10 of the Best Summer Vegetables Delhi

Living in the capital and keenly interested to grow nutritious veggies during the hot climate? This brief Summer Vegetables Delhi guide is for you!

Influenced by the climate of two extreme regions of the Himalaya and Thar desert, responsible for vast winters and summers temperature variation, Delhi acquires a mixture of humid subtropical and semi-arid climate. With an average summer temperature of 25-45° C that is favorable for some warm loving vegetables, Delhi offers the right temperature for a multitude of vegetables. So, if you are a Delhiite, who is willing to grow vegetables in a home garden, then this list of Delhi summer vegetables is going to offer you some great options to try this summer!

Check out our article on the best summer fruits in India here. 

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Best Summer Vegetables for Delhi

1. Tamatar/Tomato

Botanical Name: Solanum lycopersicum

Varieties: Pusa Sadabahar, Arka Ahuti, Arka Abha, Punjab Chhuhara

Sweet and tarty flavored tomatoes are the staple vegetable that goes with almost every stir-fried recipe. Its best yield asks for 5-6 hours of sunlight and plenty of watering. You can grow either bush or vine type, have a look at the best varieties here. Vine (indeterminate) varieties need more space and support of stakes and cages whereas the bush (determinate) varieties take far lesser space.

2. Baingan/Brinjal

Botanical Name: Solanum melongena

Varieties: Pusa purple long, Pant Rituraj, Pusa Uttam, Arka Keshev, Dudhia

This purple-skinned vegetable is prepared into a delicious curry, savory, and stir-fry dishes. Coming in a diverse range of color, texture, and shape, it grows in all types of soil ranging from sandy to clay. Apart from full sun, and good air circulation, the warm temperature is the basic necessity for its growth, making it the best vegetable for Delhi climate.

3. Kheera/Cucumber

Botanical Name: Cucumis sativus

Varieties: Pusa Uday, Punjab Kheera-1, Straight Eight, Bush Pickle

Containing 95% of water, this hydrating fruit is consumed raw in salads. Belonging to the gourd family, cucumber grows on a creeping vine that requires the support of a trellis. There are two main types, Pickling produces smaller cucumber, specifically used for making pickles. Whereas, slicing is longer one, consumed raw in salads. Sufficient watering and a warm climate keeps this vine happy.

4. Kaddu/Pumpkin

Botanical Name: Cucurbita

Varieties: Arka Chandan, Punjab Samrat, PAU Magaz Kaddu-1

Savory and mild-flavored pumpkin is admired for its use in preparing delicacies like Kaddu ka Halwa, and Agra ka petha. Pumpkin can grow in a wide variety of soil, but well-draining fertile soil with pH around 6-7 churns out the best result.

5. Mirchi/Chilies

Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum

Varieties: Bhagya Lakshmi, Andhra Jyothi, Kiran, Aparna, Prakash

No savory dish is complete without the presence of chilies, and growing them at home let you have fresh access. Further, these are sundried to make red chili powder that plays a vital role in curry dishes. You can easily grow chilies in a 10-12 inches pot near a sunny window. Also, supplementing its soil with cow dung (gobar ki khaad) gives the best yield.

6. Lauki/BottleGourd

Botanical Name: Lagenaria siceraria

Varieties: Pusa Manjri, Punjab Round

This elongated gourd has pale green skin with inner musky flesh, which is cooked after peeling off the outer skin. Rich in multiple vitamins, and minerals, Indians often consume it either as a fried recipe or as a healthy smoothie. Growing this gourd requires uniform watering and consistently moist soil.

7. Beans

Botanical Name: Phaseolus vulgaris

Varieties: Arka Sampoorna, Arka Karthik, Arka Anoop, Arka Samrudh

Beans play the primary role in numerous traditional cuisines, thanks to its distinctive flavor. These pale pink beans are packed inside the pod fruit that people in India love to eat after frying, baking, or even boiling. Also, this summer growing vine plant needs warm temperatures to thrive and needs external support of cages or stakes.

8. Shakarkand/Sweet Potatoes

Botanical Name: Ipomoea batatas

Varieties: Sree Nandini, Sree Vardhini, Kalmegh, Rajendra Shakarkand-5, Sree Varun

This starchy vegetable with a sweet flavor is cultivated for its tuberous roots that are grilled, roasted, or boiled for an enhanced flavor. Furthermore, Shakarand ka Halwa is one of the most mouthwatering recipes that is prepared in India on special festivals. This summer growing potatoes need warm temperature and abundant sunlight, making it one of the best summer vegetables in Delhi.

9. Turai/Zucchini

Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo

Varieties: Azad Toria-2, Pusa Supriya, Pusa Sneha, Azad Toria-1

If you are a health-conscious person, then you can’t miss this vegetable. Squash like flavored turai has a crunchy outer peel with spongy inner flesh. An excellent source of Vitamin-C, it helps in controlling sugar levels and losing weight. Just nurture it with plenty of sunlight and water, and this vegetable will reward you with the best harvest.

10. Poisag/Malabar Spinach

Botanical name: Basella alba

The fleshy and thick leaves of poisag have a crunchy texture, with a remarkable blend of peppery and citrusy taste. Cooked as stir fry, this spinach goes well in soups and stews. Fertile soil wich in organic matter and full sunlight are the key features for an outstanding yield. Read its growing guide for pots here.

 

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