GardenWhat to sow in December in India
Vegetables, herbs and flowers to sow or plant in December, for the northern plains, the south and the hills, with the garden jobs of the month.
North and central plains
Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal plains and places with a similar cold winter and hot summer.
Jobs this month:
- Harvest radish, turnip, spinach, methi, sarson and the first peas, carrots and cauliflower.
- Protect tender plants from frost at night in the north.
- Water in the morning, so that leaves dry before the cold night.
- Feed winter flowers every two weeks with a little liquid compost as they begin to bloom.
- Keep sowing leafy greens in any empty space. They grow slowly now, but they grow.
South and coastal India
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, coastal Maharashtra and Odisha: places where winter is mild and frost is unknown.
The coolest, easiest month. Sow melons, gourds, tomatoes and beans, and enjoy the cool-season vegetables.
Hills
Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kashmir, Sikkim, Darjeeling, the Nilgiris and other places above about 1,000 metres, with cold winters and mild summers.
No vegetable in our list is usually sown this month. It is a month for harvesting, soil care and planning.
The garden sleeps. Plan, order seeds and repair tools. In mild lower valleys, garlic, onions and peas stand through the winter.
Sowing windows are typical for each region and shift by a few weeks with altitude, the monsoon and the variety. Check with a local nursery if you are unsure.
All months
More garden help
- Gardening seasons in IndiaKharif, rabi and zaid explained for the home gardener.
- Balcony and terrace gardenPots, potting mix, sun and water for growing in containers.
- 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.
- Flower calendarWhen to sow 20 garden flowers in each region.
- Kitchen herbsTulsi, mint, coriander, curry leaf and six more.