Divisi
What grows in Eswatini
The 2026/27 season in Eswatini
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | October 2026 to May 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 795 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 578 mm in the driest of 55 districts to about 1,252 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Leaning dry — January, February, October, 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 +1.7 °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 full main crop, warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth |
| Ground this covers | 4 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 83% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 218 growing days · about 760 mm · October to April |
|---|---|
| 6% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 221 growing days · about 790 mm · September to May |
| 4% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 198 growing days · about 720 mm · October to April |
| 3% | enough rain for one full main crop; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 267 growing days · about 1,060 mm · September to June |
last updated 18 September 2026 · from all 55 areas within it
Eswatini's regions
What grows here
-
MangoFavourableGrows well in 54 of 55 districts
Plant 5 Nov 2026 – 24 Jan 2027 opens in 5 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
16.8–18.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
LablabFavourableGrows well in 53 of 55 districts
Plant 9 Dec 2026 – 8 Jan 2027 opens in 10 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.7–1.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
SunflowerFavourableGrows well in 53 of 55 districts
Plant 12 Oct 2026 – 21 Feb 2027 opens in 2 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (lime) -
SorghumFavourableGrows well in 52 of 55 districts
Plant 10 Dec 2026 – 19 Jan 2027 opens in 10 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
3.5–4.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Common beanFavourableGrows well in 52 of 55 districts
Plant 29 Oct 2026 – 8 Mar 2027 opens in 4 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumSteep slope -
CucumberFavourableGrows well in 52 of 55 districts
Plant 17 Oct 2026 – 6 Feb 2027 opens in 2 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 19.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (lime)
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
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Eswatini, 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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What crops grow well in Eswatini?
Mango, Lablab, Sunflower, Sorghum, Common bean all rate well in Eswatini — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Mango in Eswatini?
In Eswatini the window for Mango runs 5 Nov 2026 to 24 Jan 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Eswatini?
Divisi does. It reads Eswatini'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 Eswatini, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.