What grows in Linakeng
Thaba-Tseka, Lesotho
The 2026/27 season in Linakeng
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | October 2026 to April 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 620 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 +1.6 °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 76% of this area. |
| 76% | enough rain for one full main crop; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 231 growing days · about 740 mm · September to May |
|---|---|
| 18% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 152 growing days · about 540 mm · October to April |
| 6% | enough rain for one full main crop; cold for much of the year, with a short planting season 247 growing days · about 840 mm · August to May |
last updated 16 September 2026
What grows in Linakeng
18% semi-arid, cool — 24 crops
-
SunflowerFavourablePlant 19 Dec 2026 – 29 Dec 2026 opens in 11 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.5–1.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 17 Nov 2026 · about 0.3 t/ha
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in season -
PumpkinFavourablePlant 19 Dec 2026 – 28 Dec 2026 opens in 11 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
13.6–16.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 28 Oct 2026 · about 3.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
CarrotFavourablePlant 19 Dec 2026 – 8 Jan 2027 opens in 11 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
15.2–19.6 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 29 Aug 2026 – 7 Dec 2026 · about 5.3 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Niger seedFavourablePlant 26 Dec 2026 – 15 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
0.5–0.6 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 27 Dec 2026
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slopeEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
WheatFavourablePlant 26 Dec 2026 – 15 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
2.3–2.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 0.7 t/ha
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageableSteep slope -
CucumberFavourablePlant 29 Dec 2026 – 18 Jan 2027 opens in 13 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
13.9–17.1 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 28 Oct 2026 – 7 Dec 2026
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
African nightshadeFavourablePlant 29 Dec 2026 – 28 Jan 2027 opens in 13 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
9.4–11.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 28 Oct 2026 – 1 Jan 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
OnionFavourable
Plant 29 Dec 2026 – 18 Jan 2027 opens in 13 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
13.0–17.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 9 Aug 2026 – 7 Dec 2026 · about 4.7 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Common beanFavourablePlant 8 Jan 2027 – 28 Jan 2027 opens in 14 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.4–1.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 0.3 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
TeffFavourablePlant 8 Jan 2027 – 28 Jan 2027 opens in 14 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.7–2.2 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 0.4 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
BeetrootFavourablePlant 8 Jan 2027 – 7 Feb 2027 opens in 14 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
16.0–20.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 9 Aug 2026 – 21 Jan 2027 · about 4.2 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
GarlicFavourablePlant 19 Dec 2026 – 8 Jan 2027 opens in 11 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 4.4 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 20 Jul 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 1.9 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonLate-maturing — drought risk -
Swiss chardFavourablePlant 19 Dec 2026 – 8 Jan 2027 opens in 11 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 14.9 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 20 Jul 2026 – 21 Jan 2027 · about 5.3 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
SorghumModeratePlant 25 Sep 2026 – 25 Oct 2026 open now
based on the rains it usually gets
1.2–1.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 8 Oct 2026 · about 0.3 t/ha
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in season -
TobaccoModeratePlant 5 Oct 2026 – 24 Nov 2026 opens in 1 week
based on the rains it usually gets
0.8–1.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 28 Oct 2026
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
MaizeModeratePlant 25 Sep 2026 – 4 Nov 2026 open now
based on the rains it usually gets
1.9–2.6 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 8 Oct 2026 · about 0.7 t/ha
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in season -
SoybeanModeratePlant 25 Sep 2026 – 25 Oct 2026 open now
based on the rains it usually gets
about 0.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 8 Oct 2026
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in season -
TomatoModeratePlant 25 Sep 2026 – 25 Oct 2026 open now
based on the rains it usually gets
about 9.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 8 Oct 2026
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in season -
LablabModeratePlant 25 Sep 2026 – 15 Oct 2026 open now
based on the rains it usually gets
about 0.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 1 Jan 2027 – 31 Aug 2027
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in season -
Spider plantModeratePlant 16 Dec 2026 – 4 Feb 2027 opens in 11 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 4.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 7 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Irish potatoModeratePlant 26 Dec 2026 – 15 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 13.3 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 18 Sep 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 4.7 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
LettuceModeratePlant 25 Jan 2027 – 14 Feb 2027 opens in 17 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 9.9 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 29 Aug 2026 – 21 Jan 2027 · about 3.7 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
CabbageModeratePlant 15 Jan 2027 – 4 Feb 2027 opens in 15 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 19.9 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 27 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 7.4 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
KaleModeratePlant 16 Dec 2026 – 5 Jan 2027 opens in 11 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 13.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 29 Aug 2026 – 21 Jan 2027 · about 5.3 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum
6% sub-humid, cold — 1 crop
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 Linakeng
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.
- 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
- Groundnut Moderate — Slope / terrain
- Lemon Moderate — Frost & pests
- Mandarin Moderate — Frost & pests
- Passion fruit Moderate — Frost & pests
- Sweet orange Moderate — Frost & pests
- Sweet pepper Moderate — Slope / terrain
- African eggplant 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
- Eggplant Unsuitable — Temperature
- Egusi melon Unsuitable — Temperature
- Enset Unsuitable
- 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
- Sugarcane Unsuitable
- Sweet potato Unsuitable — Temperature
- Tea Unsuitable
- Turmeric Unsuitable — Temperature
- Watermelon Unsuitable — Temperature
- Yam Unsuitable — Temperature
Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 50 came back without a sowing date.
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops and dates above are read at cells spread across Linakeng, 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
211 km · Banana & plantain, Irish potato, Tomato, Cabbage
-
Joburg Market
382 km · Irish potato, Tomato, Onion, Cabbage
-
Tshwane Market
438 km · Irish potato, Tomato, Onion, Cabbage
Frequently asked questions
What crops grow well in Linakeng?
Carrot, Pumpkin, Sunflower, African nightshade, Cucumber all rate well in Linakeng — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Carrot in Linakeng?
In Linakeng the window for Carrot runs 19 Dec 2026 to 8 Jan 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Linakeng?
Divisi does. It reads Linakeng'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 Linakeng, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.