What grows in Embu
Kenya
The 2026/27 season in Embu
| Rainy seasons | Two each year — two chances to plant |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | October 2026 to January 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 669 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 669 mm in the driest of 4 districts to about 2,002 mm in the wettest |
| Rainy seasons, district by district | Of 4 districts: one rainy season in 1 and two rainy seasons in 2 |
| This season's rain | Leaning wet — January, October, November and December look heavier than usual. Make sure water can drain off the field; a wet year does more damage through waterlogging and disease than through the rain itself. |
| 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 short crop, and only if timed to it, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season |
| Ground this covers | 5 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 38% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 215 growing days · about 780 mm · October to January |
|---|---|
| 26% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 156 growing days · about 610 mm · October to January |
| 18% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 248 growing days · about 970 mm · September to June |
| 9% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 346 growing days · about 1,810 mm · February to January |
| 3% | 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 1,720 mm · January to December |
last updated 16 September 2026 · from all 4 areas within it
Embu's districts
What grows here
-
BeetrootFavourableGrows well in 4 of 4 districts
Plant 11 Oct 2026 – 31 Oct 2026 opens in 2 weeks
based on the rains it usually gets
about 25.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Niger seedFavourableGrows well in 4 of 4 districts
Plant 13 Feb 2027 – 23 Feb 2027 opens in 19 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 0.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
CarrotFavourableGrows well in 4 of 4 districts
Plant 19 Feb 2027 – 15 Mar 2027 opens in 20 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 30.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
PumpkinFavourableGrows well in 4 of 4 districts
Plant 26 Sep 2026 – 16 Oct 2026 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 21.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
SunflowerFavourableGrows well in 4 of 4 districts
Plant 13 Feb 2027 – 5 Mar 2027 opens in 19 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
2.0–2.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Passion fruitFavourableGrows well in 4 of 4 districts
Plant 17 Feb 2027 – 17 Mar 2027 opens in 20 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
18.2–18.5 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
-
TaroFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 3 of 4 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 29.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Robusta coffeeFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 3 of 4 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
SugarcaneFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 4 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 72.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
CocoaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 4 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Oil palmFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 4 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
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Embu, 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
- Agricultural Finance Corporation Credit
- National Fertilizer Subsidy Programme
- Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization
- Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service
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 Embu?
Beetroot, Niger seed, Carrot, Pumpkin, Sunflower all rate well in Embu — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Beetroot in Embu?
In Embu the window for Beetroot runs 11 Oct 2026 to 31 Oct 2026.
Is there a farming app that works in Embu?
Divisi does. It reads Embu'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 Embu, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.