Plant library
What can I grow now?
40 plants in the library can be sown in May. Narrow it further by space, goal or region — or step through the months below.
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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.
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.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.Champaचम्पाPlumeria rubraGrows from a bare cutting pushed into dry soil; scents a whole terrace.
Chow Chowइस्कुसSechium eduleThe squash that covers a whole roof in one season across the eastern hills.CloveलौंगSyzygium aromaticumA slow evergreen of the wet south-west, harvested as unopened flower buds.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.Elephant Foot YamजिमीकंदAmorphophallus paeoniifoliusOne corm fills a large pot and returns a much bigger one in a year.Frangipani WhiteगुलचीनPlumeria albaThe white frangipani of temple gardens, tougher than the pink and just as scented.