; corms below, edible leaves above.DendrobiumसंचारीDendrobium nobileCane orchid of the eastern hills, flowering along last year’s bare canes.Elephant Foot YamजिमीकंदAmorphophallus paeoniifoliusOne corm fills a large pot and returns a much bigger one in a year.Foxtail Orchidद्रौपदी मालाRhynchostylis retusaThe kopou phul of Assam — hanging foxtail sprays, and the flower of Bihu.Giant Taroमान कचुAlocasia macrorrhizosEnormous upright leaves for a wet shaded corner — architecture rather than a crop.