Jun–Jul monsoon greens: punarnava, giloy, chaulai. Aug–Sep marigold, tulsi cuttings, curry leaf. Oct–Nov palak, methi, mustard, coriander. Dec–Feb peas, carrots, radish and winter flowers.
November in Himalaya & the hills
Sow roots now: carrot, radish, beetroot, in deep troughs.
What can I grow now? →
The growing year in Himalaya & the hills
Frost, snow and a short season. Sow six to eight weeks earlier than the plains, and only frost-hardy kinds.
JanuaryCold nights, bright days — keep watering light and sow the last of the winter greens.Bird Cherry, Blue Pine, Chinar, Chir Pine, Chirata, Deodar
FebruaryThe turn of the year: sow summer crops now so they root before the heat.Bird Cherry, Blue Pine, Blue Vanda, Chir Pine, Chirata, Chow Chow
MarchMove pots out of the afternoon sun and mulch anything in the ground.Assam Tea, Blue Vanda, Cardamom Large, Chow Chow, Dendrobium, Ginger Lily
AprilWater at dusk, not at noon. Only heat-hardy seed is worth sowing this month.Alder, Amaranth Grain, Assam Tea, Bamboo Shoot Species, Barnyard Millet, Bay Leaf Tree
MayShade cloth over young pots; hold new sowings until the first rain.Alder, Amaranth Grain, Bamboo Shoot Species, Barnyard Millet, Bay Leaf Tree, Bottle Brush
JuneThe monsoon opens the year — almost everything indigenous goes in now.Harsingar Shrub
JulyCheck drainage before you sow; standing water kills more plants than drought.Nothing recorded yet.
AugustCuttings root fastest this month. Take tulsi, curry leaf and mint.Deodar, French Bean, Garlic, Indian Valerian, Nasturtium, Ratanjot
SeptemberFeed what the rain has grown, and start the winter seed trays.Fig, French Bean, Garlic, Nasturtium, Ratanjot, Turnip
OctoberThe best sowing month of the year for greens — palak, methi, mustard, coriander.Apricot, Fig, Mulberry, Walnut, Water Cress, Wild Apple
NovemberSow roots now: carrot, radish, beetroot, in deep troughs.Apricot, Fig, Walnut, Wild Apple
DecemberProtect tender pots from the cold snap and keep harvesting the greens.Chinar, Himalayan Oak, Walnut, Wild Apricot
What to sow, month by month, across India
Every plant in the library, placed in the months it can be sown in each region. Sowing windows are recorded for North India and shifted for the others — a fortnight either way is normal, so read a month as “around now”.
Central India A short sharp monsoon on black cotton soil, then a dry winter. Water-holding soil, water-scarce year.East India Humid through the year with an early monsoon; fungal problems beat drought here.Himalaya & the hills Frost, snow and a short season. Sow six to eight weeks earlier than the plains, and only frost-hardy kinds. −2 months against North IndiaIslands & the coast Salt, wind and rain most of the year. Choose salt-tolerant species and plant a windbreak first. +1 month against North IndiaNorth India Hot dry summers, a July monsoon and a real winter — the widest sowing calendar in the country.North-East India High rainfall, cooler hills. Sow two to four weeks earlier than the plains. −1 month against North IndiaSouth India Two monsoons and no frost: cool-season crops go in a month later and keep going into February. +1 month against North IndiaWest India Heavy coastal monsoon, mild winters. Drainage matters more here than watering.
| Month | Central India | East India | Himalaya & the hills | Islands & the coast | North India | North-East India | South India | West India |
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| JanuaryCold nights, bright days — keep watering light and sow the last of the winter greens. | Coriander, Fig, Methi, Palak, Pomegranate, Sunflower | Coriander, Palak, Sugarcane | Bird Cherry, Blue Pine, Chinar, Chir Pine, Chirata, Deodar, Hill Gooseberry, Himalayan Cherry | — | Apricot, Coriander, Fig, Methi, Palak, Pomegranate, Sugarcane, Sunflower | Bhut Jolokia, Naga King Chilli, Tulsi | Coriander, Onion, Pomegranate | Coriander, Fig, Methi, Palak, Pomegranate, Sugarcane, Sunflower |
|---|
| FebruaryThe turn of the year: sow summer crops now so they root before the heat. | Ajwain Leaf, Brinjal, Coriander, Green Chilli, Indian Aloe, Krishna Tulsi, Mint, Palak | Arabian Jasmine, Bhut Jolokia, Bougainvillea, Brinjal, Chinese Hibiscus, Coriander, Green Chilli, Hibiscus | Bird Cherry, Blue Pine, Blue Vanda, Chir Pine, Chirata, Chow Chow, Dendrobium, Deodar | — | Ajwain Leaf, Arabian Jasmine, Bougainvillea, Brinjal, Chinese Hibiscus, Coriander, Green Chilli, Hibiscus | Bhut Jolokia, Brahmi, Chirata, Himalayan Cherry, Indian Valerian, Lady’s Slipper Orchid, Lemongrass, Naga King Chilli | Coriander, Pomegranate, Sugarcane, Sunflower | Ajwain Leaf, Arabian Jasmine, Bougainvillea, Brinjal, Chinese Hibiscus, Coriander, Green Chilli, Hibiscus |
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| MarchMove pots out of the afternoon sun and mulch anything in the ground. | Ajwain Leaf, Amaranth, Bottle Gourd, Brinjal, Cockscomb, Cowpea, Drumstick, Green Chilli | Amaranth, Arabian Jasmine, Bhut Jolokia, Bitter Gourd, Bottle Gourd, Bougainvillea, Brahmi, Brinjal | Assam Tea, Blue Vanda, Cardamom Large, Chow Chow, Dendrobium, Ginger Lily, Job’s Tears, Khasi Mandarin | Chinese Hibiscus, Hibiscus, Vinca | Ajwain Leaf, Amaranth, Arabian Jasmine, Bitter Gourd, Bottle Gourd, Bougainvillea, Brahmi, Brinjal | Blue Vanda, Brahmi, Chirata, Chow Chow, Dendrobium, Elephant Foot Yam, Foxtail Orchid, Himalayan Cherry | Ajwain Leaf, Arabian Jasmine, Bougainvillea, Brinjal, Chinese Hibiscus, Coriander, Green Chilli, Hibiscus | Ajwain Leaf, Amaranth, Arabian Jasmine, Bitter Gourd, Bottle Gourd, Bougainvillea, Brinjal, Champa |
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| AprilWater at dusk, not at noon. Only heat-hardy seed is worth sowing this month. | Amaranth, Cockscomb, Crown Flower, Drumstick, Elephant Foot Yam, Green Gram, Guggul, Indian Aloe | Amaranth, Brahmi, Champa, Cockscomb, Cucumber, Dendrobium, Drumstick, Elephant Foot Yam | Alder, Amaranth Grain, Assam Tea, Bamboo Shoot Species, Barnyard Millet, Bay Leaf Tree, Blue Vanda, Bottle Brush | Champa, Chinese Hibiscus, Frangipani White, Hibiscus, Papaya, Vinca | Aak Bush, Amaranth, Brahmi, Champa, Chir Pine, Cockscomb, Crown Flower, Cucumber | Areca Nut, Areca Palm, Assam Lemon, Assam Tea, Balsam, Betel Leaf, Black Pepper, Blue Vanda | Ajwain Leaf, Amaranth, Arabian Jasmine, Bitter Gourd, Bottle Gourd, Bougainvillea, Brahmi, Brinjal | Aak Bush, Amaranth, Champa, Crown Flower, Cucumber, Drumstick, Frangipani White, Green Gram |
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| MayShade cloth over young pots; hold new sowings until the first rain. | Crown Flower, Elephant Foot Yam, Kenaf, Lotus, Malabar Glory Lily, Milkweed, Water Chestnut | Areca Nut, Areca Palm, Assam Lemon, Balsam, Betel Leaf, Champa, Coconut, Colocasia | Alder, Amaranth Grain, Bamboo Shoot Species, Barnyard Millet, Bay Leaf Tree, Bottle Brush, Buckwheat, Cheura | Champa, Frangipani White, Papaya | Balsam, Champa, Crown Flower, Frangipani White, Ginger Lily, Lotus, Milkweed, Taro | Alder, Areca Nut, Areca Palm, Ashoka Tree, Assam Lemon, Assam Tea, Balsam, Bamboo | Amaranth, Brahmi, Champa, Chow Chow, Cockscomb, Cucumber, Drumstick, Elephant Foot Yam | Betel Leaf, Black Pepper, Champa, Coconut, Colocasia, Crown Flower, Frangipani White, Ginger |
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| JuneThe monsoon opens the year — almost everything indigenous goes in now. | Ajwain Leaf, Amaltas, Amaranth, Amaranth Grain, Amla, Arjun, Arjuna, Ash Gourd | Amaltas, Amaranth, Arabian Jasmine, Areca Nut, Areca Palm, Arjun, Arjuna, Ash Gourd | Harsingar Shrub | Areca Nut, Areca Palm, Black Pepper, Champa, Clove, Coconut, Frangipani White, Giant Taro | Aak Bush, Ajwain Leaf, Amaltas, Amaranth, Amaranth Grain, Amla, Arabian Jasmine, Arjun | Alder, Areca Palm, Ashoka Tree, Assam Lemon, Balsam, Bamboo, Bamboo Shoot Species, Banana | Areca Nut, Areca Palm, Assam Tea, Balsam, Betel Leaf, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Champa | Aak Bush, Ajwain Leaf, Amaranth, Amla, Arabian Jasmine, Ash Gourd, Ashoka, Ashoka Tree |
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| JulyCheck drainage before you sow; standing water kills more plants than drought. | Ajwain Leaf, Amaltas, Amaranth, Amaranth Grain, Amla, Arjun, Arjuna, Ash Gourd | Amaltas, Amaranth, Arabian Jasmine, Areca Palm, Arjun, Arjuna, Ash Gourd, Ashoka | — | Areca Nut, Areca Palm, Banana, Bilimbi, Bird’s Nest Fern, Black Pepper, Black Pepper Vine, Breadfruit | Aak Bush, Ajwain Leaf, Amaltas, Amaranth, Amaranth Grain, Amla, Arabian Jasmine, Arjun | Banana, Bhringraj, Brahmi, Kadamb, Makoy, Mandukaparni, Tulsi, Vana Tulsi | Ajwain Leaf, Amaltas, Amaranth, Amla, Arabian Jasmine, Areca Nut, Areca Palm, Arjun | Aak Bush, Ajwain Leaf, Amaranth, Amla, Arabian Jasmine, Ash Gourd, Ashoka, Ashoka Tree |
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| AugustCuttings root fastest this month. Take tulsi, curry leaf and mint. | Ajwain Leaf, Amaranth, Amla, Bael, Bhumi Amla, Curry Leaf, Field Bean, Giloy | Amaranth, Bael, Banana, Bhringraj, Bhumi Amla, Brahmi, Chinese Hibiscus, Curry Leaf | Deodar, French Bean, Garlic, Indian Valerian, Nasturtium, Ratanjot, Turnip, Water Cress | Areca Palm, Banana, Bilimbi, Bird’s Nest Fern, Black Pepper Vine, Breadfruit, Cashew, Casuarina | Ajwain Leaf, Amaranth, Amla, Bael, Bhringraj, Bhumi Amla, Brahmi, Chinese Hibiscus | Tulsi | Ajwain Leaf, Amaltas, Amaranth, Amla, Arabian Jasmine, Areca Palm, Arjun, Arjuna | Ajwain Leaf, Amaranth, Amla, Bael, Banana, Chinese Hibiscus, Curry Leaf, Duranta |
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| SeptemberFeed what the rain has grown, and start the winter seed trays. | Field Bean, Indian Aloe, Marigold, Mint, Palak, Tulsi | Field Bean, Marigold, Mint, Palak, Spring Onion, Tulsi, Vinca | Fig, French Bean, Garlic, Nasturtium, Ratanjot, Turnip, Water Cress | Banana, Chinese Hibiscus, Hibiscus, Ixora | Field Bean, Indian Aloe, Marigold, Mint, Palak, Spring Onion, Tulsi, Vinca | Indian Valerian, Water Cress | Ajwain Leaf, Amaranth, Amla, Bael, Banana, Bhringraj, Bhumi Amla, Brahmi | Indian Aloe, Marigold, Mint, Palak, Spring Onion, Tulsi, Vinca |
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| OctoberThe best sowing month of the year for greens — palak, methi, mustard, coriander. | Ajwain, Bathua, Beetroot, Carrot, Chickpea, Coriander, Fennel, Field Bean | Coriander, Field Bean, Marigold, Mustard Greens, Palak, Pentas, Radish, Spring Onion | Apricot, Fig, Mulberry, Walnut, Water Cress, Wild Apple | Vinca | Ajwain, Bathua, Beetroot, Carrot, Chameli, Chickpea, Coriander, Deodar | Water Cress | Field Bean, Indian Aloe, Marigold, Mint, Spring Onion, Tulsi, Vinca | Ajwain, Bathua, Beetroot, Carrot, Chameli, Chickpea, Coriander, Fennel |
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| NovemberSow roots now: carrot, radish, beetroot, in deep troughs. | Ajwain, Bathua, Beetroot, Carrot, Chickpea, Coriander, Fennel, Fig | Coriander, Mustard Greens, Palak, Radish, Spring Onion, Tomato | Apricot, Fig, Walnut, Wild Apple | — | Ajwain, Bathua, Beetroot, Carrot, Chickpea, Coriander, Fennel, Fig | Mulberry, Water Cress, Wild Apple | Chameli, Coriander, Field Bean, French Bean, Indian Aloe, Marigold, Nasturtium, Onion | Ajwain, Bathua, Beetroot, Carrot, Chickpea, Coriander, Fennel, Fig |
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| DecemberProtect tender pots from the cold snap and keep harvesting the greens. | Bathua, Beetroot, Carrot, Coriander, Fig, Isabgol, Methi, Mulberry | Coriander, Palak, Radish | Chinar, Himalayan Oak, Walnut, Wild Apricot | — | Apricot, Bathua, Beetroot, Carrot, Coriander, Fig, Isabgol, Methi | Wild Apple | Coriander, French Bean, Nasturtium, Onion, Spring Onion, Sunflower, Tomato | Bathua, Beetroot, Carrot, Coriander, Fig, Isabgol, Methi, Onion |
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What can I grow now? →
ApricotखुबानीLadakh and Himachal fruit — blossom in March, fruit in June, dried for winter.Sow Jan, Dec