GardenWhat to sow in January in India
Vegetables, herbs and flowers to sow or plant in January, 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.
Flowers to sow or plant: Marigold (genda).
Jobs this month:
- Protect tomatoes, brinjal, chillies and tender seedlings from frost on cold nights. Cover them in the evening and water lightly, since moist soil holds warmth better than dry soil.
- Keep picking peas, radish, carrots and leafy greens. Regular picking keeps the plants producing.
- Earth up potatoes and watch for blight in foggy weather.
- Prepare beds and pots for the spring crops: add compost now so it settles before sowing next month.
- Late in the month, start gourds and cucumbers in small pots indoors or under clear plastic, to gain a few weeks.
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.
Flowers to sow or plant: Marigold (genda), Sunflower, Portulaca (moss rose).
This is the pleasant growing season. Sow tomatoes, brinjal, chillies and beans, and enjoy the winter greens.
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 rests under cold and snow. Prune apple, peach and plum trees, and plan the spring sowing.
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.