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What grows in Lilongwe

Central, Malawi

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Map showing the boundary of Lilongwe

The 2026/27 season in Lilongwe

Rainy seasonsOne each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it
When the rains are expectedNovember 2026 to April 2027
Rain in a typical yearAbout 887 mm
This season's rainLeaning dry — January, February 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 +1.4 °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 short crop, and only if timed to it, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season
Ground this covers2 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 81% of this area.
81% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 171 growing days · about 920 mm · November to April
18% enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 180 growing days · about 990 mm · November to April

last updated 17 September 2026

What grows in Lilongwe

81% lowland, semi-arid, warm — 53 crops

18% lowland, sub-humid, warm — 53 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 Lilongwe 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 Lilongwe

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.

  • Cotton 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
  • Cashew Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Cabbage Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Cassava Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Yam 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
  • Pineapple Moderate — Water
  • Tea Moderate — Water
  • Turmeric Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Sugarcane Moderate — Water
  • Ginger Moderate — Water
  • Banana Unsuitable — Water
  • Chickpea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cocoa Unsuitable
  • Coconut Unsuitable
  • Taro Unsuitable — Water
  • Arabica coffee Unsuitable — Water
  • Robusta coffee Unsuitable — Water
  • Enset Unsuitable — Water
  • Oil palm Unsuitable

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 21 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

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

What changed in Lilongwe

  • 2 September 2026 Garlic — Crop stopped being recommendable
  • 2 September 2026 Swiss Chard — Crop stopped being recommendable
  • 2 September 2026 Rape Covo Kale — Crop stopped being recommendable
  • 2 September 2026 Sweet Pepper — Crop stopped being recommendable
  • 2 September 2026 Eggplant — Crop stopped being recommendable

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

Support and extension

Frequently asked questions

What crops grow well in Lilongwe?

African eggplant, Bambara groundnut, Finger millet, Fonio, Green gram all rate well in Lilongwe — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant African eggplant in Lilongwe?

In Lilongwe the window for African eggplant runs 27 Oct 2026 to 5 Jan 2027.

Is there a farming app that works in Lilongwe?

Divisi does. It reads Lilongwe'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 Lilongwe, 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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