What grows in Mahabo
Menabe, Madagascar
The 2026/27 season in Mahabo
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | November 2026 to April 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 1,294 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 short crop, and only if timed to it, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season |
| Ground this covers | One kind of ground throughout. |
last updated 17 September 2026
What grows in Mahabo
-
GuavaFavourablePlant 1 Nov 2026 – 20 Jan 2027 opens in 4 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 24.3 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 35.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
CashewFavourablePlant 6 Nov 2026 – 6 Mar 2027 opens in 5 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 2.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableLimited rooting depth -
GroundnutFavourablePlant 6 Nov 2026 – 15 Jan 2027 opens in 5 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 3.8 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
MaizeFavourablePlant 13 Nov 2026 – 2 Jan 2027 opens in 6 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 6.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 8.8 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
MangoFavourablePlant 6 Nov 2026 – 15 Jan 2027 opens in 5 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 18.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 25.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
SoybeanFavourablePlant 12 Nov 2026 – 21 Jan 2027 opens in 6 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 3.8 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
PapayaFavourablePlant 16 Nov 2026 – 26 Dec 2026 opens in 7 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 45.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 64.2 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Pearl milletFavourablePlant 16 Nov 2026 – 14 Feb 2027 opens in 7 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.4 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 3.3 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableLimited rooting depthEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
SesameFavourablePlant 15 Nov 2026 – 14 Jan 2027 opens in 6 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.2 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 7 Dec 2026 – 29 Aug 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
SorghumFavourablePlant 16 Nov 2026 – 25 Jan 2027 opens in 7 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 3.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 4.7 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
CarrotFavourablePlant 26 Nov 2026 – 25 Jan 2027 opens in 8 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 35.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 2 Mar 2027 – 20 Jul 2027 · about 47.4 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Common beanFavourablePlant 25 Nov 2026 – 3 Feb 2027 opens in 8 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
CowpeaFavourablePlant 22 Nov 2026 – 20 Feb 2027 opens in 7 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 2.4 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Green gramFavourablePlant 22 Nov 2026 – 20 Feb 2027 opens in 7 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.3 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 1.9 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
MoringaFavourablePlant 26 Nov 2026 – 26 Dec 2026 opens in 8 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
16.0–18.7 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 35.0 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
TomatoFavourablePlant 26 Nov 2026 – 15 Jan 2027 opens in 8 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 37.1 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 2 Mar 2027 – 20 Jul 2027 · about 61.4 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
RiceFavourablePlant 6 Dec 2026 – 5 Jan 2027 opens in 9 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 4.5 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 6.1 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Jute mallowFavourablePlant 13 Dec 2026 – 3 Mar 2027 opens in 10 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 9.3 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 18 Sep 2026 · about 13.2 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
OkraFavourablePlant 12 Dec 2026 – 20 Feb 2027 opens in 10 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 10.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 18 Sep 2026 · about 14.2 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
TobaccoFavourablePlant 15 Dec 2026 – 24 Jan 2027 opens in 11 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 3.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 1 Jan 2027 – 29 Aug 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Bambara groundnutFavourablePlant 26 Dec 2026 – 5 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 10 Feb 2027 – 20 Jul 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Egusi melonFavourablePlant 4 Jan 2027 – 24 Jan 2027 opens in 14 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.2 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 10 Feb 2027 – 20 Jul 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
African eggplantFavourablePlant 12 Jan 2027 – 1 Feb 2027 opens in 15 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 23.2 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 10 Feb 2027 – 20 Jul 2027 · about 30.7 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
AmaranthFavourablePlant 15 Jan 2027 – 4 Feb 2027 opens in 15 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 17.6 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 2 Mar 2027 – 9 Aug 2027 · about 26.3 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
FonioFavourablePlant 19 Feb 2027 – 28 Feb 2027 opens in 20 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.3 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 10 Feb 2027 – 20 Jul 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
WatermelonFavourablePlant 15 Jan 2027 – 14 Feb 2027 opens in 15 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 33.2 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 2 Mar 2027 – 9 Aug 2027 · about 47.4 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
CottonFavourablePlant 6 Nov 2026 – 26 Nov 2026 opens in 5 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.3 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 3.5 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
Pigeon peaFavourablePlant 2 Nov 2026 – 22 Nov 2026 opens in 5 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.9 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageableLimited rooting depthLate-maturing — drought risk -
ChilliFavourablePlant 16 Nov 2026 – 26 Nov 2026 opens in 7 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 12.9 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 10 Feb 2027 – 21 May 2027 · about 21.9 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
RoselleFavourablePlant 6 Dec 2026 – 16 Dec 2026 opens in 9 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.2 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 10 Feb 2027 – 10 Jun 2027
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
EggplantFavourablePlant 13 Dec 2026 – 23 Dec 2026 opens in 10 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 30.7 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 10 Feb 2027 – 30 Jun 2027 · about 43.9 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
LablabFavourablePlant 16 Jan 2027 – 25 Jan 2027 opens in 15 weeks
based on the rains it usually gets
about 1.3 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 2 Mar 2027 – 10 Jun 2027 · about 1.9 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableLimited rooting depth -
SunflowerFavourablePlant 25 Nov 2026 – 3 Feb 2027 opens in 8 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.9 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 11 Apr 2027 – 20 Jul 2027 · about 3.3 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
OnionFavourable
Plant 23 Dec 2026 – 12 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 20.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 11 Apr 2027 – 30 Jun 2027 · about 39.5 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
PumpkinFavourablePlant 28 Jan 2027 – 7 Feb 2027 opens in 17 weeks
based on the rains it usually gets
about 17.7 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 2 Mar 2027 – 30 Jun 2027 · about 30.7 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Spider plantFavourablePlant 2 Mar 2027 – 11 Mar 2027 opens in 22 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 6.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 22 Mar 2027 – 9 Aug 2027 · about 13.2 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
CassavaFavourablePlant 1 Nov 2026 – 21 Nov 2026 opens in 4 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 18.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 34.6 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonLate-maturing — drought risk -
African nightshadeFavourablePlant 23 Feb 2027 – 4 Mar 2027 opens in 21 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 10.8 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 22 Mar 2027 – 9 Aug 2027 · about 21.9 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
CucumberFavourablePlant 16 Mar 2027 – 26 Mar 2027 opens in 24 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 13.0 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 1 May 2027 – 20 Jul 2027 · about 35.1 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Finger milletFavourablePlant 31 Jan 2027 – 9 Feb 2027 opens in 17 weeks
based on the rains it usually gets
about 1.6 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 2 Mar 2027 – 21 May 2027 · about 2.8 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
KaleFavourablePlant 3 Dec 2026 – 23 Dec 2026 opens in 9 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 14.7 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 11 Apr 2027 – 21 May 2027 · about 41.9 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
YamModeratePlant 3 Nov 2026 – 23 Nov 2026 opens in 5 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 9.9 t/ha expected
Irrigated: plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 · about 21.9 t/ha
Pest/disease risk — manageableDry season too long for this cropLate-maturing — drought risk
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 Mahabo with irrigation
These need water applied — rain alone will not carry them here. The dates are the windows their own water supply allows.
-
SugarcaneFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 111.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
BananaFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 55.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
GrapefruitFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 37.1 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
MandarinFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 32.4 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
LimeFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 23.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Oil palmFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 19.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
CocoaFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
PineappleFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 61.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
Niger seedFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 May 2027 – 30 May 2027 opens in 33 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 0.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
TaroFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 27.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
Irish potatoFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 May 2027 – 10 Jun 2027 opens in 33 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 39.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Robusta coffeeFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Sweet orangeFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 29.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
TurmericFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 10 Feb 2027 – 11 Apr 2027 opens in 19 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 26.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
Swiss chardFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 1 May 2027 – 10 May 2027 opens in 30 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 41.1 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
Sweet pepperFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 1 May 2027 – 10 May 2027 opens in 30 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 32.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
WheatFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 22 Mar 2027 – 30 Jun 2027 opens in 25 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 4.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
LettuceFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 May 2027 – 30 Jun 2027 opens in 33 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 20.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Sweet potatoFavourable Needs irrigationPlant 21 May 2027 – 30 May 2027 opens in 33 weeks
based on the rains it usually gets
about 17.1 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought
What Divisi would not plant in Mahabo
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.
- Lime Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Mandarin Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Grapefruit Moderate — Water
- Sweet orange Moderate — Water
- Lettuce Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
- Avocado Unsuitable
- Banana Unsuitable — Water
- Beetroot Unsuitable — Temperature
- Cabbage Unsuitable — Temperature
- Chickpea Unsuitable — Temperature
- Cocoa Unsuitable — Water
- Coconut Unsuitable
- Taro Unsuitable — Water
- Arabica coffee Unsuitable
- Robusta coffee Unsuitable — Water
- Enset Unsuitable
- Garlic Unsuitable — Temperature
- Ginger Unsuitable
- Irish potato Unsuitable
- Lemon Unsuitable — Temperature
- Niger seed Unsuitable — Temperature
- Oil palm Unsuitable — Water
- Passion fruit Unsuitable — Temperature
- Pineapple Unsuitable — Water
- Sugarcane Unsuitable — Water
- Sweet pepper Unsuitable — Temperature
- Sweet potato Unsuitable — Temperature
- Swiss chard Unsuitable — Temperature
- Tea Unsuitable
- Teff Unsuitable — Temperature
- Turmeric Unsuitable — Water
- Wheat Unsuitable — Temperature
Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 32 came back without a sowing date.
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops and dates above are read at cells spread across Mahabo, 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 firstWhat changed in Mahabo
- 2 September 2026 Amaranth — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
- 2 September 2026 Mango — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Frost & pests
- 2 September 2026 Lime — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Frost & pests
- 2 September 2026 Okra — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
- 2 September 2026 Tomato — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
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.
Frequently asked questions
What crops grow well in Mahabo?
Guava, Cashew, Groundnut, Maize, Mango all rate well in Mahabo — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Guava in Mahabo?
In Mahabo the window for Guava runs 1 Nov 2026 to 20 Jan 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Mahabo?
Divisi does. It reads Mahabo'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 Mahabo, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.