Top 10 Profitable Summer Vegetables in India

24 Feb, 2024

India is a tropical country receiving abundant sunshine for long periods and cultivating a wide variety of summer vegetables in India helps farmers earn more from their agricultural endeavors. Top of it, farmers of India have a diverse climate and fertile land offering a favorable environment for cultivating vegetables that thrive in hot weather. 

All you need is the right knowledge, techniques, and planning so that you can maximize your Summer veggies yield and profitability during the summer season.

In this guide, you will learn about summer seasonal vegetables in India that Indian farmers grow, tips to increase productivity, and other important aspects. 

Why Do Summer Vegetables Farming In India?

India's summer season provides ideal conditions for farming the best summer vegetables due to multiple factors that we have listed below:

• India experiences long hours of sunlight during the summer season. Sunlight is a vital component of photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy for growth, making it essential for the cultivation of summer vegetables.

• Most vegetables prefer warm temperatures for optimal growth. India's summer season provides the warmth and heat that many summer veggies require to flourish. Warm temperatures stimulate root development, accelerate plant metabolism, and promote overall plant vigor.

• As summers in India are long, farmers will have more time to cultivate and harvest multiple summer vegetables. 

• Summers in India coincided with the monsoon season. This way,you will have a continual water supply for summer vegetables. The combination of warm temperatures and ample water availability creates favorable conditions for plant growth and development.

Understanding The Summer Vegetables Crop Season

Summer seasonal vegetables are the vegetables that are cultivated during the Zaid crop season. This season refers to the summer or off-season cultivation period between the main Rabi and Kharif Crop Seasons. Generally, it typically starts in March/April and extends until June/July, coinciding with the warmer months of the year. ​

The term "Zaid" is derived from the Arabic word meaning "provision" or "gift," as these crops are considered an additional source of income and food during the offseason. During the Zaid crop season, farmers cultivate crops that can withstand relatively higher temperatures and require shorter growing periods. Zaid crops are primarily rain-fed or irrigated using water sources such as tube wells, canals, or other local water bodies. These crops are commonly grown in regions with favorable agro-climatic conditions for summer cultivation.

Benefits of Doing Summer Vegetables Farming in India 

• Growing summer season vegetables in India is a difficult task, but it is rewarding since there are several rewards to be had.

• Summer vegetables in India are in high demand due to increased consumption throughout the warmer months. As a result, farmers may frequently obtain greater prices for their goods, resulting in increased profitability.

• Summer weather, with higher temperatures and reduced humidity, frequently reduces the frequency of some pests and illnesses. Summer season vegetables have shorter crop periods than crops cultivated in other seasons. This enables farmers to grow numerous crops in a single season. 

• Summer vegetable farming provides farmers with a wide range of crop options and supports crop diversity. 

• Summer season vegetables in India provide an opportunity to diversify income sources by utilizing the off-season. By growing summer vegetables in India farmers can capitalize on the market demand and potentially achieve better market prices due to limited supply.

Some Tips to Cultivate Summer Vegetables in India 

As you plan to start growing summer vegetables in India, you need to keep the below-mentioned tips in mind.

Select the right varieties- As summers in India have high temperatures, you need to pick high-heat-tolerant summer veggies that can withstand high temperatures easily.  

Plant the seeds at the right time- To cultivate summer season vegetables we recommend you to not plant the seeds during late summers as temperatures are high and samplings won't survive during peak summers. 

Supply adequate water- Watering is crucial during the summer veggies. Prove enough water but make sure roots are not submerged completely. 

Use mulching- For better cultivation of summer vegetables, use a layer of organic mulch at the base of the crop as it's crucial for conserving soil moisture, regulating soil temperature, and suppressing weed growth for growing summer vegetables. 

Have proper shading- In some areas, summer here could be scorching and if you're cultivating delicate summer vegetables/plants during the hottest part of the summer then make sure there is proper shading. You can use cloth or bamboo screens as shade. You can also plant taller crops nearby so that crops don't burn or get destroyed. 

Supply enough nutrients- Ensure that the farming soil is enriched with organic matter and essential nutrients so that you get a high yield of summer veggies. It's important to conduct soil tests to find out the nutrient deficiencies and treat the soil accordingly. 

Do proper pest and disease control- Like any other crop, summer veggies are also prone to pests and diseases. Spray pesticides at regular intervals. You can also try crop rotation as it ensures that there is not one type of pest or disease sustaining for long. 

Harvest on time- As India boils during summers, it's not safe to leave crops lying in the fields for long. Harvest your summer season vegetables at the right stage of maturity. 

Top 10 Summer Vegetables in India 

During the summer season in India, several summer vegetables thrive and can be successfully farmed. Here is the most preferred  summer veggies list for this farming season. 

#1- Okra or Lady's Finger

As it can tolerate high heat and have more yielding potential, farmers can pick Okra as a summer vegetable for farming. That's not the only reason to indulge in the farming of Ladyfingers. There is more to add. For instance, it has a relatively shorter crop duration compared to many other summer vegetables. It usually takes around 60 to 70 days from sowing to harvesting. So, farmers can enjoy multiple harvested crop cycles during one summer. 

Ladyfinger is one of the best summer season vegetables in India, it has the potential to yield a significant amount of produce per unit area. With proper care and management, farmers can achieve high yields, which is beneficial for maximizing returns on investment.

#2- Eggplant/ Brinjal/Baingan

Eggplants are heat-loving summer vegetables in India that thrive in summer. Eggplant or brinjal is loved by many and is used in multiple cuisines. The finest quality of this summer season vegetables in India has tight and smooth skin. Farmers can grow multiple varieties of this vegetable during the summer. Keep in mind that this vegetable needs adequate water and sunshine for a healthy harvest. 

#3- Bitter Gourd or Karela

Bitter gourds can easily withstand high temperatures in summer. So, go ahead and start sowing seeds of these summer veggies. It thrives in hot and humid climates and requires a minimum temperature of around 20°C (68°F) for germination. Tropical and subtropical regions are perfect for these summer vegetables in India.

#4 - Bottle Gourd or Lauki

Bottle gourds are versatile summer veggies that grow well in the summer season. It is known for its refreshing and hydrating qualities. These summer veggies in India require a long growing season with plenty of sunlight. Make sure the soil should be rich in organic matter and have good water-holding capacity. 

As this crop is grown from seeds, it’s important to soak the seeds in the water for a minimum of 24 hours for better germination. 

#5- Snake Gourd or Parwal

Snake gourds are vining summer veggies that flourish in warm climates. It requires a minimum temperature of around 20°C (68°F) for germination and prefers temperatures between 24°C and 30°C (75°F and 86°F) for optimal growth. Make sure you’re cultivating this crop where soil should be rich in organic matter and have good water-holding capacity. Sow the seeds with proper spacing.  

#6- Ridge Gourd or Turai

The ridge gourd is a fast-growing vegetable available in summer that thrives in hot weather.These summer vegetables in India need temperatures between 25°C and 35°C (77°F and 95°F) for optimal growth. Proper soil preparation, such as removing weeds and loosening the soil, is essential before planting.

#7- Cucumber

Cucumbers are refreshing and cooling summer vegetables. Cucumbers are among the easy and best summer vegetables to grow and offer a plentiful harvest. As cucumber is a refreshing vegetable that people love to consume during the summer, it has huge demand during summer. 

Cultivate this crop in warm soil and it takes 3 days for germination. As its stem is weak, you need fencing or a trail to protect it. 

#8-Cluster Beans or Gavar ki Fali

Cluster beans are heat-tolerant and a popular choice for summer farming. These summer vegetables require watering at regular intervals. So, you need to do adequate water management so that there is no water logging and excess moisture is not trapped in the roots. 

#9- Sweet Corn

Sweet corn is a great vegetable available in summer as it’s widely used in salads and can be eaten raw. It grows fast and is super delicious. This crop requires pollination. So, keep adequate space between plants. 

#10- Pumpkin 

Last on the list of summer vegetables to grow is pumpkins. It grows fast and needs care because it grows a lot in its size. This is a famous vegetable for its high quantities of antioxidants, vitamins, and nutrients.

Farmers can easily grow these summer vegetables in India, some other vegetables available in summer are tomatoes, summer squash, beans, sweet potatoes, etc.

Final Say 

The summer season in India brings a lot of revenue-generation opportunities for farmers. They can make most of the free natural resources like sunlight and water. These conditions are perfect for growing summer season vegetables in India like Okra, brinjal, bitter gourd, and many more. 

As you plan to start summer vegetables farming in India, stay connected with Tractor gyan to acquire expert-led and verified information.