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What grows in Mphaki

Quthing, Lesotho

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Map showing the boundary of Mphaki

The 2026/27 season in Mphaki

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 660 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, cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date
Ground this covers2 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 64% of this area.
64% enough rain for one full main crop; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 219 growing days · about 680 mm · October to May
34% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 148 growing days · about 600 mm · November to April

last updated 16 September 2026

What grows in Mphaki

64% sub-humid, cool — 17 crops

34% highland, semi-arid, mild winter — 14 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 grows in Mphaki with irrigation

These need water applied — rain alone will not carry them here. The dates are the windows their own water supply allows.

What Divisi would not plant in Mphaki

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.

  • 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
  • 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
  • Fonio 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
  • Okra Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Eggplant Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Chilli 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
  • Sugarcane Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Sweet orange Moderate — Frost & pests
  • African eggplant Moderate — Slope / terrain
  • Avocado Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Bambara groundnut Moderate — Slope / terrain
  • Groundnut Moderate — Slope / terrain
  • Lemon Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Mandarin Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Passion fruit Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Sweet potato Moderate — Slope / terrain
  • 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 — Temperature
  • 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
  • Tea Unsuitable
  • Turmeric Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Yam Unsuitable — Temperature

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 54 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

The crops and dates above are read at cells spread across Mphaki, 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 Mphaki?

Niger seed, Wheat, Beetroot, Common bean, Pumpkin all rate well in Mphaki — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Niger seed in Mphaki?

In Mphaki the window for Niger seed runs 29 Dec 2026 to 18 Jan 2027.

Is there a farming app that works in Mphaki?

Divisi does. It reads Mphaki'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 Mphaki, 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.

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