What grows in Mphokojoana
Mokhotlong, Lesotho
The 2026/27 season in Mphokojoana
| 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 817 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 73% of this area. |
| 73% | enough rain for one full main crop; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 232 growing days · about 780 mm · September to May |
|---|---|
| 17% | enough rain for one full main crop; cold for much of the year, with a short planting season 245 growing days · about 890 mm · September to May |
| 10% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 277 growing days · about 940 mm · September to June |
last updated 16 September 2026
What grows in Mphokojoana
73% sub-humid, cool — 6 crops
-
CabbageModeratePlant 13 Oct 2026 – 30 Nov 2026 opens in 2 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
13.5–16.3 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 29 Aug 2026 – 7 Dec 2026 · about 23.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumSteep slope -
Irish potatoModeratePlant 17 Oct 2026 – 10 Nov 2026 opens in 2 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
7.8–9.2 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 8 Oct 2026 – 17 Nov 2026 · about 12.4 t/ha
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageableSteep slope -
BeetrootModeratePlant 26 Nov 2026 – 24 Dec 2026 opens in 8 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
9.5–9.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 27 Dec 2026 · about 13.6 t/ha
Steep slopeEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
LettuceModeratePlant 10 Dec 2026 – 7 Jan 2027 opens in 10 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
6.8–7.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 28 Oct 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 10.9 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slopeEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
KaleModeratePlant 1 Nov 2026 – 21 Dec 2026 opens in 4 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
8.6–10.2 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 8 Oct 2026 – 7 Dec 2026 · about 14.8 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slopeLate-maturing — drought risk -
Swiss chardModeratePlant 1 Dec 2026 – 10 Jan 2027 opens in 9 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
11.5–12.9 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 18.4 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slopeLate-maturing — drought risk
17% sub-humid, cold — 3 crops
-
CabbageModeratePlant 18 Sep 2026 – 1 Nov 2026 open now
matched to this season's forecast
19.4–20.6 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 29 Aug 2026 – 7 Dec 2026 · about 23.0 t/ha
Frost riskSteep slopeEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
LettuceModeratePlant 15 Nov 2026 – 24 Dec 2026 opens in 6 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 8.6 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 28 Oct 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 10.9 t/ha
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageableSteep slope -
KaleModeratePlant 25 Oct 2026 – 14 Dec 2026 opens in 3 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
13.1–13.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 8 Oct 2026 – 7 Dec 2026 · about 14.8 t/ha
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageableSteep slope
10% humid, cool — 3 crops
-
CabbageModeratePlant 5 Sep 2026 – 4 Nov 2026 open now
matched to this season's forecast
10.1–11.1 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 29 Aug 2026 – 7 Dec 2026 · about 23.0 t/ha
Frost riskSteep slopeEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
LettuceModeratePlant 18 Nov 2026 – 16 Dec 2026 opens in 7 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 5.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 28 Oct 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 10.9 t/ha
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageableSteep slope -
KaleModeratePlant 31 Oct 2026 – 10 Dec 2026 opens in 4 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
7.1–7.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 8 Oct 2026 – 7 Dec 2026 · about 14.8 t/ha
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageableSteep 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 Mphokojoana
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.
- Niger seed Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Wheat Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Teff Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Common bean Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Carrot Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Garlic Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Pumpkin Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Onion Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Groundnut Moderate — Temperature
- Mandarin Moderate
- Sweet orange Moderate — Frost & pests
- African eggplant Unsuitable — Temperature
- African nightshade Unsuitable — Temperature
- Amaranth Unsuitable — Temperature
- Avocado Unsuitable
- 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
- Cucumber Unsuitable — Temperature
- Eggplant Unsuitable — Temperature
- Egusi melon Unsuitable — Temperature
- Enset Unsuitable
- Finger millet Unsuitable — Temperature
- Fonio Unsuitable — Temperature
- Ginger Unsuitable — Temperature
- Grapefruit Unsuitable
- Green gram Unsuitable — Temperature
- Guava Unsuitable
- Chilli Unsuitable — Temperature
- Jute mallow Unsuitable — Temperature
- Lablab Unsuitable — Temperature
- Lemon Unsuitable
- Lime Unsuitable
- Maize Unsuitable — Temperature
- Mango Unsuitable
- Moringa Unsuitable
- Oil palm Unsuitable
- Okra Unsuitable — Temperature
- Papaya Unsuitable
- Passion fruit Unsuitable
- Pearl millet Unsuitable — Temperature
- Pigeon pea Unsuitable
- Pineapple Unsuitable
- Rice Unsuitable — Temperature
- Roselle Unsuitable — Temperature
- Sesame Unsuitable — Temperature
- Sorghum Unsuitable — Temperature
- Soybean Unsuitable — Temperature
- Spider plant Unsuitable — Temperature
- Sugarcane Unsuitable
- Sunflower Unsuitable — Temperature
- Sweet pepper Unsuitable — Temperature
- Sweet potato Unsuitable — Temperature
- Tea Unsuitable
- Tobacco Unsuitable — Temperature
- Tomato Unsuitable — Temperature
- Turmeric Unsuitable — Temperature
- Watermelon Unsuitable — Temperature
- Yam Unsuitable — Temperature
Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 68 came back without a sowing date.
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops and dates above are read at cells spread across Mphokojoana, 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
209 km · Banana & plantain, Irish potato, Tomato, Cabbage
-
Joburg Market
333 km · Irish potato, Tomato, Onion, Cabbage
-
Tshwane Market
387 km · Irish potato, Tomato, Onion, Cabbage
Frequently asked questions
What crops grow well in Mphokojoana?
Cabbage, Lettuce, Kale, Irish potato, Beetroot all rate well in Mphokojoana — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Cabbage in Mphokojoana?
In Mphokojoana the window for Cabbage runs 13 Oct 2026 to 30 Nov 2026.
Is there a farming app that works in Mphokojoana?
Divisi does. It reads Mphokojoana'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 Mphokojoana, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.