What to Plant in Chaitra in Nepal: A Complete Guide

Chaitra's Growing Conditions

Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April) sees temperatures climbing steadily as the pre-monsoon dry season begins. It's the final transition from spring into full heat.

What to Plant in Chaitra

• Bottle gourd, cucumber, bitter gourd, ridge gourd: Start planting vine vegetables
• Eggplant, chili: Transplanting can continue
• Maize: Hill sowing continues

What to Harvest in Chaitra

• The last of the autumn-planted tomato harvest
• Early cucumber

Elevation Adjustments

• Terai: Heat rises faster here, so vine vegetables can go in slightly earlier than in Baisakh
• Mid-hills: A good starting point for vine vegetable planting
• High hills and mountains: Frost can still occur; it's better to wait until Baisakh

This Month's Most Common Mistake

Chaitra is when winter cabbage and cauliflower start flowering, but many farmers don't watch closely for aphids at this stage. As temperatures rise, aphid infestations spread quickly and can affect both flowering and fruiting. Inspect plants regularly and control aphids early — once an infestation is established, it's much harder to manage.

Next Steps

For pre-monsoon pest and disease control, see our vegetable pest and disease guide. Look back at what to plant in Falgun, or ahead to what to plant in Baisakh. For the full-year overview, see our seasonal vegetable farming calendar.