The planting planner

The winter sowing calendar, region by region (Punjab, Sindh, KP)

Published 15 November 2026 on SabziPlan.

The GardenPK winter calendar gives crop by crop dates for Punjab conditions (S2). Spinach runs October to February with harvest near 45 days. Fenugreek runs October to December near 40 days. Radish runs October to January at 35 to 45 days. Carrot runs October to December at 70 to 80 days in the calendar, and the Mojimall carrot guide gives Punjab sowing September to November with harvest 70 to 100 days (S5). Peas run October to November at 70 days. Cauliflower needs a nursery August to October and transplant September to November. Onion needs a nursery October to November and transplant December to January at 120 days. Lettuce runs October to December at 50 days. Broccoli needs a nursery September to October and transplant October to November at 85 days.

Sindh runs late. GardenPK shifts Sindh sowings 2 to 3 weeks after Punjab, and winter vegetables in Sindh start in November (S2). The carrot guide puts Karachi and coastal Sindh sowing in October to December (S5). A Karachi grower who copies a Lahore October date sows into heat.

KP and Pothohar run early and carry frost risk. GardenPK shifts northern KP and Pothohar sowings 2 weeks ahead, from late September (S2). The same calendar warns that frost, pala, kills seedlings on cold nights in Pothohar, northern Punjab and KP (S2).

The department winter list frames the whole season: winter vegetables sow in September to October and reach harvest in February to March (S1). Growers sow the long crops first, peas and onions early, and leafy crops in repeats across the window.

The Method page prints the full table with a source on every row. The planner applies the Sindh and KP shifts when you pick a region.

Sources

S2. GardenPK, winter vegetables sowing calendar, 2 October 2026. https://www.gardenpk.online/guide.php?slug=winter-vegetables-sowing-calendar
S5. Mojimall, carrot growing guide, checked 15 November 2026. https://mojimall.pk/blogs/gardening/carrot-growing-guide
S1. Punjab Agriculture Department, via UrduPoint, 25 October 2026. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/kitchen-gardening-offers-fresh-affordable-ve-2276650.html

Source links checked 15 November 2026.

Watering in a Pakistani summer: how often, when, and heatwave notes

Published 15 November 2026 on SabziPlan.

SabziPlan publishes watering bands, ranges such as every 2 to 3 days, and no litre figures. One band in the set carries a source. Multan Farms gives okra water every 2 to 3 days, and daily water in extreme heat (S7). Every other band on the site carries a general guidance label.

Heat changes the hour, and the hour changes the loss. Water at the base in the early morning in May and June heat. Midday water sits on leaves and soil surface and the sun takes a share before roots drink.

Mulch earns its place in summer. A layer of dry grass or straw over the bed shades the soil, slows drying, and stretches the gap between waterings. Keep mulch a hand width away from stems.

Nursery seedlings in July and August heat need shade. A nursery bed in full afternoon sun cooks seedlings in a day. Shade cloth or a reed screen over the nursery saves the batch.

Sunlight still matters. The department asks for at least 6 hours of sunlight a day for kitchen garden vegetables (S1). GardenPK puts most vegetables at 5 to 6 hours of direct sun (S11). Shade the nursery, and keep the main bed in sun. Run your region and season through the water scheduler for a band that fits your supply.

Sources

S7. Multan Farms, best time to plant okra in Pakistan, 2 March 2026. https://multanfarms.com/whens-the-best-time-to-plant-okra-in-pakistan-your-complete-growing-guide/
S1. Punjab Agriculture Department, via UrduPoint, 25 October 2026. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/kitchen-gardening-offers-fresh-affordable-ve-2276650.html
S11. GardenPK, kitchen garden beginners, Pakistan, checked 15 November 2026. https://www.gardenpk.online/guide.php?slug=kitchen-garden-beginners-pakistan

Source links checked 15 November 2026.

Pots, beds or rooftop: planning space before you sow

Published 15 November 2026 on SabziPlan.

The department gives one instruction before seed touches soil: prepare a layout before sowing, with vegetable types, row arrangements, spacing and fertiliser in the plan (S1). Paper first, seed second.

Spacing figures decide the layout. Tomato plants stand 18 to 24 inches apart in a bed (S8). Chilli ridges stand 75 cm apart with 30 to 45 cm between plants (S10). Okra stands 12 to 18 inches apart, and a pot holds one okra plant per container of 14 to 16 inches width and depth (S6).

Pots suit leafy crops and herbs, and a rooftop suits pots and grow bags where load and drainage allow. A bed suits rows of roots and peas. A field edge suits long rows and climbing crops on a fence line.

Two crops on this site carry no spacing figure in the sources: mint and bitter gourd. The bed planner prints a draft notice for those crops and no plant count. A count without a source helps nobody.

Draw your bed to scale, mark the rows, and count plants per row before you buy seed. The bed planner draws the layout and counts plants for tomato, chilli and okra from the sourced spacing table.

Sources

S1. Punjab Agriculture Department, via UrduPoint, 25 October 2026. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/kitchen-gardening-offers-fresh-affordable-ve-2276650.html
S6. Mojimall, okra growing guide, checked 15 November 2026. https://mojimall.pk/blogs/gardening/okra-growing-guide/
S8. Mojimall, tomato growing guide, checked 15 November 2026. https://mojimall.pk/blogs/gardening/tomato-growing-guide/
S10. GrowTech, chillies production plan, Punjab, checked 15 November 2026. https://agri.growtechsol.com/advisory-latest/Chillies_production_plan_eng.pdf

Source links checked 15 November 2026.

Nursery or direct sowing: which vegetables need a seedling stage

Published 15 November 2026 on SabziPlan.

The department splits winter vegetables into two groups (S1). Radish, turnip, carrot, spinach, coriander, fenugreek and peas go direct into the bed. Cauliflower, cabbage, broccoli, onions and lettuce start as seedlings.

The winter calendar adds dates to the split (S2). Cauliflower nursery runs August to October. Onion nursery runs October to November with transplant December to January. Broccoli nursery runs September to October.

Summer crops split the same way. Okra and bitter gourd go direct (S1). Brinjal starts in a nursery in February to March in Lahore and Faisalabad, with transplant March to April (S4). Chilli starts in a nursery in late November to December in central Punjab, and growers transplant a 40 to 45 day old nursery in mid to late March (S10).

Tomato carries two nursery stories. The home garden guide gives nursery January to February and July to August for central Punjab (S8). Department field advice gives nurseries October to mid November, with beds near 1 square metre, raised near 15 cm, rows 7 to 8 cm apart, seed 1 to 2 cm deep, and transplant at 6 to 9 inches tall (S9). SabziPlan prints both windows with labels and merges neither.

A nursery buys time and control. Seedlings grow in a small, watched patch while the main bed finishes a prior crop. Direct sowing skips transplant shock and suits roots, because carrot and radish resent moving. Pick the method per crop on the vegetable pages, and read first pests before your first nursery goes in.

Sources

S1. Punjab Agriculture Department, via UrduPoint, 25 October 2026. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/kitchen-gardening-offers-fresh-affordable-ve-2276650.html
S2. GardenPK, winter vegetables sowing calendar, 2 October 2026. https://www.gardenpk.online/guide.php?slug=winter-vegetables-sowing-calendar
S9. Punjab Agriculture Department, tomato nursery, via UrduPoint, 30 September 2026. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/business/tomato-nursery-cultivation-suggested-2263029.html
S10. GrowTech, chillies production plan, Punjab, checked 15 November 2026. https://agri.growtechsol.com/advisory-latest/Chillies_production_plan_eng.pdf
S4. Mojimall, brinjal growing guide, checked 15 November 2026. https://mojimall.pk/blogs/gardening/brinjal-growing-guide
S8. Mojimall, tomato growing guide, checked 15 November 2026. https://mojimall.pk/blogs/gardening/tomato-growing-guide/

Source links checked 15 November 2026.

First pests: what to look for in the first month

Published 15 November 2026 on SabziPlan.

The first month of a kitchen garden decides the season. Seedlings carry no reserves. A pest week in week two costs the crop.

Check undersides. Aphids cluster on leaf undersides and young shoots, and whitefly rise in a cloud when you brush a leaf. Two checks a week catch both early. The aphid page and the whitefly page show the signs.

Watch the soil line. Damping-off thins seedling stems to a thread at the base and whole patches collapse in damp weather. Sow thin, water in the morning, and raise the nursery bed. Department tomato nursery beds stand near 15 cm raised (S9). Read the damping-off page.

Walk the bed with a notebook. Write the crop, the date, and the sign you saw. A dated note beats memory when a problem returns in month two.

Most vegetables need 5 to 6 hours of direct sun a day (S11), and a sunny, airy bed grows stronger seedlings than a damp corner. Start with site and spacing, then reach for spray categories, and follow the product label on any product you buy.

Sources

S9. Punjab Agriculture Department, tomato nursery, via UrduPoint, 30 September 2026. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/business/tomato-nursery-cultivation-suggested-2263029.html
S11. GardenPK, kitchen garden beginners, Pakistan, checked 15 November 2026. https://www.gardenpk.online/guide.php?slug=kitchen-garden-beginners-pakistan

Source links checked 15 November 2026.

Vegetables

Ten crop pages. Each page gives the local name, the season, sowing windows by region, spacing from the sources or a draft label, and links to the problem pages.

Tomato (tamatar)
Summer crop, planted from a nursery. A winter field nursery window also exists in department advice.
Chilli (mirch)
Summer crop. Growers raise the nursery in winter and transplant in March.
Okra (bhindi, ladyfinger)
Summer crop, direct sown.
Brinjal (baingan)
Summer crop, planted from a nursery.
Spinach (palak)
Winter crop, direct sown.
Coriander (dhania)
Winter crop, direct sown.
Mint (podina)
No sourced season. Read the sowing note before you plan a mint bed.
Onion (pyaz)
Winter crop, raised in a nursery and transplanted.
Garlic (lehsun)
Winter crop.
Bitter gourd (karela)
Summer crop, direct sown.

Tomato (tamatar)

Summer crop, planted from a nursery. A winter field nursery window also exists in department advice.

Sowing window by region

Region	Window	Source
Punjab plains, central	Nursery January to February, transplant February to March. Second nursery July to August, transplant August to September.	S8
Punjab, southern	Nursery December to January.	S8
Punjab, field crop advice	Nursery October to mid November. The department gives this window for field tomato. Home garden windows in S8 differ. SabziPlan lists both and merges neither.	S9
Sindh	No Sindh window in the sources. Winter sowings in Sindh run 2 to 3 weeks after Punjab (S2 shift for winter vegetables). Ask the district agriculture extension office before you sow.	S2
KP	No KP window in the sources. Ask the district agriculture extension office before you sow.	-

Method: Nursery first, then transplant. Germination takes 6 to 14 days. Transplant at 5 to 8 weeks (S8). Department nursery detail: beds near 1 square metre, raised near 15 cm, rows 7 to 8 cm apart, seed 1 to 2 cm deep, thin seedlings to 4 to 5 cm apart, transplant at 6 to 9 inches tall (S9).
Spacing: 18 to 24 inches between plants in a bed (S8).
Water: General guidance, no sourced rate: water at the base, keep soil moist in dry spells, and adjust to soil and weather. SabziPlan publishes no litre figures.
Harvest: No tomato harvest figure in the sources. Summer vegetables as a group reach harvest 60 to 90 days after sowing (S11, general figure for summer vegetables).

Sunlight: 6 to 8 hours a day (S8).

Two nursery windows serve two crops. A January nursery feeds a spring crop. A July nursery feeds a late crop.

Sources

S8. Mojimall, tomato growing guide, checked 15 November 2026. https://mojimall.pk/blogs/gardening/tomato-growing-guide/
S9. Punjab Agriculture Department, tomato nursery, via UrduPoint, 30 September 2026. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/business/tomato-nursery-cultivation-suggested-2263029.html
S11. GardenPK, kitchen garden beginners, Pakistan, checked 15 November 2026. https://www.gardenpk.online/guide.php?slug=kitchen-garden-beginners-pakistan
S2. GardenPK, winter vegetables sowing calendar, 2 October 2026. https://www.gardenpk.online/guide.php?slug=winter-vegetables-sowing-calendar

Chilli (mirch)

Summer crop. Growers raise the nursery in winter and transplant in March.

Sowing window by region

Region	Window	Source
Punjab plains, central	Best nursery time late November to December. Transplant mid to late March. Direct seed in open field in February.	S10
Punjab, nursery note	A nursery sown late October or early November germinates in 10 to 12 days.	S10
Sindh	No Sindh window in the sources. Ask the district agriculture extension office before you sow.	-
KP	No KP window in the sources. Ask the district agriculture extension office before you sow.	-

Method: Nursery first. Transplant a nursery 40 to 45 days old (S10).
Spacing: Ridges 75 cm apart, plant to plant 30 to 45 cm (S10).
Water: General guidance, no sourced rate: water at the base and adjust to soil and weather. SabziPlan publishes no litre figures.
Harvest: No chilli harvest figure in the sources. Summer vegetables as a group reach harvest 60 to 90 days after sowing (S11, general figure for summer vegetables).

Chilli sits in the summer (Kharif) sowing list for February to March as a transplant crop (S11).

Common problems

Aphids
Leaf curl virus
Curling leaves
Flowers but no fruit

Sources

S10. GrowTech, chillies production plan, Punjab, checked 15 November 2026. https://agri.growtechsol.com/advisory-latest/Chillies_production_plan_eng.pdf
S11. GardenPK, kitchen garden beginners, Pakistan, checked 15 November 2026. https://www.gardenpk.online/guide.php?slug=kitchen-garden-beginners-pakistan

Okra (bhindi, ladyfinger)

Summer crop, direct sown.

Sowing window by region

Region	Window	Source
Punjab plains	Main sowing February to March. Second sowing June to July (S6). A second window July to August also appears in S7. Punjab sowings start mid February (S7).	S6, S7
Sindh	Sowings start mid February (S7).	S7
KP and northern areas	Sow late March or early April (S7).	S7

Method: Direct sowing. Seed depth half an inch to 1 inch (S6).
Spacing: 12 to 18 inches between plants (S6). In a pot, one plant per container, and the container needs 14 to 16 inches width and depth (S6).
Water: Sourced band: water every 2 to 3 days, and water daily in extreme heat (S7).
Harvest: First harvest 50 to 70 days after sowing (S6). A second source gives 50 to 60 days after planting (S7). SabziPlan lists both.

Okra heads the summer direct sown list with bitter gourd and cucumber (S1).

Common problems

Fruit borer
Aphids
Whitefly
Powdery mildew
Yellowing leaves

Sources

S6. Mojimall, okra growing guide, checked 15 November 2026. https://mojimall.pk/blogs/gardening/okra-growing-guide/
S7. Multan Farms, best time to plant okra in Pakistan, 2 March 2026. https://multanfarms.com/whens-the-best-time-to-plant-okra-in-pakistan-your-complete-growing-guide/
S1. Punjab Agriculture Department, via UrduPoint, 25 October 2026. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/kitchen-gardening-offers-fresh-affordable-ve-2276650.html

Brinjal (baingan)

Summer crop, planted from a nursery.

Sowing window by region

Region	Window	Source
Punjab, Lahore and Faisalabad	Nursery February to March, transplant March to April. Second nursery July, transplant August.	S4
Punjab, Multan and the south	Nursery January to February.	S4
Sindh	No Sindh window in the sources. Ask the district agriculture extension office before you sow.	-
KP	No KP window in the sources. Ask the district agriculture extension office before you sow.	-

Method: Nursery first. Germination takes 7 to 14 days near 24 to 29 degrees C. Transplant at 6 to 8 weeks (S4).
Spacing: draft — to be sourced. The brinjal source gives no spacing figure, so SabziPlan prints no number.
Water: General guidance, no sourced rate: water at the base and adjust to soil and weather. SabziPlan publishes no litre figures.
Harvest: First fruit 55 to 80 days after transplanting (S4).

Brinjal sits in the summer (Kharif) list for February to March sowings (S11).

Common problems

Fruit borer
Aphids
Wilting at noon
Yellowing leaves

Sources

S4. Mojimall, brinjal growing guide, checked 15 November 2026. https://mojimall.pk/blogs/gardening/brinjal-growing-guide
S11. GardenPK, kitchen garden beginners, Pakistan, checked 15 November 2026. https://www.gardenpk.online/guide.php?slug=kitchen-garden-beginners-pakistan

Spinach (palak)

Winter crop, direct sown.

Sowing window by region

Region	Window	Source
Punjab plains	Sow October to February, direct.	S2
Sindh	Shift the Punjab window 2 to 3 weeks later. Winter vegetables in Sindh start in November.	S2
KP and Pothohar	Shift the Punjab window 2 weeks earlier, from late September. Frost (pala) kills seedlings in Pothohar, northern Punjab and KP on cold nights.	S2

Method: Direct sowing (S1, S2).
Spacing: draft — to be sourced. The winter calendar gives dates and harvest time for spinach and no spacing figure.
Water: General guidance, no sourced rate: leafy crops dry out fast in pots. Water at the base and adjust to soil and weather.
Harvest: Harvest near 45 days after sowing (S2).

Spinach sits in the winter direct sown list with radish, turnip and carrot (S1).

GardenPK puts palak in the October to November winter sowing group (S11).

Common problems

Aphids
Damping-off of seedlings
Yellowing leaves

Sources

S2. GardenPK, winter vegetables sowing calendar, 2 October 2026. https://www.gardenpk.online/guide.php?slug=winter-vegetables-sowing-calendar
S1. Punjab Agriculture Department, via UrduPoint, 25 October 2026. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/kitchen-gardening-offers-fresh-affordable-ve-2276650.html
S11. GardenPK, kitchen garden beginners, Pakistan, checked 15 November 2026. https://www.gardenpk.online/guide.php?slug=kitchen-garden-beginners-pakistan

Coriander (dhania)

Winter crop, direct sown.

Sowing window by region

Region	Window	Source
Punjab plains	Sow October to November in the winter group (S11). Coriander also sits in the winter list in S1, with a general September to October sowing season for winter vegetables.	S11, S1
Sindh	Shift winter sowings 2 to 3 weeks later. Winter vegetables in Sindh start in November.	S2
KP and Pothohar	Shift winter sowings 2 weeks earlier, from late September. Frost (pala) kills seedlings on cold nights.	S2

Method: Direct sowing (S1).
Spacing: draft — to be sourced. No source in the set gives a coriander spacing figure.
Water: General guidance, no sourced rate: water at the base and adjust to soil and weather.
Harvest: draft — to be sourced. No source in the set gives a coriander harvest figure.

Dhania appears in the winter sowing list in S11 with palak, methi and mooli.

Common problems

Aphids
Damping-off of seedlings
Powdery mildew

Sources

S1. Punjab Agriculture Department, via UrduPoint, 25 October 2026. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/kitchen-gardening-offers-fresh-affordable-ve-2276650.html
S11. GardenPK, kitchen garden beginners, Pakistan, checked 15 November 2026. https://www.gardenpk.online/guide.php?slug=kitchen-garden-beginners-pakistan
S2. GardenPK, winter vegetables sowing calendar, 2 October 2026. https://www.gardenpk.online/guide.php?slug=winter-vegetables-sowing-calendar

Mint (podina)

No sourced season. Read the sowing note before you plan a mint bed.

Sowing window by region

Region	Window	Source
Punjab plains	No sourced sowing window.	-
Sindh	No sourced sowing window.	-
KP	No sourced sowing window.	-

Method: No sourced sowing window exists for mint in the SabziPlan source set. SabziPlan prints no dates for mint. Ask a local nursery or the district agriculture extension office for a window that fits your district, and buy plants or seed there.
Spacing: draft — to be sourced. No source in the set gives a mint spacing figure, so the bed planner prints no plant count for mint.
Water: draft — to be sourced. No source in the set gives a mint watering figure.
Harvest: draft — to be sourced. No source in the set gives a mint harvest figure.

Mint stays on the site because home growers ask for podina in every season. The honest entry carries gaps where the sources carry gaps.

Common problems

Aphids
Powdery mildew
Yellowing leaves

Sources

No sources in the SabziPlan set cover mint. The page prints gaps as gaps.

Onion (pyaz)

Winter crop, raised in a nursery and transplanted.

Sowing window by region

Region	Window	Source
Punjab plains	Nursery October to November, transplant December to January.	S2
Sindh	Shift the Punjab window 2 to 3 weeks later. Winter vegetables in Sindh start in November, so raise the nursery in November.	S2
KP and Pothohar	Shift the Punjab window 2 weeks earlier, from late September. Frost (pala) kills seedlings on cold nights.	S2

Method: Nursery first, then transplant (S1, S2).
Spacing: draft — to be sourced. The winter calendar gives onion dates and no spacing figure.
Water: General guidance, no sourced rate: water at the base and adjust to soil and weather.
Harvest: Harvest near 120 days from the calendar entry (S2). Winter vegetables as a group reach harvest in February to March (S1).

Onions sit in the winter seedling list with cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli (S1).

Common problems

Damping-off of seedlings
Yellowing leaves
Aphids

Sources

S2. GardenPK, winter vegetables sowing calendar, 2 October 2026. https://www.gardenpk.online/guide.php?slug=winter-vegetables-sowing-calendar
S1. Punjab Agriculture Department, via UrduPoint, 25 October 2026. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/kitchen-gardening-offers-fresh-affordable-ve-2276650.html

Garlic (lehsun)

Winter crop.

Sowing window by region

Region	Window	Source
Punjab plains	Garlic sits in the winter vegetable list. Winter vegetables sow in September to October and reach harvest in February to March.	S1
Sindh	Shift winter sowings 2 to 3 weeks later. Winter vegetables in Sindh start in November.	S2
KP and Pothohar	Shift winter sowings 2 weeks earlier, from late September. Frost (pala) kills seedlings on cold nights.	S2

Method: The sources list garlic among winter vegetables (S1) and give no garlic planting method. Planting detail: draft — to be sourced.
Spacing: draft — to be sourced. No source in the set gives a garlic spacing figure.
Water: General guidance, no sourced rate: water at the base and adjust to soil and weather.
Harvest: Winter vegetables reach harvest in February to March (S1, general figure for the winter group).

Garlic appears in the Punjab Agriculture Department winter list with potatoes, onions and carrots (S1).

Common problems

Yellowing leaves
Damping-off of seedlings

Sources

S1. Punjab Agriculture Department, via UrduPoint, 25 October 2026. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/kitchen-gardening-offers-fresh-affordable-ve-2276650.html
S2. GardenPK, winter vegetables sowing calendar, 2 October 2026. https://www.gardenpk.online/guide.php?slug=winter-vegetables-sowing-calendar

Bitter gourd (karela)

Summer crop, direct sown.

Sowing window by region

Region	Window	Source
Punjab plains	Sow February to March. The department calls 15 February to 15 March the most suitable window for summer vegetables.	S1, S11, S3
Sindh	No Sindh window in the sources. The February window in S3 comes from a Punjab project. Ask the district agriculture extension office before you sow.	S3
KP	No KP window in the sources. Ask the district agriculture extension office before you sow.	-

Method: Direct sowing (S1).
Spacing: draft — to be sourced. No source in the set gives a bitter gourd spacing figure, so the bed planner prints no plant count for karela.
Water: draft — to be sourced for a karela rate. General guidance: water at the base and adjust to soil and weather. SabziPlan publishes no litre figures.
Harvest: Summer vegetables as a group reach harvest 60 to 90 days after sowing (S11, general figure for summer vegetables). No karela harvest figure exists in the sources.

Karela sits in the summer direct sown list with okra and cucumber (S1), and in the February to March Kharif list (S11).

Common problems

Whitefly
Powdery mildew
Flowers but no fruit

Sources

S1. Punjab Agriculture Department, via UrduPoint, 25 October 2026. https://www.urdupoint.com/en/pakistan/kitchen-gardening-offers-fresh-affordable-ve-2276650.html
S11. GardenPK, kitchen garden beginners, Pakistan, checked 15 November 2026. https://www.gardenpk.online/guide.php?slug=kitchen-garden-beginners-pakistan
S3. Punjab Agriculture Department kitchen gardening project, Business Recorder, 8 February 2012. https://www.brecorder.com/news/amp/3954401

Problems

Symptoms overlap across causes. The four look-alike pages give checks in order and no diagnosis. The six pest and disease pages start with cultural control.

Look-alike symptoms

Yellowing leaves
Overwatering, nutrient shortage, or disease
Wilting at noon
Heat wilt, root disease, or waterlogging
Flowers but no fruit
Heat, pollination, and crowding
Curling leaves
Virus suspicion or heat stress

Pests and diseases

Aphids
Spinach, coriander, tomato, chilli, okra and brinjal. Aphids build up in the cool season, October to March, and return on spring growth.
Whitefly
Tomato, okra, bitter gourd and brinjal in the warm season, March to September. Whitefly also spread leaf curl virus.
Fruit borer
Brinjal and okra fruit, in the warm season, March to September.
Damping-off of seedlings
Nursery seedlings of tomato, chilli, onion and leafy crops, in damp spells across the sowing season.
Powdery mildew
Spinach, coriander, okra and bitter gourd. Patches spread in dry days with cool nights, in spring and autumn spells.
Leaf curl virus
Tomato and chilli, in the warm season, March to September.

Yellowing leaves

Overwatering, nutrient shortage, or disease. Yellow leaves share one look across three causes. Symptoms overlap, and this page gives checks, no diagnosis.

Possible cause	Signs	Check first
Overwatering	Soil stays wet for days. Lower leaves yellow first. Stems feel soft at the base.	Push a finger 5 cm into the soil. Wet soil plus yellow leaves points at water first.
Nutrient shortage	Plants grow in old pot mix or sand-heavy soil. Older leaves pale across the whole plant. Growth slows.	Check the feeding history. A bed that never received compost or fertiliser runs short first.
Disease	Yellow patches follow veins or spots. Some plants in the row suffer and neighbours stay green.	Look under the leaves for insects and spots. Read the pest pages and take a sample to a plant clinic.

Checks in order

Check soil moisture first. Water causes most yellow leaves in pots.
Look under the leaves for aphids and whitefly.
Compare plants. One sick plant in a green row suggests disease or a root problem. A whole pale bed suggests feed or water.

Symptoms overlap across causes. This page supports a first check and gives no diagnosis. Confirm with your district agriculture extension office or a plant clinic.

Wilting at noon

Heat wilt, root disease, or waterlogging. Many plants droop at noon in May and June and recover by evening. A plant that stays down at dusk has a root or water problem. Symptoms overlap, and this page gives checks, no diagnosis.

Possible cause	Signs	Check first
Heat wilt	Leaves droop in peak heat and lift by evening. Soil holds moisture.	Check the plant again after sunset. Recovery by evening fits heat wilt.
Root disease	The plant stays wilted at dusk. Leaves yellow. The stem base shows dark, soft tissue.	Scrape the stem base with a nail. Brown, soft tissue fits root damage. Take a sample to a plant clinic.
Waterlogging	Soil stays soaked. The pot or bed drains slow. Leaves wilt and yellow together.	Check drainage holes and bed level. Standing water after watering fits waterlogging.

Checks in order

Check the plant at dusk before you act.
Feel the soil. Dry soil plus noon wilt asks for water at the base in the early morning.
Frost also wilts seedlings in winter in Pothohar, northern Punjab and KP. The GardenPK calendar warns that pala kills seedlings on cold nights (S2).

Symptoms overlap across causes. This page supports a first check and gives no diagnosis. Confirm with your district agriculture extension office or a plant clinic.

Flowers but no fruit

Heat, pollination, and crowding. Bitter gourd, okra and brinjal flower in heat and still drop fruit. Symptoms overlap across causes, and this page gives checks, no diagnosis.

Possible cause	Signs	Check first
Heat	Flowers open and fall in a heatwave spell. Plants look green and fed.	Track the spell. Fruit set returns when nights cool.
Pollination	Flowers open, bees stay away, and no fruit forms. Gourds suffer first because male and female flowers sit apart.	Watch the bed at 9 in the morning. No bee visits across two mornings fits a pollination gap. Hand pollination with a soft brush moves pollen between flowers.
Crowding	Plants pack tight, shade each other, and push leaf growth. Air sits still inside the row.	Compare your spacing with the crop page. Tomato needs 18 to 24 inches (S8). Chilli ridges stand 75 cm apart (S10).

Checks in order

Count flowers and young fruit for three days before you change anything.
Water at the base in the early morning during heat. The okra band in S7 runs every 2 to 3 days, daily in extreme heat.
Open the row. Thin one crowded plant and watch the rest.

Symptoms overlap across causes. This page supports a first check and gives no diagnosis. Confirm with your district agriculture extension office or a plant clinic.

Curling leaves

Virus suspicion or heat stress. Leaves curl from heat, from aphid feeding, and from virus infection. This page lists possible causes. The page gives no diagnosis. Confirm with your district agriculture extension office or a plant clinic.

Possible cause	Signs	Check first
Heat stress	Leaf edges roll in the afternoon and relax by evening. The whole bed curls together.	Check at dusk. Flat leaves at dusk fit heat.
Aphid feeding	Young leaves pucker. Sticky residue coats the leaf. Ants climb the stem.	Turn a young leaf over. Aphid clusters sit on the underside. Read the aphid page.
Virus suspicion	Leaves curl, pucker and stay small. Plants stunt. Whitefly feed on the same plants.	Mark the plant and watch spread for a week. Take photos and a sample to the extension office or a plant clinic for confirmation.

Checks in order

Check the underside of a curled leaf first.
Compare dusk and noon leaves on the same plant.
Pull no plant on suspicion alone. Confirm with your district agriculture extension office or a plant clinic first.

Symptoms overlap across causes. This page supports a first check and gives no diagnosis. Confirm with your district agriculture extension office or a plant clinic.

Aphids

What it looks like

Small soft insects cluster on leaf undersides and young shoots. Leaves pucker. A sticky coat covers leaves under the cluster, and ants climb the stems.

Crops and months

Spinach, coriander, tomato, chilli, okra and brinjal. Aphids build up in the cool season, October to March, and return on spring growth.

Cultural control first

Pick clusters off by hand or blast colonies off with a strong jet of water at the base of the leaf.
Cut out a shoot that carries a heavy colony and bin the shoot away from the bed.
Space plants for airflow and keep nitrogen feed modest. Soft, overfed growth draws aphids.

Spray categories

Growers also use neem-based sprays and insecticidal soap as spray categories. Follow the product label for any product you buy.

Whitefly

What it looks like

Tiny white insects rise in a cloud when you brush the plant. They feed on leaf undersides. Leaves yellow and carry a sticky coat.

Crops and months

Tomato, okra, bitter gourd and brinjal in the warm season, March to September. Whitefly also spread leaf curl virus.

Cultural control first

Remove leaves that carry heavy colonies and bin them away from the bed.
Water and weed the bed edges. Weeds shelter whitefly between crops.
Space plants for airflow and check undersides twice a week in summer.

Spray categories

Growers also use neem-based sprays and insecticidal soap as spray categories. Follow the product label for any product you buy.

Fruit borer

What it looks like

A small hole marks the fruit, with droppings at the hole. Cut the fruit open and a caterpillar feeds inside. Brinjal shoots also wilt at the tip.

Crops and months

Brinjal and okra fruit, in the warm season, March to September.

Cultural control first

Pick bored fruit off the plant and destroy the fruit away from the bed. Larvae leave the fruit and pupate in soil.
Walk the row twice a week in fruiting season and collect damaged fruit the same day.
Clear crop remains after harvest and rotate the bed away from brinjal and okra next season.

Spray categories

Growers also use neem-based sprays as a spray category. Follow the product label for any product you buy.

Damping-off of seedlings

What it looks like

Seedlings fall over at the soil line. The stem thins to a thread at the base. Whole patches in a nursery bed collapse in damp weather.

Crops and months

Nursery seedlings of tomato, chilli, onion and leafy crops, in damp spells across the sowing season.

Cultural control first

Sow thin. Crowded seedlings trap damp air at the base.
Water the nursery in the morning and water at the base. Wet leaves at night invite collapse.
Raise nursery beds so water drains away. The department nursery bed for tomato stands near 15 cm raised (S9).

Spray categories

Seed treatment products exist as a category. Follow the product label for any product you buy.

Powdery mildew

What it looks like

White powder patches spread across leaf tops. Leaves yellow under heavy patches and dry at the edges.

Crops and months

Spinach, coriander, okra and bitter gourd. Patches spread in dry days with cool nights, in spring and autumn spells.

Cultural control first

Remove leaves with heavy patches and bin them away from the bed.
Space plants for airflow and water at the base. Keep water off the leaves.
Pick a sunny spot. Most vegetables need 5 to 6 hours of direct sun a day (S11).

Spray categories

Sulphur-based products and neem-based sprays exist as categories. Follow the product label for any product you buy.

Leaf curl virus

What it looks like

Leaves curl up, pucker and stay small. Plants stunt and set poor fruit. Whitefly feed on the same plants and spread the virus plant to plant.

Crops and months

Tomato and chilli, in the warm season, March to September.

Cultural control first

Remove a plant with strong virus signs and bin the plant away from the bed. The plant feeds whitefly and spreads the virus.
Control whitefly on the crop. Read the whitefly page and work the cultural steps there first.
Raise nurseries away from old, infected crops and check seedlings before transplant.

Spray categories

No spray cures a virus infection. Sprays target the whitefly carrier, in categories such as neem-based sprays and insecticidal soap. Follow the product label for any product you buy. Confirm the diagnosis with your district agriculture extension office or a plant clinic.