Vegetables to grow in may in Aligarh up | Block-Wise Vegetable Guide
Are you a farmer from Aligarh, up (UP)? In May, in blocks like Atrauli, Bijauli, Chharra, Dhanauli, Dharampur, Gangiri, Gonda, Iglas, Jawan, Khair, Lodha, Pali Mukimpur, Pisawa, Tappal, the usual standing or harvest-ready crops are Okra, Cucumber, Bottle Gourd, Bitter Gourd, Muskmelon, Watermelon. Some farmers are preparing nursery beds for Tomato, Brinjal, Chilli, Cauliflower, Cabbage.
In many areas, fresh leafy crops like Amaranth, Spinach, Coriander are also being sown. This is the peak of the Zaid season and the time for Kharif crop planning, with high temperatures requiring frequent irrigation for standing crops. So your planning now will decide your profits in August–September.
We have prepared a farmer’s guide for Aligarh district for the month of May. This guide explains:
- Which crops should be sown now,
- Which crops should be raised in nurseries and when to transplant them,
- Which seeds can be sown directly without nurseries, and
- When nursery plants should be transplanted if they are ready.
You will get this information block-wise in the guide so you can easily decide what to do in May according to your area.
What fields typically look like early may
- Standing/harvest crops: Sugarcane, mango, and summer moong are still in the fields, ready for harvest.
- Nursery beds: Okra, brinjal, chili, and cucurbits seedlings are being raised for timely transplanting.
- Fresh leafy crops: Spinach, fenugreek, and amaranth sowing has started, ensuring early availability of greens.
- Pulses/cash crops: Urad and groundnut continue in suitable areas.
👉 Overall, in early may, fields in Aligarh show a mix of standing vegetables, nurseries, new leafy sowings, and pulse/cash crops.
What to start now (May) in Aligarh
Direct sowing (seeds directly in the field):
Okra, Amaranthus, Cowpea, Cucumber, Bottle Gourd, Bitter Gourd, Ridge Gourd, Sponge Gourd, and Pumpkin.
✅ Benefit – These summer vegetables grow quickly and can be harvested before the monsoon season.
Nursery preparation (for later transplanting):
Prepare nurseries for early Kharif crops like paddy (rice), maize, and vegetables like tomato, brinjal, and chili, if irrigation facilities are available.
✅ Benefit – Timely nursery preparation ensures seedlings are ready for transplanting with the onset of monsoon.
Transplanting (nursery → main field):
Transplant summer vegetables like tomato, chili, and brinjal seedlings that were raised earlier in the nursery, provided there is sufficient irrigation.
✅ Benefit – Early transplanting allows for a longer growing season and potentially higher yields.
Pulses and Oilseeds (if irrigation available):
Sowing of summer pulses like Moong (Green Gram) and Urad (Black Gram) can be done. Also, oilseeds like groundnut and sunflower can be sown with proper irrigation.
✅ Benefit – Short duration pulses and oilseeds can provide additional income and improve soil health.
Fodder Crops:
Sow fodder crops like maize, sorghum, and bajra for livestock feed.
✅ Benefit – Ensures availability of green fodder during the lean period of the summer months.
👉 In this way, by planning direct sowing, nurseries, transplanting, and suitable crops in May, farmers in Aligarh can increase their income.
Let’s Start in May – Crop + Method + Advantage
Crop |
How to Plant (Method & Spacing) |
Advantage for Farmers in Aligarh |
Okra (Bhindi) |
Direct sowing; rows 45 cm apart; thin to 15-20 cm |
Fast growth; harvest in 50-60 days; good market demand in Aligarh |
Bottle Gourd (Lauki) |
Sow seeds on raised beds; spacing 1.5m x 1.5m |
Good yield; popular vegetable in Aligarh during summer |
Cucumber (Kheera) |
Sow seeds 60 cm apart in rows 1.5m apart |
Short duration crop; high demand in local Aligarh markets |
Watermelon (Tarbooj) |
Sow seeds on raised beds; spacing 2m x 2m |
High returns; popular summer fruit in Aligarh |
Green Gram (Moong) |
Direct sowing; rows 30 cm apart |
Short duration (60-70 days); improves soil fertility for Aligarh farms |
Sorghum (Chari) |
Direct sowing; rows 45 cm apart |
Fodder crop; useful for livestock in Aligarh |
Cowpea (Lobia) |
Direct sowing; rows 45 cm apart |
Fodder and vegetable; dual-purpose crop for Aligarh farmers |
Amaranthus (Chaulai) |
Direct sowing; broadcast or line sowing |
Fast growing leafy vegetable; good source of income in Aligarh |
Turmeric |
Plant rhizomes 25-30 cm apart |
Good Market price in Aligarh-up, Disease Resistance. |
Block-Wise Snapshot (Quick View)
Block |
Sow Now |
Transplant |
Pest Watch |
Irrigation Tip |
Jawan Sikandarpur |
Okra, Bottle Gourd |
Chilli, Tomato |
Red Spider Mites, Aphids |
Irrigate at 5-7 day intervals |
Khair |
Cluster Bean, Cucumber |
Brinjal, Capsicum |
Fruit Borer, Whitefly |
Maintain soil moisture |
टप्पल (Tappal) |
Amaranth, Cowpea |
Tomato, Chilli |
Leaf Curl Virus, Thrips |
Light irrigation in evening |
Iglas |
Sponge Gourd, Bitter Gourd |
Brinjal |
Downy Mildew, Powdery Mildew |
Avoid waterlogging |
Dhanipur |
Pumpkin, Ridge Gourd |
Okra |
Shoot and Fruit Borer |
Drip irrigation is preferable |
गंगीरी (Gangeri) |
Lady Finger, Tinda |
Chilli |
Jassids, White Flies |
Ensure proper drainage |
Atrauli |
Pointed Gourd, Round Gourd |
Tomato |
Nematodes |
Alternate furrow irrigation |
Chharra |
Watermelon, Muskmelon |
Capsicum |
Fusarium Wilt |
Check soil moisture regularly |
Lodha |
Long Gourd, Ash Gourd |
Brinjal |
Epilachna Beetle |
Light and frequent irrigation |
Block-Wise Recommendations (Detailed)
🌾 Atrauli Block
- Sow now: Bottle gourd, bitter gourd, pumpkin, okra
- Transplant: Brinjal, chilli
- How & Why:
- High temperatures favor cucurbit growth.
- Brinjal and chilli transplanting provides a head start before monsoon.
- Advantage: Maximize summer vegetable yields.
🌾 Bijauli Block
- Sow now: Okra, cluster bean, cowpea
- Transplant: Tomato (early varieties)
- How & Why:
- Okra and cluster bean thrive in hot, dry conditions.
- Early tomato transplanting can avoid peak monsoon issues.
- Advantage: Drought-tolerant crops with early tomato harvest.
🌾 Chharra Block
- Sow now: Cucumber, ridge gourd
- Transplant: Chilli, capsicum
- How & Why:
- Cucumbers and ridge gourds benefit from warm soil.
- Chilli and capsicum transplanting ensures proper establishment before rains.
- Advantage: Vine crops and solanaceous vegetables.
🌾 Dhanauli Block
- Sow now: Watermelon, muskmelon
- Transplant: Brinjal
- How & Why:
- Melons need full sun and warmth.
- Brinjal can establish well with early transplanting.
- Advantage: High-value melon crops and early brinjal harvest.
🌾 Dharampur Block
- Sow now: Sponge gourd, round gourd
- Transplant: Tomato
- How & Why:
- Gourds grow rapidly in May heat.
- Tomato transplanting allows fruit set before heavy rains.
- Advantage: Quick-growing gourds and timely tomato production.
🌾 Gangiri Block
- Sow now: Amaranthus, spinach
- Transplant: Chilli, cauliflower (early)
- How & Why:
- Amaranthus and spinach are short-duration crops.
- Early chilli and cauliflower transplanting beats the monsoon rush.
- Advantage: Fast-growing greens and early cash crops.
🌾 Gonda Block
- Sow now: Pumpkin, bitter gourd
- Transplant: Brinjal, tomato
- How & Why:
- Pumpkin and bitter gourd thrive in warm weather.
- Brinjal and tomato benefit from early start before monsoon.
- Advantage: Cucurbits and solanaceous vegetables for market.
🌾 Iglas Block
- Sow now: Okra, cowpea
- Transplant: Chilli
- How & Why:
- Okra and cowpea are heat-tolerant legumes.
- Chilli benefits from transplanting early to establish well.
- Advantage: Legumes for soil health and chilli production.
🌾 Jawan Block
- Sow now: Bottle gourd, cucumber
- Transplant: Brinjal, capsicum
- How & Why:
- Cucurbits are suited to hot weather.
- Brinjal and capsicum gain from early establishment.
- Advantage: Vine crops and solanaceous crops.
🌾 Khair Block
- Sow now: Ridge gourd, sponge gourd
- Transplant: Tomato, chilli
- How & Why:
- Gourds grow quickly in hot conditions.
- Tomato and chilli transplanting ensures fruit production before monsoon.
- Advantage: Fast-growing gourds and timely tomato/chilli.
🌾 Lodha Block
- Sow now: Watermelon, muskmelon
- Transplant: Brinjal
- How & Why:
- Melons need plenty of sunlight and warmth.
- Brinjal benefits from early transplanting for better yields.
- Advantage: High-value melon crops and stable brinjal yield.
🌾 Pali Mukimpur Block
- Sow now: Okra, cluster bean
- Transplant: Tomato (early varieties)
- How & Why:
- Okra and cluster bean are adapted to hot, dry climates.
- Early tomato provides an advantage before the rains.
- Advantage: Heat-tolerant crops and early tomato harvest.
🌾 Pisawa Block
- Sow now: Cucumber, pumpkin
- Transplant: Chilli, capsicum
- How & Why:
- Cucumbers and pumpkins flourish in warm soils.
- Chilli and capsicum transplanting ensures proper root development.
- Advantage: Vine crops with good yields.
🌾 Tappal Block
- Sow now: Bottle gourd, bitter gourd
- Transplant: Brinjal, chilli
- How & Why:
- High temperatures support cucurbit growth.
- Brinjal and chilli transplanting prepares them for monsoon season.
- Advantage: Maximize summer vegetable production.
Pest Watch & Irrigation Tips
Key pests to watch (Aligarh, May)
- Okra: Jassids, Whitefly, Fruit borer
- Cucurbits (gourds/cucumber): Fruit fly, Red pumpkin beetle, Powdery mildew
- Tomato/Brinjal: Shoot & fruit borer, Whitefly
- Chilli: Thrips, Mites
Simple actions:
- Scout twice a week. Check undersides of leaves and growing tips carefully.
- Remove and destroy infested fruits/leaves immediately.
- Use pheromone traps for fruit/borer insects and keep fields clean of weeds.
- Follow label-recommended sprays only when needed; rotate sprays to avoid resistance.
Irrigation (Aligarh, May)
- Give frequent, light irrigation every 2-3 days (or daily for some crops/soils) based on soil moisture.
- Water early morning or late evening to reduce evaporation loss.
- Avoid waterlogging; ensure good drainage to prevent root rot.
- Use mulching (dry leaves/straw/plastic where feasible) extensively to save moisture and reduce weeds.
- Prefer drip or furrow irrigation for gourds, tomato, brinjal for efficient water use.
Conclusion
May in Aligarh is all about smart planning:
- Regularly harvest summer crops like Okra, Bottle Gourd, and Ridge Gourd.
- Start nurseries for monsoon vegetables such as Brinjal, Chilli, and early varieties of Tomato.
- Direct sow heat-tolerant gourds (Bottle Gourd, Sponge Gourd) where irrigation is assured.
- Focus on critical water management and light, timely irrigation for all crops.
- Keep a close watch on pests and diseases as temperatures rise.
If you follow these steps block-wise—maximizing summer harvest for current income, preparing nurseries for early monsoon yields, and managing water wisely—you’ll sail through the hot May profitably and lay a strong foundation for the rainy season.