GardenWhat to sow in May in India
Vegetables, herbs and flowers to sow or plant in May, 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:
- The hardest month. Keep plants alive with mulch, shade and steady watering. Do not feed stressed plants.
- Late in the month, raise seedlings of chilli and brinjal in a shaded spot for monsoon planting.
- Solarise empty beds: wet the soil, cover it with clear plastic and let the sun heat it for three to four weeks.
- Make compost. Kitchen waste breaks down fastest in warm weather.
- Order seeds for the monsoon and for early cauliflower.
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: Balsam (gulmehndi), Tuberose (rajnigandha).
Before the monsoon arrives, prepare beds, repair supports and raise seedlings of brinjal, chilli and tomato.
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), Chrysanthemum (guldaudi), Gladiolus, Zinnia, Sunflower, Cosmos, Balsam (gulmehndi), Cockscomb (celosia), Globe amaranth (gomphrena), Portulaca (moss rose), Tuberose (rajnigandha).
The best growing weather of the year. Sow beans, gourds, sweet corn and summer flowers, and keep up with weeding.
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.