What grows in Tana River
Kenya
The 2026/27 season in Tana River
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | October 2026 to January 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 467 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 370 mm in the driest of 3 districts to about 680 mm in the wettest |
| Rainy seasons, district by district | Of 3 districts: one rainy season in 2 and two rainy seasons in 1 |
| 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 | 4 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 33% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 88 growing days · about 510 mm · October to January |
|---|---|
| 32% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season no rain-fed season · about 340 mm · October to December |
| 24% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 203 growing days · about 720 mm · September to January |
| 6% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 171 growing days · about 620 mm · September to December |
last updated 16 September 2026 · from all 3 areas within it
Tana River's districts
What grows here
-
Common beanFavourableGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 4 Oct 2026 – 24 Oct 2026 opens in 1 week
matched to this season's forecast
1.8–2.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
CowpeaFavourableGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 4 Oct 2026 – 3 Nov 2026 opens in 1 week
matched to this season's forecast
1.4–1.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Egusi melonFavourableGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 4 Oct 2026 – 24 Oct 2026 opens in 1 week
matched to this season's forecast
0.9–1.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
FonioFavourableGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 4 Oct 2026 – 14 Oct 2026 opens in 1 week
matched to this season's forecast
0.9–1.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
Green gramFavourableGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 4 Oct 2026 – 24 Oct 2026 opens in 1 week
matched to this season's forecast
1.1–1.4 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Jute mallowFavourableGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 16 Oct 2026 – 15 Nov 2026 opens in 2 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
8.9–9.3 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
-
Oil palmFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 3 of 3 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 -
Robusta coffeeFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 3 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 -
GingerFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 3 of 3 districts
Plant 22 Mar 2027 – 21 May 2027 opens in 25 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 27.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
Swiss chardFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 3 districts
Plant 21 May 2027 – 30 May 2027 opens in 33 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 50.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Irish potatoFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 1 of 3 districts
Plant 10 Jun 2027 – 19 Jun 2027 opens in 36 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 45.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Niger seedFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 1 of 3 districts
Plant 10 Jun 2027 – 19 Jun 2027 opens in 36 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 0.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Tana River, 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 Tana River?
Common bean, Cowpea, Egusi melon, Fonio, Green gram all rate well in Tana River — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Common bean in Tana River?
In Tana River the window for Common bean runs 4 Oct 2026 to 24 Oct 2026.
Is there a farming app that works in Tana River?
Divisi does. It reads Tana River'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 Tana River, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.