What grows in Isiolo
Kenya
The 2026 season in Isiolo
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | October 2026 to December 2026 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 346 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 346 mm in the driest of 2 districts to about 414 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Leaning wet — 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 +0.8 °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 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 | 4 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 68% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season no rain-fed season · about 260 mm |
|---|---|
| 21% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 98 growing days · about 380 mm · October to December |
| 4% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 160 growing days · about 590 mm · October to December |
| 4% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 200 growing days · about 810 mm · February to June |
last updated 16 September 2026 · from all 2 areas within it
Isiolo's districts
What grows here
-
Common beanFavourableGrows well in 2 of 2 districts
Plant 27 Feb 2027 – 4 Apr 2027 opens in 21 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
OkraFavourableGrows well in 2 of 2 districts
Plant 24 Feb 2027 – 26 Mar 2027 opens in 21 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
9.0–9.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
PumpkinFavourableGrows well in 2 of 2 districts
Plant 15 Feb 2027 – 4 Apr 2027 opens in 20 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
22.8–23.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
SorghumFavourableGrows well in 2 of 2 districts
Plant 2 Feb 2027 – 7 Mar 2027 opens in 18 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
3.4–4.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Spider plantFavourableGrows well in 2 of 2 districts
Plant 13 Mar 2027 – 10 Apr 2027 opens in 23 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 9.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
African nightshadeFavourableGrows well in 2 of 2 districts
Plant 13 Oct 2026 – 2 Nov 2026 opens in 2 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
11.8–14.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum
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
-
BananaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 2 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 60.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
CocoaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 2 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
TaroFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 2 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 30.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Robusta coffeeFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 2 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 3.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Oil palmFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 2 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 20.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
SugarcaneFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 2 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 114.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Isiolo, 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 Isiolo?
Common bean, Okra, Pumpkin, Sorghum, Spider plant all rate well in Isiolo — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Common bean in Isiolo?
In Isiolo the window for Common bean runs 27 Feb 2027 to 4 Apr 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Isiolo?
Divisi does. It reads Isiolo'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 Isiolo, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.