Winter Flowers to Grow: October to November Seed Chart
The best winter flowers to grow on the plains of Pakistan and North India are sown from late September to November and bloom from January into April: petunia, pansy, calendula, sweet alyssum, dianthus, sweet pea, stock, snapdragon, nasturtium, cornflower and poppy lead the list. Sow too early and the seedlings fry; sow after early December and you get a short show before the heat. The chart below gives the window, bloom months, sun and pot size for each.
Quick facts
- Main sowing window (plains): late September to mid November
- Karachi: October to December; mild winters stretch the season
- Islamabad, Peshawar: September to October, before nights turn very cold
- Hills: most of these are spring and summer flowers there; sow March to April
- Bloom: January to April, ending when days pass about 35°C
- Sun: 5 to 6 hours or more for almost all
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The winter flower seed chart
| Flower | Sow (plains) | Blooms | Pot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petunia | Oct to Nov, on the surface | Jan to Apr | 8 inch (3 to 4 L) or basket |
| Pansy and viola | Oct | Dec to Mar | 6 inch (1.5 to 2 L) |
| Calendula (gul e ashrafi) | Oct to Nov, direct | Jan to Mar | 8 inch |
| Sweet alyssum | Oct to Nov, on the surface | Dec to Mar | 6 inch, edges |
| Dianthus | Oct | Jan to Apr | 8 inch |
| Sweet pea | Oct, direct, soak seed overnight | Feb to Mar | 12 inch deep plus a net |
| Stock (gilli flower) | Oct | Feb to Mar | 8 inch |
| Snapdragon | Oct, on the surface | Feb to Apr | 8 inch |
| Nasturtium | Oct to Nov, direct | Jan to Mar | 8 inch, poor soil |
| Cornflower | Oct, direct | Feb to Apr | 8 to 10 inch |
| Poppy | Oct to Nov, direct, do not transplant | Feb to Mar | 10 inch or bed |
| Larkspur | Oct, direct | Feb to Apr | 10 inch or bed |
| African marigold (genda) | Sep to Oct | Dec to Feb | 10 inch |
| Phlox (annual) | Oct | Feb to Apr | 8 inch |
| Verbena | Oct | Feb to Apr | 8 inch or basket |
| Hollyhock | Sep to Oct | Mar to Apr | 14 inch deep or ground |
| Ornamental kale | Sep to Oct | Leaf colour Dec to Feb | 10 inch |
| Lobelia | Oct, on the surface | Feb to Mar | Basket |
Months are for the Punjab plains. In Multan and Sukkur, aim for the earlier half of each window, because spring heat ends the show sooner. In Karachi, everything can slide a few weeks later.
Seed or nursery seedlings?
Both work, and they suit different people. Seed is cheap and gives you colours the nursery does not stock. Seedlings, sold in trays from November, save about six weeks and skip the fiddly stage where tiny seedlings damp off.
| Choice | Buy seedlings | Sow seed |
|---|---|---|
| Fine dust seed (petunia, lobelia, snapdragon) | Yes, for beginners | Only if you have a bright, sheltered spot |
| Big seed (sweet pea, nasturtium, calendula) | Rarely needed | Yes, easy and direct |
| Hate transplanting (poppy, larkspur, cornflower) | Skip | Yes, direct where they will flower |
The dust seed rule: do not bury it
Petunia, snapdragon, lobelia and alyssum seed is so fine it looks like powder, and it needs light to germinate. Press it onto damp mix, do not cover it, and water from below by standing the tray in a shallow dish. Mist the surface instead of pouring; a stream of water washes the seed into one corner. Mixing the seed with a pinch of dry sand first spreads it evenly.
Full tray technique is in seed starting at home.
Best winter flowers for pots and balconies
- Hanging baskets: petunia, verbena, lobelia, alyssum.
- Small 6 inch pots on a ledge: pansy, viola, alyssum.
- A windy rooftop: calendula, dianthus, marigold, nasturtium. They are sturdy and short.
- Half shade balcony (4 to 5 hours): pansy and viola cope best; most others stretch and flower less.
- Climbing on a railing: sweet pea, with a string net.
For vegetables you can sow in the same weeks, see our winter balcony garden guide. Our petunia growing guide covers the most popular basket flower in depth.
Care that keeps them flowering until April
- Pot mix: 2 parts soil, 1 part compost, 1 part sand or cocopeat.
- Pinch young plants once at about 10 to 15 cm to make them bushy.
- Water when the top 2 to 3 cm is dry. In December and January that may be every 3 to 5 days, in March every 1 to 2 days.
- Feed with compost and a balanced liquid feed every 2 to 3 weeks once buds show.
- Deadhead: snip faded flowers before they set seed. This is the single biggest reason one person’s pansies flower for four months and another’s for six weeks.
- On frost nights, cover seedling trays. Grown plants of most of these handle light frost.
What goes wrong most often?
- Seedlings collapse at soil level: damping off, from soggy mix and still air. Water less, give more light and air.
- Tall, floppy plants with few flowers: not enough sun.
- Aphids on buds: wash off with water; a mild soap spray for heavy cases.
- Grey mould in foggy weeks: pick off damp dead flowers, space pots apart.
Sweet pea seeds and pods are toxic if eaten, and larkspur is toxic to people and animals, so keep them away from toddlers and grazing pets. Poppy seed heads and sap should not be played with. Calendula and nasturtium flowers are sometimes eaten, but only grow them for the plate if you have used no chemical sprays. Read our list of plants that are poisonous to children and pets.
More flower guides sit in the Phool aur Paudhe section.
Winter flower questions
Which flowers grow in winter in Pakistan?
Petunia, pansy, calendula, alyssum, dianthus, sweet pea, stock, snapdragon, nasturtium, marigold, phlox, verbena and poppy are the common winter flowers. Most bloom from January to April on the plains.
When should winter flower seeds be sown?
Late September to mid November on the plains, October to December in Karachi, and a little earlier in Islamabad and Peshawar.
What are the easiest winter flowers for beginners?
Calendula, nasturtium and marigold from seed, and pansy or petunia from nursery seedlings. All forgive small mistakes.
When should I sow petunia seeds?
October to November on the plains, on the surface of damp mix without covering. Expect flowers from about January.
Is it too late to sow winter flowers in December?
Not entirely. Fast growers like alyssum, calendula and nasturtium still give a shorter show, and nursery seedlings bought now will flower well.
Which winter flowers grow in shade?
Pansy and viola manage with 4 to 5 hours of sun. True deep shade suits almost no winter annual.
Can I save seeds from winter flowers?
Yes for calendula, marigold, nasturtium, sweet pea and hollyhock. Hybrid petunias and pansies often come back different.
Why are my winter flower seedlings dying?
Usually damping off from wet mix, or seed buried too deep. Use fresh mix, water from below and give bright light.