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What grows in Mekelle

Tigray, Ethiopia

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Map showing the boundary of Mekelle

The 2027 season in Mekelle

Rainy seasonsOne each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it
When the rains are expectedJune 2027 to September 2027
Rain in a typical yearAbout 621 mm
This season's rainRain close to usual — plan around about 621 mm falling roughly when it always does
This season's heatHotter than usual — about +1.8 °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 supportsenough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it, 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 72% of this area.
72% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 99 growing days · about 640 mm · June to September
28% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 100 growing days · about 640 mm · June to September

last updated 16 September 2026

What grows in Mekelle

72% highland, semi-arid, warm — 42 crops

28% high montane, semi-arid, warm — 35 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 grows in Mekelle with irrigation

These need water applied — rain alone will not carry them here. The dates are the windows their own water supply allows.

What Divisi would not plant in Mekelle

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.

  • Cowpea Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Green gram Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Pearl millet Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Sweet potato Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Roselle Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Sesame Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Avocado Unsuitable — Water
  • Banana Unsuitable — Water
  • Cashew Unsuitable
  • Cassava Unsuitable
  • Cocoa Unsuitable
  • Coconut Unsuitable
  • Taro Unsuitable
  • Arabica coffee Unsuitable — Water
  • Robusta coffee Unsuitable — Water
  • Cotton Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Egusi melon Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Enset Unsuitable — Water
  • Ginger Unsuitable — Water
  • Grapefruit Unsuitable — Water
  • Guava Unsuitable — Water
  • Lemon Unsuitable — Water
  • Lime Unsuitable — Water
  • Mandarin Unsuitable — Water
  • Oil palm Unsuitable
  • Pigeon pea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Pineapple Unsuitable — Water
  • Sugarcane Unsuitable — Water
  • Sweet orange Unsuitable — Water
  • Tea Unsuitable — Water
  • Turmeric Unsuitable — Water
  • Yam Unsuitable

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 32 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

The crops and dates above are read at cells spread across Mekelle, 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 Mekelle

  • 2 September 2026 Passion Fruit — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Frost & pests
  • 2 September 2026 Lettuce — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Frost & pests
  • 2 September 2026 Lettuce — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
  • 2 September 2026 African Nightshade — Crop became recommendable
  • 2 September 2026 Pumpkin Butternut — Crop became recommendable

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

Support and extension

Frequently asked questions

What crops grow well in Mekelle?

African nightshade, Beetroot, Carrot, Chickpea, Common bean all rate well in Mekelle — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant African nightshade in Mekelle?

In Mekelle the window for African nightshade runs 24 Jun 2027 to 14 Jul 2027.

Is there a farming app that works in Mekelle?

Divisi does. It reads Mekelle'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 Mekelle, 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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