GardenWhat to sow in October in India
Vegetables, herbs and flowers to sow or plant in October, 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), Calendula, Petunia, Pansy, Dianthus, Phlox, Snapdragon (antirrhinum), Sweet pea, Nasturtium, Dahlia, Gladiolus.
Jobs this month:
- The busiest sowing month. Sow peas, potatoes, onions for transplanting, garlic, and repeat sowings of all the leafy greens and root crops.
- Transplant winter flower seedlings into pots and beds. Plant gladiolus corms and dahlia.
- Prune roses in the plains around the middle of the month, and feed them a week later.
- Sow sweet pea and nasturtium directly where they will flower.
- Reduce watering as the weather cools. Winter plants in pots need far less than summer ones.
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), Calendula, Petunia, Pansy, Dianthus, Phlox, Snapdragon (antirrhinum), Sweet pea, Nasturtium, Dahlia, Gladiolus.
The north-east monsoon brings rain to Tamil Nadu and nearby areas: a good time to sow tomatoes, brinjal, chillies, beans, cabbage family crops and winter flowers.
Hills
Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kashmir, Sikkim, Darjeeling, the Nilgiris and other places above about 1,000 metres, with cold winters and mild summers.
Harvest the last crops and sow peas in the lower hills. Mulch perennial plants before the cold.
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.