WINTER VEGETABLE FIELD GUIDE
23 Winter Season Vegetables Grown in India
A practical guide to cool-season vegetables, sowing windows, first harvest times and major producing states across India.
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Vegetables at a glance
Planting windows span late monsoon through early spring, depending on crop and region.
Introduction to Winter Vegetables in India
Many seasonal vegetables grow in India. Based on their season of availability, vegetables can be classified by when they are grown and harvested. Winter vegetables are crops that tolerate cold temperatures or frost. Hardy vegetable crops can withstand frost, while crops suited to cool seasons and temperate climates can grow at a monthly average temperature of 15–18°C.
Advances in farming techniques, the growing use of polyhouses and cold-storage practices have reduced dependence on the natural growing season. This enables many seasonal vegetables to remain available throughout the year. This guide focuses on vegetables that can be grown during winter in India without artificial climate control in a polyhouse.
Asparagus and rhubarb are hardy crops that can withstand freezing temperatures. Crops that do not survive frost, such as carrot or celery, perform best at temperatures of 20–27°C.
Sub-classification of Winter Vegetables
Hardy or tolerant vegetables: broccoli, cabbage, asparagus, parsley, spinach, leek, pea, collard, garlic, chive, radish, rhubarb, kale, onion, turnip, Brussels sprouts and kohlrabi.
Semi-hardy or semi-tolerant vegetables: Chinese cabbage, globe artichoke, parsnip, cauliflower, carrot, potato, celery, leaf beet, lettuce, bitter gourd, bottle gourd and capsicum or bell pepper.
Winter Vegetable Season Chart in India
The chart lists each vegetable’s botanical name, typical sowing months, time to first harvest and major producing states in India.
| Name | Botanical name | Sowing months | First harvest | Major producing states |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broccoli | Brassica oleracea var. italica | September–November | 50–65 days | West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Jharkhand |
| Cabbage | Brassica oleracea var. capitata | September–October (North India) or October–November (South India) | 60–90 days | Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Karnataka |
| Asparagus | Asparagus officinalis | November–December | 2–3 years | Himachal Pradesh |
| Spinach | Spinacia oleracea | September–October for winter; also grown throughout the year | 45–60 days | Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Gujarat |
| Green Peas | Pisum sativum | September–January | 75 days | Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra |
| Collard | Brassica oleracea var. viridis | October–January | 60–85 days | Kashmir |
| Garlic | Allium sativum | September–November (North India), August–November (Central and South India), or October–November (Western India) | 90 days | Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh |
| Radish | Raphanus sativus | August–January | 22–70 days | West Bengal, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Tamil Nadu |
| Rhubarb | Rheum rhabarbarum | September–October | 90 days | Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh |
| Kale | Brassica oleracea var. sabellica | October–November | 70–95 days | Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and the Nilgiri Hills |
| Onion | Allium cepa | November–January | 90–100 days | Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Telangana |
| Turnip | Brassica rapa subsp. rapa | October–December | 45–70 days | Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Tamil Nadu |
| Brussels Sprouts | Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera | August–October | 80–100 days | Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, the Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra |
| Cauliflower | Brassica oleracea var. botrytis | October–January | 55–80 days | West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Orissa, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab |
| Carrot | Daucus carota subsp. sativus | August–March | 60–80 days | Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam, Telangana and Jammu and Kashmir |
| Potato | Solanum tuberosum | October–December | 90–120 days | Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Assam |
| Celery | Apium graveolens | January–April | 85–120 days | Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh |
| Beetroot | Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris Conditiva Group | August–December | 50–70 days | Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra |
| Lettuce | Lactuca sativa | September–October | 45–60 days | Tamil Nadu and Karnataka |
| Bitter Gourd / Bitter Melon | Momordica charantia | November–February | 55–60 days | Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar |
| Bottle Gourd | Lagenaria siceraria | November–February | 55–75 days | Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Punjab, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana |
| Capsicum / Bell Pepper | Capsicum annuum | October–January | 55–60 days (green), 70–75 days (yellow), 80–90 days (red) | Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Orissa |
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Broccoli
Botanical nameBrassica oleracea var. italica
Growing and harvest monthsSeptember–November
Days to maturity50–65 days
Major producing statesWest Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Jharkhand
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Cabbage
Botanical nameBrassica oleracea var. capitata
Growing and harvest monthsSeptember–October (North India) or October–November (South India)
Days to maturity60–90 days
Major producing statesUttar Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, Assam, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Karnataka
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Asparagus
Botanical nameAsparagus officinalis
Growing and harvest monthsNovember–December
Days to maturity2–3 years
Major producing statesHimachal Pradesh
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Spinach
Botanical nameSpinacia oleracea
Growing and harvest monthsSeptember–October for winter; also grown throughout the year
Days to maturity45–60 days
Major producing statesAndhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Gujarat
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Green Peas
Botanical namePisum sativum
Growing and harvest monthsSeptember–January
Days to maturity75 days
Major producing statesUttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra
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Collard
Botanical nameBrassica oleracea var. viridis
Growing and harvest monthsOctober–January
Days to maturity60–85 days
Major producing statesKashmir
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Garlic
Botanical nameAllium sativum
Growing and harvest monthsSeptember–November (North India), August–November (Central and South India), or October–November (Western India)
Days to maturity90 days
Major producing statesRajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh
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Radish
Botanical nameRaphanus sativus
Growing and harvest monthsAugust–January
Days to maturity22–70 days
Major producing statesWest Bengal, Haryana, Punjab, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Tamil Nadu
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Rhubarb
Botanical nameRheum rhabarbarum
Growing and harvest monthsSeptember–October
Days to maturity90 days
Major producing statesJammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh
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Kale
Botanical nameBrassica oleracea var. sabellica
Growing and harvest monthsOctober–November
Days to maturity70–95 days
Major producing statesJammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and the Nilgiri Hills
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Onion
Botanical nameAllium cepa
Growing and harvest monthsNovember–January
Days to maturity90–100 days
Major producing statesMaharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Telangana
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Turnip
Botanical nameBrassica rapa subsp. rapa
Growing and harvest monthsOctober–December
Days to maturity45–70 days
Major producing statesBihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Tamil Nadu
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Brussels Sprouts
Botanical nameBrassica oleracea var. gemmifera
Growing and harvest monthsAugust–October
Days to maturity80–100 days
Major producing statesHimachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, the Nilgiris of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra
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Cauliflower
Botanical nameBrassica oleracea var. botrytis
Growing and harvest monthsOctober–January
Days to maturity55–80 days
Major producing statesWest Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Orissa, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab
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Carrot
Botanical nameDaucus carota subsp. sativus
Growing and harvest monthsAugust–March
Days to maturity60–80 days
Major producing statesHaryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam, Telangana and Jammu and Kashmir
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Potato
Botanical nameSolanum tuberosum
Growing and harvest monthsOctober–December
Days to maturity90–120 days
Major producing statesPunjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Assam
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Celery
Botanical nameApium graveolens
Growing and harvest monthsJanuary–April
Days to maturity85–120 days
Major producing statesPunjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh
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Beetroot
Botanical nameBeta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris Conditiva Group
Growing and harvest monthsAugust–December
Days to maturity50–70 days
Major producing statesHaryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra
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Lettuce
Botanical nameLactuca sativa
Growing and harvest monthsSeptember–October
Days to maturity45–60 days
Major producing statesTamil Nadu and Karnataka
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Bitter Gourd / Bitter Melon
Botanical nameMomordica charantia
Growing and harvest monthsNovember–February
Days to maturity55–60 days
Major producing statesMaharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
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Bottle Gourd
Botanical nameLagenaria siceraria
Growing and harvest monthsNovember–February
Days to maturity55–75 days
Major producing statesBihar, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Punjab, Assam, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
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Capsicum / Bell Pepper
Botanical nameCapsicum annuum
Growing and harvest monthsOctober–January
Days to maturity55–60 days (green), 70–75 days (yellow), 80–90 days (red)
Major producing statesKarnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Orissa