INDICATIVE SOWING/PLANTING CALENDAR
FOR SOME CROPS AND VEGETABLES
Sowing and Planting Decision
Sowing and Planting decision is the most essential activity by a farmer. This activity comprises of following, amongst others:
- assessment of the market requirements,
- assessment of the expected favorable weather conditions,
- suitability of a particular variety of the crop or the vegetable being planned for growing.
Recommending or deciding on a particular date for sowing and planting is difficult (see below a discussion on sowing and planting). The reasons are weather may not be suitable on that particular day; the seeds may not be available or the field itself may not be ready.
Indicative Period for Sowing and Planting
Given below is an indicative period when sowing and planting activities would be beneficial; there could be differences due to difference in weather from place to place. This is mostly for farmers who do outdoor farming.
For crops like onion, rice, tomato farmers would first prepare a seedbed and then grow seedlings. These seedlings would be planted in prepared field at proper stage of development. I propose to discuss this aspect in another of my blog.
Time slots for planting/sowing for crops like rice, wheat, maize etc is put in one table.
Time slots for planting/sowing of vegetables is put in the second table.
The time slots are only indicative in nature. Depending on the geographical locale, there would be differences. Farmers also need to keep an eye on the likely market requirement and the weather forecasts. Arranging for proper seeds and seedlings from good known sources well in time is another effort to be made.
Below are the two tables.
Indicative Sowing/Plantation Times for some CROPS
| Crop | Sowing time | Transplantation Time | How much seed kg/ha |
| Wheat | 2 – 3 week Nov; | 120-130 | |
| Wheat | 1st week Dec | 130 – 140 | |
| Rice Paddy | June to July | July to Aug | 30- 40 |
| Maize | Normal Mid June to mid July; in early rain areas sowing could be earlier. | 20 – 25 | |
| Mustard | October | 5 | |
| Sesame (Til) | October | 5 | |
| Ground nut | June to July | 70 – 75 | |
| Soybean | June to July (Mid) | 70 75 |
Indicative Sowing/Plantation Times for Some Vegetables | |
| Vegetable Name | Time of Planting |
| Brinjal, Tomato, Okra, Bean, Carrot, Gourds | January |
| Gourds, Bean, Okra, Spinach | February |
| Coriandar, Spinach, Okra, Bean, Gourds | March |
| Capsicum, Onion, Tomato, Chilly | April |
| Onion, Pepper, Okra | May |
| Gourds, Brinjal, Cucumber, Okra, Onion, Tomato | June |
| same as above | July |
| Carrot, Cauliflower, Radish | August |
| Cauliflower, Cabbage, Peas, Radish, Lettuce | September |
| Capsicum, Cucumber, Peas, Spinach, Lettuce, Brinjal, Radish | October |
| Eggplant, Tomato, Radish, Pepper, Beans, Lettuce, Okra | November |
| Tomato, Pumpkin, Watermelon, Gourds | December |
Note on difference between Sowing and Planting.
Sowing activity means that one would put seeds, after due pre-processing, into the earth soil. The seeds would germinate where ever they are sown.
Planting activity means that one puts small plants into the soil. The soil is already prepared for the plants. The plants themselves could be raised by farmer himself in carefully prepared seed beds. The farmer could alternatively purchase the plants from nurseries.
Interested Farmers may also consult NHB and F&AO
Hi ; I have had opportunity to travel widely and have keen watched whatever farming practices the local farmers were engaged in. Back home been growing gerberas mostly in polyhouses, but outside in kitchen garden as well. i love these hardy perennials. good for business too if done in a routine orderly scientific manner. Also engaged in farming of wheat and organic vegetables on a small scale for me and family. My service profile has been that of an electronic and telecom engineer and now am engaged in web site creation and blogging.
Leave a Reply