What grows in Northern
Malawi
The 2026/27 season in Northern
| 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 823 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 823 mm in the driest of 7 districts to about 1,287 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 823 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| This season's heat | Hotter than usual — about +1.3 °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 | 3 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 54% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 205 growing days · about 1,170 mm · November to June |
|---|---|
| 23% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 167 growing days · about 860 mm · November to April |
| 19% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 216 growing days · about 1,110 mm · October to June |
last updated 18 September 2026 · from all 7 areas within it
Northern's districts
What grows here
-
GuavaFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 17 Oct 2026 – 22 Apr 2027 opens in 2 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 22.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumSteep slope -
MangoFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 17 Oct 2026 – 22 Apr 2027 opens in 2 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 16.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumSteep slope -
PapayaFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 24 Oct 2026 – 1 Feb 2027 opens in 3 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 44.4 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
LimeFavourableGrows well in 6 of 7 districts
Plant 27 Oct 2026 – 26 Mar 2027 opens in 4 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 16.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (lime) -
LemonFavourableGrows well in 6 of 7 districts
Plant 27 Oct 2026 – 24 Feb 2027 opens in 4 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 20.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
Sweet orangeFavourableGrows well in 6 of 7 districts
Plant 14 Oct 2026 – 3 Nov 2026 opens in 2 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
18.4–18.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (lime)
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 here with irrigation
-
TaroFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 4 of 7 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 23.1 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSteep slope -
ChickpeaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 7 districts
Plant 10 Jun 2027 – 30 Jun 2027 opens in 36 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 3.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Northern, and the ground under them is not all the same. 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 firstSupport and extension
- Affordable Inputs Programme
- NEEF Agricultural Development Loans
- Department of Agricultural Extension Services
- Department of Agricultural Research Services
- Seed Services Unit
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 Northern?
Guava, Mango, Papaya, Lime, Lemon all rate well in Northern — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Guava in Northern?
In Northern the window for Guava runs 17 Oct 2026 to 22 Apr 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Northern?
Divisi does. It reads Northern'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 Northern, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.