What grows in CENTRAL
Botswana
The 2026/27 season in CENTRAL
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | November 2026 to March 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 430 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 390 mm in the driest of 5 districts to about 468 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Leaning dry — January, February, November and December 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. |
| This season's heat | Hotter than usual — about +2.3 °C over the growing months. Heat makes the same rain do less, so a dry spell bites sooner: do not plant late, and shade or mulch what you can. |
| What that supports | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season |
| Ground this covers | 2 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 52% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 105 growing days · about 430 mm · November to March |
|---|---|
| 45% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season no rain-fed season · about 340 mm · December to March |
last updated 18 September 2026 · from all 5 areas within it
CENTRAL's districts
What grows here
-
Jute mallowFavourableGrows well in 5 of 5 districts
Plant 25 Dec 2026 – 24 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
based on the rains it usually gets
6.7–8.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Pearl milletFavourableGrows well in 4 of 5 districts
Plant 28 Nov 2026 – 17 Jan 2027 opens in 8 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.9–2.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
LablabFavourableGrows well in 4 of 5 districts
Plant 12 Dec 2026 – 22 Dec 2026 opens in 10 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.4–1.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Bambara groundnutFavourableGrows well in 1 of 5 districts
Plant 13 Nov 2026 – 3 Dec 2026 opens in 6 weeks
based on the rains it usually gets
1.1–1.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Egusi melonFavourableGrows well in 1 of 5 districts
Plant 13 Nov 2026 – 13 Dec 2026 opens in 6 weeks
based on the rains it usually gets
0.7–0.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
SorghumFavourableGrows well in 1 of 5 districts
Plant 13 Nov 2026 – 13 Dec 2026 opens in 6 weeks
based on the rains it usually gets
2.2–2.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonEarly-maturing — escapes late drought
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 grows here with irrigation
-
GuavaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 5 of 5 districts
Plant 22 Mar 2026 – 2 Mar 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 35.0 t/ha expected
-
MandarinFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 5 of 5 districts
Plant 22 Mar 2026 – 2 Mar 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 32.4 t/ha expected
Soil pH below the crop's optimum -
Sweet orangeFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 5 of 5 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 37.1 t/ha expected
Soil pH below the crop's optimum -
GrapefruitFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 5 of 5 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 36.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
LemonFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 5 of 5 districts
Plant 2 Mar 2027 – 30 Jun 2027 opens in 22 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 37.1 t/ha expected
Soil pH below the crop's optimum -
BeetrootFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 5 of 5 districts
Plant 22 Mar 2027 – 30 Jun 2027 opens in 25 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 37.1 t/ha expected
Early-maturing — escapes late drought
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in CENTRAL, and the ground under them is not all the same. 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 firstThis 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.
Frequently asked questions
What crops grow well in CENTRAL?
Jute mallow, Pearl millet, Lablab, Bambara groundnut, Egusi melon all rate well in CENTRAL — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Jute mallow in CENTRAL?
In CENTRAL the window for Jute mallow runs 25 Dec 2026 to 24 Jan 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in CENTRAL?
Divisi does. It reads CENTRAL'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 CENTRAL, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.