Horticultural zones of India

India has diversified climates right from temperate to tropical climates. So, India has 

been divided into 3 horticultural zones. They are:

 TROPICAL ZONE

 SUB-TROPICAL ZONE

 TEMPERATE ZONE

TROPICAL ZONE: Entire South India below the Vindhya hills comes under this zone. 

This zone is again sub-divided in to 3 sub-zones. They are:

 Central tropical zone

 Southern tropical zone

 Coastal tropical humid zone

Central tropical zone:  States of Maharastra, Orissa, Southern part of Madhya 

Pradesh (Chattishgarh) and Telengana area of  Andhra Pradesh comes under this 

zone.

Fruit crops recommended: Mango, Cashew, Citrus, (Sweet Orange, Mandarin orange, and limes), 

Grape, Guava, Sapota, Banana, Sithapahal, Fig, Ber, Pomegranate, Jamun, and Jackfruit.

Southern tropical zone:  Andhra Pradesh excluding Telengana, Tamilnadu, Kerala 

and Karnataka states comes under this zone.

Fruit crops recommended: Mango, Coconut, Banana, Cashew, Sapota, Pineapple, Mangosteen, 

Breadfruit, Jackfruit, Sitaphal, Areca nut, Rubber, Pepper, Turmeric, Clove, Nutmeg, Cocoa, Coffee, 

Citrus (Sweet Orange, Mandarin orange, and limes).

Coastal tropical humid zone: Areas covering all along the coast of different states of 

peninsular India up to about 160 km inside to the sea shore line. The climate will be 

always humid and warm. Temperature will not be mild in winter when compared to 

southern tropical zone.

Fruit crops recommended: Coconut, Banana, Cashew, Jackfruit, Mango, and Pineapple.

SUB-TROPICAL ZONE:  The area above the Vindhya hills comes under this zone. 

Occasionally frost occurs in this zone. This zone is sub-divided into TWO sub-zones 

basing on the direction. They are:

North-Western Subtropical zone: States like Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, 

Parts of Bihar, U.P, M.P and west Bengal comes under this zone.

Fruit crops recommended:  Litchi, citrus (sweet orange, mandarin oranges), dates, guava, sapota, 

Papaya, phalsa, fig are some typical subtropical fruits grown but other tropical fruits  like  Mango, jack, 

banana can also be grown etc.

North-eastern sub-tropical zone:  Areas like parts of UP, Bihar, West Bengal, 

Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh,   and Tripura.

Fruit crops recommended:  Litchi, Citrus (Sweet Orange, Mandarin oranges), Dates, Guava, Sapota, 

Papaya, Phalsa, Fig, Mango etc.

TEMPERATE ZONE:  Areas comes in this zone are Jammu and 

Kashmir,Kulu,Katrain,Kangra valleys of Punjab, parts of Himachal Pradesh and 

kuman hills and also high altitude regions in South India-Nilagiris and Palani hills of 

TamilNadu.This zone frequently experiences frosts.

This zone is further sub-divided in to two sub zones based on elevation. They are:

1. Higher elevation and 2. Lower elevation

Higher elevation: Elevation ranges from 1500—2500 m MSL.

Fruit crops recommended: Apple, Pears, Walnut, Almond, Cherry and Strawberry etc.

Lower elevation: Elevation ranges from 1200—1500 m MSL.

Fruit crops recommended: Peaches, Persimmons, Japanese plum etc.

Although Peach is a temperate fruit crop, a no. of varieties like Sharbati, Honey stone,

Sunred  and Safeda can be successfully grown in the northern plains of subtropical 

zone. Similarly Rome beauty an apple variety is grown around Bangalore.

Elevation is not only the factor which decides the prospects of fruit cultivation in 

temperate zone. Other factors like hail storms, rainfall etc which should also be 

considered for selection of site for fruit cultivation in temperate zone. Eg. Simla and 

Solan at 2100 and 1400 m of elevation from sea level respectively. But they are not 

suitable for growing fruits because of hail storms. But Kulu valley and Kotagarh 

regions in Punjab are free from hailstorms and are suitable for growing temperate 

fruits.