What grows in Berea
Lesotho
The 2026/27 season in Berea
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | October 2026 to May 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 680 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 628 mm in the driest of 10 districts to about 835 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Leaning dry — January, February, November and December look short of rain. Plant at the early end of the window, favour quicker and more drought-tolerant crops, and keep moisture in the soil: mulch, and weed early. |
| This season's heat | Hotter than usual — about +1.8 °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 full main crop, warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth |
| Ground this covers | 3 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 49% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 192 growing days · about 680 mm · October to May |
|---|---|
| 36% | enough rain for one full main crop; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 248 growing days · about 790 mm · September to May |
| 12% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 158 growing days · about 650 mm · November to May |
last updated 17 September 2026 · from all 10 areas within it
Berea's districts
-
Kanana -
Kueneng -
Makeoana -
Mapoteng -
Maseru (Berea Distict) -
Motanasela -
Phuthiatsana -
Senekane -
Tayateyaneng -
Tebe-Tebe
What grows here
-
Jute mallowFavourableGrows well in 9 of 10 districts
Plant 11 Jan 2027 – 31 Jan 2027 opens in 15 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
7.6–8.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
WatermelonFavourableGrows well in 9 of 10 districts
Plant 19 Dec 2026 – 8 Jan 2027 opens in 11 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
22.3–27.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
SunflowerFavourableGrows well in 9 of 10 districts
Plant 21 Dec 2026 – 10 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.8–2.1 t/ha expected
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Niger seedFavourableGrows well in 9 of 10 districts
Plant 8 Jan 2027 – 28 Jan 2027 opens in 14 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
0.7–0.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Common beanFavourableGrows well in 9 of 10 districts
Plant 16 Jan 2027 – 5 Feb 2027 opens in 15 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.7–2.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
TeffFavourableGrows well in 9 of 10 districts
Plant 28 Jan 2027 – 7 Feb 2027 opens in 17 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
2.0–2.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumEarly-maturing — escapes late drought
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.
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Berea, 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 firstThis 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 Berea?
Jute mallow, Watermelon, Sunflower, Niger seed, Common bean all rate well in Berea — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Jute mallow in Berea?
In Berea the window for Jute mallow runs 11 Jan 2027 to 31 Jan 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Berea?
Divisi does. It reads Berea'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 Berea, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.