What grows in Northern
Ghana
The 2027 season in Northern
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | April 2027 to November 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 1,011 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 939 mm in the driest of 16 districts to about 1,190 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Leaning dry — September looks 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 +0.9 °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 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. |
| 97% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 220 growing days · about 1,060 mm · April to November |
|---|---|
| 3% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 223 growing days · about 1,100 mm · April to November |
last updated 30 September 2026 · from all 16 areas within it
Northern's districts
-
Gushegu -
Karaga -
Kpandai -
Kumbungu -
Mion -
Nanton -
Nanumba North -
Nanumba South -
Saboba -
Sagnerigu -
Savelugu -
Tamale Metropolitan -
Tatale Sanguli -
Tolon -
Yendi Municipal -
Zabzugu
What grows here
-
Jute mallowFavourableGrows well in 16 of 16 districts
Plant 12 May 2027 – 21 Sep 2027 opens in 32 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 9.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
CashewFavourableGrows well in 16 of 16 districts
Plant 15 Apr 2027 – 16 Sep 2027 opens in 28 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
African eggplantFavourableGrows well in 16 of 16 districts
Plant 18 May 2027 – 6 Aug 2027 opens in 33 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 23.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
African nightshadeFavourableGrows well in 16 of 16 districts
Plant 7 Jun 2027 – 16 Aug 2027 opens in 36 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 16.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
AmaranthFavourableGrows well in 16 of 16 districts
Plant 18 May 2027 – 6 Aug 2027 opens in 33 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 18.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Bambara groundnutFavourableGrows well in 16 of 16 districts
Plant 18 May 2027 – 6 Aug 2027 opens in 33 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable
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
-
Oil palmFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 16 of 16 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 19.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Sweet potatoFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 10 of 16 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2027 – 10 Feb 2027 opens in 16 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 22.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
GingerFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 6 of 16 districts
Plant 21 May 2027 – 10 Jun 2027 opens in 33 weeks
based on the rains it usually gets
about 22.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumLate-maturing — drought risk -
Robusta coffeeFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 6 of 16 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Northern, 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 firstSupport and extension
- GIRSAL Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme
- Planting for Food and Jobs Phase II
- CSIR-Crops Research Institute
- National Seed Council
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 Northern?
Jute mallow, Cashew, African eggplant, African nightshade, Amaranth all rate well in Northern — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Jute mallow in Northern?
In Northern the window for Jute mallow runs 12 May 2027 to 21 Sep 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Northern?
Divisi does. It reads Northern'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 Northern, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.