GardenWhat to sow in March in India
Vegetables, herbs and flowers to sow or plant in March, 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: Zinnia, Sunflower, Cosmos, Cockscomb (celosia), Globe amaranth (gomphrena), Portulaca (moss rose), Tuberose (rajnigandha).
Jobs this month:
- Finish sowing the summer crops: okra, gourds, pumpkin, melons and cluster beans.
- Sow amaranth for summer greens as the palak and methi finish.
- Put up trellises and nets for the climbers before they need them.
- Start mulching. A layer of dry leaves or straw on the soil keeps roots cool and halves the watering.
- Collect seed from the best winter flowers and vegetables for next season.
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: Zinnia, Cosmos, Cockscomb (celosia), Globe amaranth (gomphrena), Portulaca (moss rose), Tuberose (rajnigandha).
The heat is here. Water early in the morning, shade tender seedlings in the afternoon and keep sowing amaranth and gourds.
Hills
Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kashmir, Sikkim, Darjeeling, the Nilgiris and other places above about 1,000 metres, with cold winters and mild summers.
Flowers to sow or plant: Marigold (genda), Calendula, Petunia, Pansy, Dianthus, Phlox, Snapdragon (antirrhinum), Sweet pea, Nasturtium, Dahlia, Gladiolus.
The main sowing season begins: potatoes, peas, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, radish, lettuce and tomatoes under cover.
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.