What grows in Samburu
Kenya
The 2026 season in Samburu
| 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 450 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 425 mm in the driest of 3 districts to about 732 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 | 5 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 29% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 95 growing days · about 370 mm |
|---|---|
| 21% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 109 growing days · about 420 mm · October to December |
| 19% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 155 growing days · about 570 mm · October to December |
| 9% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 200 growing days · about 700 mm · March to June |
| 5% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 259 growing days · about 660 mm · March to December |
last updated 16 September 2026 · from all 3 areas within it
Samburu's districts
What grows here
-
Passion fruitFavourableGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 16 Mar 2027 – 15 Apr 2027 opens in 24 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
11.1–12.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumSteep slope -
Jute mallowFavourableGrows well in 2 of 3 districts
Plant 14 Mar 2027 – 23 Apr 2027 opens in 24 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
7.9–9.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Common beanFavourableGrows well in 2 of 3 districts
Plant 4 Mar 2027 – 24 Mar 2027 opens in 22 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.4–1.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
CowpeaFavourableGrows well in 2 of 3 districts
Plant 4 Mar 2027 – 24 Mar 2027 opens in 22 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.0–1.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Niger seedFavourableGrows well in 2 of 3 districts
Plant 4 Mar 2027 – 24 Mar 2027 opens in 22 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
0.6–0.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH outside the crop's range -
PumpkinFavourableGrows well in 2 of 3 districts
Plant 4 Mar 2027 – 24 Mar 2027 opens in 22 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
14.1–17.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil 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 3 of 3 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 -
Robusta coffeeFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 3 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 -
GrapefruitFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 3 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 40.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
MandarinFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 3 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 33.1 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
CocoaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 3 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 3 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
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Samburu, 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 Samburu?
Passion fruit, Jute mallow, Common bean, Cowpea, Niger seed all rate well in Samburu — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Passion fruit in Samburu?
In Samburu the window for Passion fruit runs 16 Mar 2027 to 15 Apr 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Samburu?
Divisi does. It reads Samburu'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 Samburu, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.