Crop guide
Crop calendar and profiles
Sowing and harvest months, methods, problems and spacing for 20 popular crops. Timing is approximate and varies by area and variety.
At a glance
Sowing and harvest calendar
| Crop | JanPoush | FebMagh | MarFalgun | AprChaitra | MayBoishakh | JunJoishtho | JulAsharh | AugShrabon | SepBhadro | OctAshwin | NovKartik | DecOgrohayon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red amaranthAmaranthus tricolor | ||||||||||||
| SpinachSpinacia oleracea | ||||||||||||
| Malabar spinachBasella alba | ||||||||||||
| Stem amaranthAmaranthus spp. | ||||||||||||
| Water spinachIpomoea aquatica | ||||||||||||
| RadishRaphanus sativus | ||||||||||||
| CarrotDaucus carota | ||||||||||||
| TomatoSolanum lycopersicum | ||||||||||||
| Brinjal (eggplant)Solanum melongena | ||||||||||||
| ChiliCapsicum annuum | ||||||||||||
| Bottle gourdLagenaria siceraria | ||||||||||||
| Bitter gourdMomordica charantia | ||||||||||||
| Ridge gourdLuffa acutangula | ||||||||||||
| OkraAbelmoschus esculentus | ||||||||||||
| Hyacinth beanLablab purpureus | ||||||||||||
| Garden peaPisum sativum | ||||||||||||
| Cabbage / cauliflowerBrassica oleracea | ||||||||||||
| LettuceLactuca sativa | ||||||||||||
| CorianderCoriandrum sativum | ||||||||||||
| OnionAllium cepa |
Sow / transplantHarvestBoth
In detail
Crop profiles
Easy
Red amaranth
Amaranthus tricolor
- Method
- Broadcast seed thickly
- Harvest
- Cut young at 25–35 days
- Watch for
- Fungus when crowded and wet; leaf-eating insects
Easy
Spinach
Spinacia oleracea
- Method
- Sow seed in rows
- Harvest
- Pick outer leaves, keep the centre
- Watch for
- Bolts when it turns hot
Easy
Malabar spinach
Basella alba
- Method
- Seed or stem cuttings; give a trellis
- Harvest
- Pick shoots and leaves repeatedly
- Watch for
- Leaf spots in humid weather
Easy
Stem amaranth
Amaranthus spp.
- Method
- Direct seed
- Harvest
- Pull plants at 35–45 days
- Watch for
- Collar rot in waterlogged soil
Easy
Water spinach
Ipomoea aquatica
- Method
- Seed or cuttings; keep soil moist
- Harvest
- Cut tips regrow
- Watch for
- Shoots toughen when dry
Easy
Radish
Raphanus sativus
- Method
- Direct in loose soil
- Harvest
- Pull at 30–45 days when the shoulder swells
- Watch for
- Splits with uneven watering; insects
Medium
Carrot
Daucus carota
- Method
- Direct in loose, stone-free soil
- Harvest
- At 70–90 days when shoulders are thick
- Watch for
- Forked roots in hard soil
Medium
Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
- Method
- Raise in a seedbed, transplant
- Harvest
- Pick when colouring; stake plants
- Watch for
- Wilt, blossom-end rot, leaf curl
Medium
Brinjal (eggplant)
Solanum melongena
- Method
- Raise in a seedbed, transplant
- Harvest
- Pick while glossy
- Watch for
- Shoot and fruit borer
Easy
Chili
Capsicum annuum
- Method
- Seedbed; also fine in pots
- Harvest
- Frequent picking boosts yield
- Watch for
- Leaf curl, flower drop
Medium
Bottle gourd
Lagenaria siceraria
- Method
- Seed directly into pits; trellis
- Harvest
- Pick young and glossy
- Watch for
- Small fruit drop (pollination), fruit fly
Medium
Bitter gourd
Momordica charantia
- Method
- Direct seed; needs a trellis
- Harvest
- Pick green and tender
- Watch for
- Fruit fly, powdery/downy mildew
Medium
Ridge gourd
Luffa acutangula
- Method
- Direct seed; trellis
- Harvest
- Pick young
- Watch for
- Fungus in humid weather
Easy
Okra
Abelmoschus esculentus
- Method
- Direct seed; soaking helps
- Harvest
- Pick tender pods daily
- Watch for
- Yellow vein mosaic virus, aphids
Medium
Hyacinth bean
Lablab purpureus
- Method
- Direct seed; trellis
- Harvest
- Pick young pods regularly
- Watch for
- Aphids
Medium
Garden pea
Pisum sativum
- Method
- Direct seed; give support
- Harvest
- Pods about 3 weeks after flowering
- Watch for
- Powdery mildew
Harder
Cabbage / cauliflower
Brassica oleracea
- Method
- Seedbed then transplant
- Harvest
- Cut when the head is firm and tight
- Watch for
- Caterpillars, diamondback moth
Easy
Lettuce
Lactuca sativa
- Method
- Seedbed or direct; likes light shade
- Harvest
- Pick outer leaves
- Watch for
- Bolts and turns bitter in heat
Easy
Coriander
Coriandrum sativum
- Method
- Sow thickly, direct
- Harvest
- Snip tops at 30–40 days
- Watch for
- Bolts quickly in heat
Medium
Onion
Allium cepa
- Method
- Seedbed, then transplant
- Harvest
- Lift when tops fall over; cure in shade
- Watch for
- Rot in waterlogged soil
From the books
Plant spacing
| Crop | Plant to plant (cm) | Row to row (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| Carrot | 5 | 30 |
| Cabbage | 30 | 90 |
| Broccoli | 45 | 60 |
| Lettuce | 15 | 30 |
| Spinach | 10 | 30 |
| Okra | 45 | 90 |
| Peas | 5 | 60 |
| Peppers | 30 | 60 |
| Potato | 30 | 90 |
| Tomato | 90 | 90 |
| Cucumber (trellis) | 8 | 75 |
| Bush beans | 15 | 45 |
| Pole beans | 10 | 60 |
| Summer squash | 45 | 90 |
| Winter squash / pumpkin | 60 | 150 |
Spacings are converted to cm from the Beginner’s Garden QuickStart Guide; overcrowding invites disease.