The single biggest reason seeds fail in Pakistan is not seed quality — it's sowing at the wrong time. Pakistan's plains (Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Multan) have two main sowing windows: spring (February–April) for heat-loving summer crops, and autumn (September–November) for cool-season crops. Get the window right and even a first-time gardener can harvest well.
This calendar is written for the plains. In cooler northern areas (Murree, Gilgit, Quetta highlands), shift spring sowings 4–6 weeks later and autumn sowings 4–6 weeks earlier.
Quick reference
| Season | Vegetables | Flowers |
|---|---|---|
| Feb–Apr (spring) | Tomato, chilli, capsicum, aubergine, cucumber, zucchini, melon, watermelon, okra, beans | Zinnia, sunflower, portulaca, morning glory, gomphrena, celosia, cosmos |
| Jul–Aug (monsoon) | Second sowing of okra, cucurbits; start tomato nursery for autumn | Continue summer annuals |
| Sep–Nov (autumn) | Spinach, lettuce, carrot, radish, turnip, beetroot, cauliflower, cabbage, peas, coriander | Pansy, petunia, calendula, sweet pea, larkspur, aster, dianthus, poppy |
| Nov–Dec (bulbs) | Onion, garlic | Tulips, hyacinths, lilies, freesias, ranunculus, anemones |
Month by month
January
Harvest winter greens (palak, methi, lettuce) and keep succession-sowing fast crops like radish (mooli) and cress. Late January is the time to prepare your summer nursery: start tomato, chilli, and capsicum seeds indoors or in a sheltered spot.
February
The spring window opens. Sow tomato (tamatar), chilli (mirch), capsicum (shimla mirch), and aubergine (baingan) in trays or pots. Direct-sow beetroot and late lettuce early in the month. Start summer flowers — zinnias, sunflowers, portulaca.
March
Transplant tomato and chilli seedlings once they have 4–6 true leaves. Direct-sow cucumber (kheera), zucchini, melon (kharbooza), and watermelon (tarbooz). Sow basil (tulsi) and rocket. Keep sowing summer annual flowers.
April
Sow okra (bhindi) — it loves the building heat. Last calls for cucurbits in the plains. Morning glories, cypress vine, and other summer climbers go in now for monsoon flowering.
May–June
The hottest months — focus on watering, mulching, and shading young plants from the afternoon sun. Heat-tolerant greens like Malabar spinach and amaranth (calaloo) can still be sown. Harvest your spring-sown crops.
July–August
Monsoon revival: a second sowing of okra, cucumbers, and zucchini takes advantage of the rains. In late August, start your autumn tomato nursery and prepare beds for the big winter sowing.
September
The autumn window opens — the best sowing month of the year in Pakistan. Direct-sow spinach (palak), radish (mooli), turnip (shalgam), carrot (gajar), and beetroot (chikundar). Start cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli in trays. Begin winter flowers: pansies, petunias, calendula.
October
Continue all September sowings. Add lettuce, peas (matar), coriander (dhania), and fennel (saunf). Sow sweet peas, larkspur, asters, poppies, and cornflowers for a spring flower show.
November
Plant imported Dutch bulbs — tulips, hyacinths, freesias, ranunculus — as the soil cools, for blooms in late winter and spring. Keep succession-sowing leafy greens. Sow onion and garlic.
December
Finish bulb planting early in the month. Harvest winter vegetables, protect tender seedlings on frosty nights in Punjab, and plan your February nursery.
Tips that apply all year
- Check each packet's window. Every KB Seeds product page lists the sowing months for Pakistan.
- Sow in batches. A pinch of seed every 2–3 weeks gives a continuous harvest instead of a glut.
- Pots count. Nearly everything here grows in 8–14 inch pots or grow bags on a rooftop or balcony.
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