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What grows in Mt. Elgon

Bungoma, Kenya

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Map showing the boundary of Mt. Elgon

The 2026 season in Mt. Elgon

When the rains are expectedJanuary 2026 to January 2026
Rain in a typical yearAbout 1,475 mm
This season's rainRain close to usual — plan around about 1,475 mm falling roughly when it always does
This season's heatHotter 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 supportsenough rain for a long crop, or two in a year, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season
Ground this covers4 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 40% of this area.
40% enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 365 growing days · about 1,520 mm · January to January
36% enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 344 growing days · about 1,460 mm · February to January
7% enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; cold for much of the year, with a short planting season 365 growing days · about 1,510 mm · January to December
7% enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 365 growing days · about 1,470 mm · January to December

last updated 30 September 2026

What grows in Mt. Elgon

40% high montane, humid, warm — 9 crops

36% highland, humid, warm — 41 crops

7% humid, cold — 2 crops

7% humid, cool — 4 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 Mt. Elgon

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.

  • Sugarcane Moderate
  • African eggplant Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Bambara groundnut Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Banana Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cashew Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cassava Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Chickpea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cocoa Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Coconut Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Taro Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Robusta coffee Unsuitable
  • Cotton Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cowpea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Eggplant Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Egusi melon Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Fonio Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Grapefruit Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Green gram Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Jute mallow Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Lime Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Mango Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Moringa Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Oil palm Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Okra Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Papaya Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Pearl millet Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Pigeon pea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Rice Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Roselle Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Sesame Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Sweet potato Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Watermelon Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Yam Unsuitable — Temperature

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 33 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

The crops and dates above are read at cells spread across Mt. Elgon, 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 Mt. Elgon

  • 2 September 2026 Chickpea — Planting window moved, now opens 9 Jun 2026
  • 2 September 2026 Wheat — Planting window moved, now opens 1 Mar 2026
  • 2 September 2026 Garlic — Crop stopped being recommendable
  • 2 September 2026 Swiss Chard — Crop stopped being recommendable
  • 2 September 2026 Irish Potato — 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 Mt. Elgon?

Lettuce, Kale, Wheat, Irish potato, Beetroot all rate well in Mt. Elgon — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Lettuce in Mt. Elgon?

In Mt. Elgon the window for Lettuce runs 22 Mar 2027 to 20 Jul 2027.

Is there a farming app that works in Mt. Elgon?

Divisi does. It reads Mt. Elgon'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 Mt. Elgon, 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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