🥬 Winter Vegetables Sowing Calendar for Pakistan (2026–27) 🥬
📑 In This Guide
October marks the start of Pakistan's most generous gardening season. Cool weather, fewer pests and gentle sun make winter (Rabi) vegetables almost foolproof. Below is the complete sowing calendar plus step-by-step method for each group.
📅 Complete Sowing Calendar (Punjab & Central Pakistan)
| Vegetable 🥗 | Sow (Nursery/Seed) | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palak (spinach) | Oct – Feb (direct) | — | 45 days |
| Methi (fenugreek) | Oct – Dec (direct) | — | 40 days |
| Mooli (radish) | Oct – Jan (direct) | — | 35–45 days |
| Gajar (carrot) | Oct – Dec (direct) | — | 70–80 days |
| Shaljam (turnip) | Oct – Dec (direct) | — | 60 days |
| Matar (peas) | Oct – Nov (direct) | — | 70 days |
| Dhania (coriander) | Oct – Feb (direct) | — | 40 days |
| Phool Gobhi (cauliflower) | Aug – Oct (nursery) | Sep – Nov | 90 days |
| Band Gobhi (cabbage) | Aug – Oct (nursery) | Sep – Nov | 90 days |
| Pyaz (onion) | Oct – Nov (nursery) | Dec – Jan | 120 days |
| Lehsan (garlic) | Oct – Nov (cloves) | — | 150 days |
| Aloo (potato) | Oct (tubers) | — | 90 days |
| Salad Patta (lettuce) | Oct – Dec (direct) | — | 50 days |
| Chukandar (beetroot) | Oct – Dec (direct) | — | 70 days |
| Broccoli | Sep – Oct (nursery) | Oct – Nov | 85 days |
Sindh: sow 2–3 weeks later (November). Northern KP/Pothohar: sow 2 weeks earlier (late September).
🌱 Step-by-Step: Direct-Sown Vegetables (Palak, Mooli, Gajar, Methi)
- Prepare a fine, level bed — remove stones and break clods (roots fork in lumpy soil).
- Draw shallow furrows (kheliyan) 1 cm deep, 6 inches apart.
- Sprinkle seeds thinly — overcrowding is the classic mistake.
- Cover with a whisper of fine soil, press gently, water with a shower.
- Thin seedlings to proper spacing after 2 weeks (mooli: 2 inches, gajar: 3 inches).
🪴 Step-by-Step: Transplanted Vegetables (Gobhi, Band Gobhi, Pyaz)
- Raise nursery in August–October in trays; seedlings ready in 4–5 weeks.
- Harden seedlings: reduce watering for 3–4 days before transplanting.
- Transplant in the evening, 18 inches apart, water immediately.
- Earth up (mitti charhana) around stems after 3 weeks for strong heads.
❄️ Step 3 — Frost Protection (December–January)
In Pothohar, northern Punjab and KP, frost (pala) can kill seedlings overnight. Cover beds with old bedsheets or plastic sheets in the evening when frost is forecast, and remove in the morning. Watering in the evening also slightly protects roots.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still sow in December?
Yes for palak, methi, dhania, mooli and salad — they germinate in cool soil. Avoid gajar and matar after mid-December in central Punjab.
Why are my mooli cracking?
Irregular watering — keep soil evenly moist, and harvest on time; over-mature mooli always crack.
