What grows in Namibia

The 2026/27 season in Namibia

Rainy seasons	One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it
When the rains are expected	December 2026 to April 2027
Rain in a typical year	About 450 mm in a typical farming district
Across its districts	From about 12 mm in the driest of 107 districts to about 679 mm in the wettest
This season's rain	Leaning 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 heat	Hotter than usual — about +2.1 °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	4 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area.

Agro-ecological zones covering this area
36%	enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 108 growing days · about 460 mm · December to April
32%	too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth no rain-fed season · about 120 mm
21%	too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season no rain-fed season · about 190 mm · January to March
6%	enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 97 growing days · about 420 mm · December to April

last updated 18 September 2026 · from all 107 areas within it

Namibia's regions

What grows here

Jute mallow
Favourable
Grows well in 85 of 107 districts

Plant 3 Feb 2027 – 23 Feb 2027 opens in 18 weeks

matched to this season's forecast

7.3–8.6 t/ha expected

Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier)
Sunflower
Favourable
Grows well in 84 of 107 districts

Plant 27 Dec 2026 – 16 Jan 2027 opens in 13 weeks

matched to this season's forecast

1.7–2.0 t/ha expected

Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum
Watermelon
Favourable
Grows well in 83 of 107 districts

Plant 18 Dec 2026 – 17 Jan 2027 opens in 11 weeks

matched to this season's forecast

27.2–32.8 t/ha expected

Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumEarly-maturing — escapes late drought
Cucumber
Favourable
Grows well in 78 of 107 districts

Plant 25 Jan 2027 – 24 Feb 2027 opens in 17 weeks

matched to this season's forecast

15.1–17.8 t/ha expected

Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH outside the crop's range
Lablab
Favourable
Grows well in 78 of 107 districts

Plant 15 Dec 2026 – 4 Jan 2027 opens in 11 weeks

matched to this season's forecast

1.2–1.4 t/ha expected

Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH outside the crop's range
Common bean
Favourable
Grows well in 73 of 107 districts

Plant 25 Dec 2026 – 24 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks

matched to this season's forecast

1.4–1.8 t/ha expected

Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonSoil pH below the crop's optimum

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

Plan the season, not just check it

The crops above are gathered from every district in Namibia, 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 first

Frequently asked questions

What crops grow well in Namibia?

Jute mallow, Sunflower, Watermelon, Cucumber, Lablab all rate well in Namibia — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Jute mallow in Namibia?

In Namibia the window for Jute mallow runs 3 Feb 2027 to 23 Feb 2027.

Is there a farming app that works in Namibia?

Divisi does. It reads Namibia'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 Namibia, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.