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What grows in Cotonou

Littoral, Benin

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Map showing the boundary of Cotonou

The 2026 season in Cotonou

Rainy seasonsOne each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it
When the rains are expectedMarch 2026 to November 2026
Rain in a typical yearAbout 1,103 mm
This season's rainLeaning dry — September and October look short of rain. Plant at the early end of the window, favour quicker and more drought-tolerant crops, and keep moisture in the soil: mulch, and weed early.
What that supportsenough rain for one full main crop, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season
Ground this covers2 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 88% of this area.
88% enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 255 growing days · about 1,100 mm · March to November
12% enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 259 growing days · about 1,140 mm · March to November

last updated 30 September 2026

What grows in Cotonou

88% lowland, sub-humid, warm — 56 crops

12% sub-humid, warm — 56 crops

Rain-fed. These dates are worked out from each place's own rainfall, for a field watered by the season — with irrigation a window can open earlier, close later, or come round more than once a year. Check your own field under What grows, or get the Divisi app for a calendar dated to your farm.

What Divisi would not plant in Cotonou

Every crop in the catalogue is scored against this district, not only the ones that work — so the list above is a decision rather than a shortlist. These are the rest, with what ruled each one out.

  • Avocado Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Beetroot Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cabbage Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Chickpea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Arabica coffee Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Enset Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Garlic Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Ginger Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Irish potato Unsuitable
  • Lemon Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Niger seed Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Passion fruit Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Sweet pepper Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Sweet potato Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Swiss chard Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Tea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Teff Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Wheat Unsuitable — Temperature

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 18 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

The crops and dates above are read at cells spread across Cotonou, and the map colours which kind of ground each part of it is. Your own soil, slope and rainfall will shift the dates — the Divisi app works them out for your field, and dates each job that follows.

Or check your field first

What changed in Cotonou

  • 2 September 2026 Amaranth — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Frost & pests
  • 2 September 2026 Amaranth — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
  • 2 September 2026 Chickpea — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Frost & pests
  • 2 September 2026 Chickpea — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
  • 2 September 2026 Mango — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Frost & pests

This calendar moves

Planting windows shift with the forecast. Leave your email and we'll send what changed, and a note when planting time nears — a couple of emails a month at most.

Where to sell it nearby

Frequently asked questions

What crops grow well in Cotonou?

Jute mallow, African eggplant, African nightshade, Amaranth, Bambara groundnut all rate well in Cotonou — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Jute mallow in Cotonou?

In Cotonou the window for Jute mallow runs 30 Mar 2026 to 11 Oct 2026.

Is there a farming app that works in Cotonou?

Divisi does. It reads Cotonou's own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average, so the planting dates and crop shortlist on this page are the same ones the app works out for a field here — then dates each job for that field, and keeps working with no signal.

Is this exact for my own field?

No — these are readings taken across Cotonou, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.

Keep going

The district's answer is one question. What each crop needs, what attacks it and where to sell it are the others.

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