Plant library
What can I grow now?
14 plants can be sown in May in West India. Narrow it further by space, goal or region — or step through the months below.
Heavy coastal monsoon, mild winters. Drainage matters more here than watering.
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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.
Champaचम्पाPlumeria rubraGrows from a bare cutting pushed into dry soil; scents a whole terrace.
CoconutनारियलCocos nuciferaThe tree the coasts are built on — water, kernel, oil, thatch and shade.ColocasiaअरबीColocasia esculentaBig-leaved and happy in a wet corner; corms below, edible leaves above.Crown Flowerसफेद आकCalotropis proceraThe desert milkweed, smaller than gigantea and even tougher.Frangipani WhiteगुलचीनPlumeria albaThe white frangipani of temple gardens, tougher than the pink and just as scented.GingerअदरकZingiber officinaleThe same trick as turmeric, in slightly more shade and slightly less time.
Kenafमेस्ताHibiscus cannabinusA fibre hibiscus of eastern India, quick and very tall.Malabar Glory LilyकलिहारीGloriosa superbaFlame-red reflexed petals on a climbing lily — the state flower of Tamil Nadu.MilkweedआकCalotropis giganteaHost plant for tiger butterflies — plant one and the caterpillars arrive.Poi Saagपोई सागBasella albaA thick-leaved climbing spinach that thrives in the worst of the monsoon heat.TaroअरबीColocasia esculentaBig heart leaves on a wet corner; the corm below and the leaf above both go to the…Turmericहल्दीCurcuma longaPlant a knob of market haldi in June; harvest your own in February.