GardenFlower sowing calendar for India
When to sow or plant 20 popular garden flowers in the plains, the south and the hills, when they bloom, and one tip for each.
| Flower | Northern plains | South and coast | Hills | Flowers | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marigold (genda) | January and February, June and July, September and October | January and February, June and July, September and October | March to May | About 2 to 2.5 months after sowing | Sow in June and July for flowers at Dussehra and Diwali. Pinch the tip of young plants for more blooms. |
| Calendula | September and October | October and November | March and April | December to March in the plains | One of the easiest winter flowers. Remove faded flowers to keep it blooming. |
| Petunia | September and October | October and November | March and April | December to March in the plains | Fine seed: press it onto the surface and do not cover. Excellent in hanging baskets. |
| Pansy | September and October | October and November | March and April | December to March in the plains | Needs cool weather. Best in pots that get morning sun. |
| Dianthus | September and October | October and November | March and April | January to April in the plains | Compact and long flowering. Good for edging. |
| Phlox | September and October | October and November | March and April | January to April in the plains | Sow thickly in a wide bowl for a mass of colour. |
| Snapdragon (antirrhinum) | September and October | October and November | March and April | January to March in the plains | Tall kinds need a thin stake. Pinch once for more spikes. |
| Sweet pea | October and November | October and November | March and April | February and March in the plains | Soak the seed overnight. Give a net to climb and pick the flowers often. |
| Nasturtium | October and November | October and November | March and April | January to March in the plains | Sow directly: it dislikes transplanting. Poor soil gives more flowers than rich soil. |
| Dahlia | September and October | September and October | March and April | December to February in the plains | Grown from tubers or rooted cuttings. Stake early and feed well. |
| Chrysanthemum (guldaudi) | June and July | June and July | May and June | November and December | Grown from rooted cuttings taken in the monsoon. Pinch the tips until September. |
| Gladiolus | September to November | September to November | March to May | About 3 months after planting the corms | Plant a few corms every two weeks for a long run of spikes. |
| Zinnia | February and March, June and July | February and March, June and July | April and May | About 2 months after sowing | Loves heat and full sun. A summer and monsoon flower. |
| Sunflower | February and March, June and July | January and February, June and July | April and May | About 2.5 to 3 months after sowing | Sow directly. Dwarf kinds suit pots. |
| Cosmos | February and March, June and July | February and March, June and July | April and May | About 2 months after sowing | Thrives on neglect. Rich soil makes it tall and leafy with few flowers. |
| Balsam (gulmehndi) | June and July | May to July | April and May | August to October | The classic monsoon flower. Self-seeds freely. |
| Cockscomb (celosia) | March, June and July | March, June and July | April and May | About 2.5 months after sowing | Stands heat and rain. Flowers last for weeks. |
| Globe amaranth (gomphrena) | March, June and July | March, June and July | April and May | About 2.5 months after sowing | Tough in heat. The flowers dry well. |
| Portulaca (moss rose) | February to April | January to March | April and May | April to September | Grows from cuttings pushed into soil. Flowers open in full sun. |
| Tuberose (rajnigandha) | March and April | March to May | April and May | July to October | Plant the bulbs in full sun. Scented spikes for the evening garden. |
Three flower seasons
- Winter annuals are sown in September and October in the plains and flower from December to March. This is the richest season: petunia, pansy, calendula, phlox and many more.
- Summer annuals are sown in February and March and flower through the heat: zinnia, sunflower, cosmos, portulaca.
- Monsoon annuals are sown in June and July and flower in the rains and after: balsam, cockscomb, marigold.
In the south, where winter is mild, the winter flowers are sown a month later. In the hills the order is reversed: winter flowers of the plains are sown in spring and bloom in summer.
Shrubs and climbers
Rose, hibiscus, jasmine (mogra), bougainvillea and ixora are bought as plants, not sown. The best time to plant them is the monsoon, with early spring as the second choice. Water them well for the first few weeks and they need little care afterwards.
Getting more flowers
- Pinch out the growing tip of young annuals once. They branch and carry more blooms.
- Remove faded flowers before they set seed.
- Give at least five to six hours of sun. Most flowering plants make leaves, not flowers, in shade.
- Feed lightly every two weeks once buds appear.
Questions people ask
Which flowers can I sow in October?
In the plains, October is the main month for winter flowers: calendula, petunia, pansy, dianthus, phlox, snapdragon, sweet pea, nasturtium, dahlia and marigold.
When should I sow marigold for Diwali?
In June or July. Marigold flowers about two to two and a half months after sowing, and keeps flowering through the festival season.
Which flowers grow in the Indian summer?
Zinnia, sunflower, cosmos, portulaca, cockscomb and globe amaranth all stand heat. Sow them in February and March.
When are roses pruned?
In the north Indian plains, roses are pruned around the middle of October, after the monsoon, and flower from December. In the hills they are pruned at the end of winter.
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- How to sow seedsDepth, trays, transplanting and why seeds fail.
- Compost at homeTurn kitchen waste into plant food in a bucket or a pot.
- Pests without poisonSimple, safe ways to deal with the common garden pests.
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