India is a subcontinent, not a single climate. What works in Bengaluru in December would fail in Delhi in the same month. The Himalayan foothills have three distinct growing windows. The Kerala coast is almost year-round. Mumbai's humid heat makes July sowings that would rot in a dry-summer city work perfectly.
This calendar breaks India into four broad zones and gives you a month-by-month guide to what to sow, transplant, and harvest. It's a starting framework — your specific microclimate (roof garden in Pune, shaded courtyard in Varanasi) will always modify the timing somewhat, but this gets you in the right range.
How to Use This Calendar
The calendar is organized by sowing month — when to put seeds in the ground (or trays). For vegetables that need to be started as seedlings before transplanting, the "sow" date is when to start seeds indoors/in trays; the transplant date is typically 3–5 weeks later.
Abbreviations:
- DS = Direct Sow (seed goes straight in the ground or final container)
- T = Transplant (start as seedlings, then move to final position)
- H = Harvest window
Zone Guide
Zone A — North Indian Plains (Delhi, UP, Rajasthan, Haryana, Bihar, MP) Four distinct seasons: hot dry summer (Apr–Jun), monsoon (Jul–Sep), mild autumn (Oct–Nov), cool winter (Dec–Feb). Best growing windows: Oct–Feb (cool season), and a summer window for heat-tolerant crops.
Zone B — South India (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala) More moderate year-round, with monsoon patterns varying by coast. Can grow most vegetables year-round with the right timing. Two main sowing seasons: June–July (pre-monsoon) and October–November (post-monsoon).
Zone C — West India / Deccan Plateau (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa) Hot summers with distinct monsoon. Pune and Nashik have moderate temperatures. Mumbai and coastal areas have high humidity year-round. Good growing window: October–February for most vegetables.
Zone D — Himalayan Foothills / High Altitude (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, hills of NE India, Kashmir) Shorter growing season, cool summers. Late frosts possible until April. Best window: April–September. Dehradun (where SeedsCart is based) is in this zone — we know these conditions well.
Month-by-Month Sowing Calendar
January
Zone A (Delhi/UP/Rajasthan):
- Tomato — Start seeds indoors (T) for March transplanting
- Chilli/Capsicum — Start indoors (T); these are slow, need 10–12 weeks to transplant size
- Okra — Hold, too cold for germination outdoors
- Leafy greens — DS Spinach, Methi, Coriander — the best month for all three
- Peas — DS now, harvest by March
Zone B (South India):
- Tomato DS or T (most of South India can transplant tomato in Jan)
- Cucumber, Bitter Gourd, Ridge Gourd — DS in coastal areas
- All herbs — good month for basil, coriander, methi
Zone C (Maharashtra/Gujarat):
- Tomato T, Capsicum T
- Leafy greens peak season — Spinach, Methi, Coriander DS
- Peas DS in hill areas (Pune, Nashik, Mahabaleshwar)
Zone D (Himalayan Foothills):
- Too cold for outdoor sowing. Start cold-tolerant seedlings indoors if you have warmth.
- Peas DS outdoors in Dehradun valley from mid-January if soil isn't frozen
February
Zone A:
- Tomato (T) — transplant seedlings started in Jan to final containers
- Chilli/Capsicum — still developing as seedlings indoors
- Okra — can DS in warm years from late Feb in Delhi
- Cucumber, Zucchini — DS late Feb in sunny, sheltered spots
- Spinach, Methi, Coriander — last chance to DS before spring bolt
Zone B:
- Cucumber DS, Okra DS, Bitter Gourd DS
- Chilli/Capsicum T (good month in most of South India)
- Brinjal T
Zone C:
- Tomato T, Chilli T
- Okra DS in Pune/Nashik from late Feb
Zone D (Dehradun):
- Tomato start indoors in late Feb
- Peas still producing
- Potatoes can go in from mid-Feb
March
Zone A:
- Okra DS — main sowing window begins
- Cucumber DS, Zucchini DS
- Brinjal T
- Chilli/Capsicum T (transplant Feb-started seedlings)
- Methi, Coriander — last call before heat
Zone B:
- Okra DS
- Bitter Gourd, Ridge Gourd, Pumpkin DS
- Cucumber DS
Zone C:
- Full heat-season sowing: Okra, Cucumber, Zucchini DS
- Chilli/Capsicum T
Zone D:
- Tomato T (transplant Feb seedlings to larger containers or greenhouse)
- Capsicum T
- Spinach, Methi DS outdoors from mid-March
April
Zone A:
- Okra DS — main production window
- Cucumber, Zucchini, Ridge Gourd, Bitter Gourd DS
- Tomato — last chance to transplant for spring harvest before June heat
- Chilli — plants in ground, will start flowering
All Zones:
- Microgreens grow exceptionally fast this month — broccoli, radish, mustard in 6–8 days
- Basil DS (all zones — basil loves warmth)
Zone D:
- Main outdoor sowing season begins for most vegetables
- Tomato T, Capsicum T, Brinjal T
- Cucumber, Zucchini DS from mid-April
May
Zone A:
- Okra at peak production
- Cucumber, Zucchini producing
- Most cool-season crops done for the year
- Heat-tolerant chilli holds on
Zone D (Dehradun/Himachal):
- Best month for most vegetables — cool enough for capsicum/tomato, warm enough for cucurbits
- Beans DS, Peas DS (second crop in hills)
- French Beans, Climbing Beans DS
June
Zone A:
- Monsoon approaching — hold most sowing until July
- Okra producing through June
Zone B (Kerala/Coastal):
- Early monsoon — good for okra, ridge gourd, pumpkin
Zone D:
- Full growing season: Beans, Squash, Cucumber at peak
- Can still sow fast-maturing varieties of all vegetables
July–August (Monsoon)
Zone A (Delhi/UP):
- Tomato DS/T for autumn crop (harvest Oct–Nov)
- Okra DS for second crop
- Brinjal DS/T
- Spinach, Methi DS — monsoon conditions are good for leafy greens
All Zones:
- Methi, Coriander, Spinach DS — monsoon moisture makes these easy
- Basil continues producing
- Microgreens easy to grow in high humidity — fenugreek, radish, mustard
September–October
Zone A:
- Main sowing season begins: Tomato T, Capsicum T, Chilli T
- Okra last sowings before cold
- Peas DS from October
- All leafy greens: Spinach, Methi, Coriander DS — best time of year for leafy greens in North India
Zone B:
- Post-monsoon main season: Tomato T, Capsicum T, Beans DS, Cucumber DS
Zone C:
- Tomato T, Capsicum T — main Rabi season begins
- All leafy greens DS
November–December
Zone A:
- Cool season in full swing — Spinach, Peas, Coriander, Methi peak
- Tomato/Capsicum/Chilli producing from October transplants
- Broccoli Microgreens grow slowly but produce well indoors
Zone B:
- Second sowing of Tomato, Cucumber, Beans possible
- Leafy greens peak
Zone D:
- Frost risk increases from November in higher elevations
- Move sensitive plants indoors
- Hardy varieties (Spinach, Peas) continue outdoors in Dehradun valley
Quick Reference: Key Vegetables by Sowing Season (Zone A — North India Plains)
| Vegetable | Best Sow Time | Ready to Harvest | |---|---|---| | Tomato | Jan–Feb (T), Aug–Sep (T) | 70–90 days from transplant | | Cherry Tomato | Jan–Feb (T), Aug–Sep (T) | 60–75 days from transplant | | Chilli | Jan–Feb (T) | 90–120 days from transplant | | Capsicum | Jan–Feb (T), Sep–Oct (T) | 90–100 days from transplant | | Okra (Bhindi) | Mar–Jun (DS) | 50–60 days from sowing | | Cucumber | Mar–May (DS) | 50–60 days from sowing | | Zucchini | Mar–May (DS) | 45–55 days from sowing | | Brinjal | Feb–Mar (T), Aug–Sep (T) | 80–100 days from transplant | | Methi | Oct–Feb (DS) | 25–30 days | | Coriander | Oct–Feb (DS) | 30–40 days | | Spinach | Oct–Feb (DS) | 35–45 days | | Peas | Oct–Jan (DS) | 60–70 days | | Italian Basil | Apr–Aug (DS) | 30–40 days to first harvest | | Tulsi | Apr–Aug (DS) | 40–50 days |
Microgreens: Any Month, Any Zone
Microgreens bypass the sowing calendar entirely — they're grown indoors under controlled conditions and are unaffected by season, zone, or weather. You can grow broccoli, spinach, radish, and methi microgreens in Delhi in May or in Dehradun in January.
The only seasonal adjustment: in peak summer, growth is faster (sometimes too fast — can get leggy if hot and dark). In winter, germination and growth are slower. Either way, you'll have a harvest within 7–14 days year-round.
See our microgreens growing guide for step-by-step instructions.
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