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What grows in Gachoka

Embu, Kenya

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Map showing the boundary of Gachoka

The 2026/27 season in Gachoka

Rainy seasonsTwo each year — two chances to plant
When the rains are expectedOctober 2026 to January 2027
Rain in a typical yearAbout 784 mm
This season's rainLeaning wet — January, February, 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 heatHotter than usual — about +1.0 °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 full main crop, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season
Ground this covers3 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 71% of this area.
71% 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
21% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 162 growing days · about 640 mm · October to January
7% enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 245 growing days · about 940 mm · September to June

last updated 30 September 2026

What grows in Gachoka

71% lowland, sub-humid, warm, two seasons — 56 crops

21% lowland, semi-arid, warm — 47 crops

7% lowland, sub-humid, warm, one season — 56 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 Gachoka 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 Gachoka

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.

  • Avocado Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Pineapple Moderate — Water
  • Tea Moderate — Water
  • Ginger Moderate — Water
  • Sugarcane Moderate — Water
  • Banana Unsuitable — Water
  • Cabbage Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Chickpea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cocoa Unsuitable — Water
  • Coconut Unsuitable
  • Taro Unsuitable — Water
  • Arabica coffee Unsuitable — Water
  • Robusta coffee Unsuitable — Water
  • Enset Unsuitable
  • Garlic Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Oil palm Unsuitable — Water
  • Teff Unsuitable — Temperature

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 17 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

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

  • 31 August 2026 Watermelon — Forecast basis changed, now based on the typical season
  • 31 August 2026 Watermelon — Planting window moved, now opens 1 Nov 2026
  • 31 August 2026 Lettuce — Forecast basis changed, now based on the typical season
  • 31 August 2026 Lettuce — Planting window moved, now opens 1 Nov 2026
  • 31 August 2026 Mango — Forecast basis changed, now based on the typical season

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 Gachoka?

Cowpea, Pearl millet, Pumpkin, Watermelon, African nightshade all rate well in Gachoka — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Cowpea in Gachoka?

In Gachoka the window for Cowpea runs 14 Sep 2026 to 23 Oct 2026.

Is there a farming app that works in Gachoka?

Divisi does. It reads Gachoka'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 Gachoka, 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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