What grows in Ngoajane
Butha-Buthe, Lesotho
The 2026/27 season in Ngoajane
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | September 2026 to May 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 823 mm |
| 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 +1.5 °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, cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date |
| Ground this covers | 3 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 90% of this area. |
| 90% | enough rain for one full main crop; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 229 growing days · about 790 mm · September to May |
|---|---|
| 6% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 209 growing days · about 680 mm · October to May |
| 3% | enough rain for one full main crop; cold for much of the year, with a short planting season 248 growing days · about 950 mm · August to May |
last updated 16 September 2026
What grows in Ngoajane
90% sub-humid, cool — 14 crops
-
Niger seedFavourablePlant 27 Dec 2026 – 26 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
0.6–0.7 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 7 Dec 2026
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slopeEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
PumpkinFavourablePlant 7 Nov 2026 – 17 Dec 2026 opens in 5 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
13.3–16.3 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 28 Oct 2026 · about 8.1 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slopeEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
CarrotFavourablePlant 17 Dec 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 opens in 11 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
15.7–20.1 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 29 Aug 2026 – 17 Nov 2026 · about 18.4 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSteep slope -
WheatFavourablePlant 27 Dec 2026 – 16 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
2.8–3.3 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 7 Dec 2026 · about 2.3 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slope -
Irish potatoFavourablePlant 27 Dec 2026 – 16 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
17.0–21.4 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 7 Dec 2026 · about 15.1 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slopeEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
OnionFavourable
Plant 27 Dec 2026 – 16 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 13.4 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 29 Aug 2026 – 7 Dec 2026 · about 15.3 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSteep slope -
BeetrootFavourablePlant 27 Dec 2026 – 15 Feb 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
15.7–19.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 9 Aug 2026 – 21 Jan 2027 · about 13.7 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slopeEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
TeffFavourablePlant 6 Jan 2027 – 26 Jan 2027 opens in 14 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 8 Oct 2026 – 7 Dec 2026 · about 1.1 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumSteep slope -
Common beanFavourablePlant 27 Dec 2026 – 26 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.4–1.7 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 27 Dec 2026
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slopeEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
LettuceFavourablePlant 16 Jan 2027 – 15 Feb 2027 opens in 15 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 12.3 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 21 Jan 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slopeEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
CabbageFavourablePlant 16 Jan 2027 – 5 Feb 2027 opens in 15 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 21.9 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 9 Aug 2026 – 28 Oct 2026 · about 23.9 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSteep slope -
GarlicFavourablePlant 7 Dec 2026 – 27 Dec 2026 opens in 10 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 4.6 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 20 Jul 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 6.1 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Swiss chardFavourablePlant 17 Dec 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 opens in 11 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 15.7 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 9 Aug 2026 – 21 Jan 2027 · about 17.1 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSteep slope -
KaleFavourablePlant 17 Dec 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 opens in 11 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 15.2 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 29 Aug 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 17.1 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSteep slope
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 Divisi would not plant in Ngoajane
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.
- Sunflower Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Cucumber Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- African nightshade Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Lablab Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Maize Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Sorghum Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Tobacco Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Spider plant Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Soybean Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Tomato Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Amaranth Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Finger millet Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Sweet pepper Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Enset Moderate — Frost & pests
- Groundnut Moderate — Temperature
- Mandarin Moderate — Frost & pests
- Sugarcane Moderate — Frost & pests
- Sweet orange Moderate — Frost & pests
- Avocado Moderate — Frost & pests
- Lemon Moderate — Frost & pests
- Passion fruit Moderate — Frost & pests
- Tea Moderate — Frost & pests
- African eggplant Unsuitable — Temperature
- Bambara groundnut Unsuitable — Temperature
- Banana Unsuitable
- Cashew Unsuitable
- Cassava Unsuitable
- Chickpea Unsuitable — Temperature
- Cocoa Unsuitable
- Coconut Unsuitable
- Taro Unsuitable
- Arabica coffee Unsuitable
- Robusta coffee Unsuitable
- Cotton Unsuitable — Temperature
- Cowpea Unsuitable — Temperature
- Eggplant Unsuitable — Temperature
- Egusi melon Unsuitable — Temperature
- Fonio Unsuitable — Temperature
- Ginger Unsuitable
- Grapefruit Unsuitable
- Green gram Unsuitable — Temperature
- Guava Unsuitable
- Chilli Unsuitable — Temperature
- Jute mallow Unsuitable — Temperature
- Lime Unsuitable
- Mango Unsuitable
- Moringa Unsuitable
- Oil palm Unsuitable
- Okra Unsuitable — Temperature
- Papaya Unsuitable
- Pearl millet Unsuitable — Temperature
- Pigeon pea Unsuitable
- Pineapple Unsuitable
- Rice Unsuitable — Temperature
- Roselle Unsuitable — Temperature
- Sesame Unsuitable — Temperature
- Sweet potato Unsuitable — Temperature
- Turmeric Unsuitable — Temperature
- Watermelon Unsuitable — Temperature
- Yam Unsuitable — Temperature
Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 60 came back without a sowing date.
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops and dates above are read at cells spread across Ngoajane, 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 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.
Where to sell it nearby
-
Durban Fresh Produce Market
265 km · Banana & plantain, Irish potato, Tomato, Cabbage
-
Joburg Market
271 km · Irish potato, Tomato, Onion, Cabbage
-
Tshwane Market
326 km · Irish potato, Tomato, Onion, Cabbage
Frequently asked questions
What crops grow well in Ngoajane?
Niger seed, Pumpkin, Carrot, Beetroot, Common bean all rate well in Ngoajane — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Niger seed in Ngoajane?
In Ngoajane the window for Niger seed runs 27 Dec 2026 to 26 Jan 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Ngoajane?
Divisi does. It reads Ngoajane'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 Ngoajane, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.