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What grows in Ratau

Maseru, Lesotho

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Map showing the boundary of Ratau

The 2026/27 season in Ratau

Rainy seasonsOne each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it
When the rains are expectedOctober 2026 to May 2027
Rain in a typical yearAbout 725 mm
This season's rainLeaning 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 heatHotter 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 supportsenough rain for one full main crop, warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth
Ground this covers4 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 57% of this area.
57% enough rain for one full main crop; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 217 growing days · about 720 mm · October to May
26% enough rain for one full main crop; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 243 growing days · about 770 mm · September to June
13% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 159 growing days · about 680 mm · November to May
4% enough rain for one full main crop; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 225 growing days · about 750 mm · October to May

last updated 16 September 2026

What grows in Ratau

57% highland, sub-humid, mild winter — 32 crops

13% highland, semi-arid, mild winter — 36 crops

4% sub-humid, mild winter — 33 crops

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 Ratau

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.

  • Enset 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
  • Mandarin Moderate — Frost & pests
  • 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
  • Egusi melon Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Ginger Unsuitable
  • Grapefruit Unsuitable
  • Green gram Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Guava Unsuitable
  • Lime Unsuitable
  • Mango Unsuitable
  • Moringa Unsuitable
  • Oil palm Unsuitable
  • Papaya Unsuitable
  • Pearl millet Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Pigeon pea Unsuitable
  • Pineapple Unsuitable
  • Rice Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Roselle Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Sesame Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Turmeric Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Yam Unsuitable — Temperature

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 37 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

The crops and dates above are read at cells spread across Ratau, 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 first

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.

Where to sell it nearby

Frequently asked questions

What crops grow well in Ratau?

Sunflower, Watermelon, Pumpkin, Cucumber, Jute mallow all rate well in Ratau — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Sunflower in Ratau?

In Ratau the window for Sunflower runs 6 Dec 2026 to 26 Dec 2026.

Is there a farming app that works in Ratau?

Divisi does. It reads Ratau'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 Ratau, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.

Keep going

The district's answer is one question. What each crop needs, what attacks it and where to sell it are the others.

Crop guides Pest guides Disease guides Where to sell it Farming glossary Farming insights Read the Hive Feed How the advice is made