What grows in Omaheke
Namibia
The 2026/27 season in Omaheke
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | December 2026 to March 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 423 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 296 mm in the driest of 7 districts to about 450 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. |
| 42% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season no rain-fed season · about 330 mm |
|---|---|
| 34% | 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 410 mm · December to March |
| 15% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 94 growing days · about 420 mm · December to April |
| 6% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth no rain-fed season · about 260 mm |
last updated 18 September 2026 · from all 7 areas within it
Omaheke's districts
What grows here
-
LablabFavourableGrows well in 6 of 7 districts
Plant 17 Dec 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 opens in 11 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.4–1.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
Jute mallowFavourableGrows well in 6 of 7 districts
Plant 3 Jan 2027 – 12 Feb 2027 opens in 14 weeks
based on the rains it usually gets
7.6–9.1 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Pearl milletFavourableGrows well in 4 of 7 districts
Plant 17 Dec 2026 – 6 Jan 2027 opens in 11 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.9–2.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
SunflowerFavourableGrows well in 5 of 7 districts
Plant 8 Jan 2027 – 28 Jan 2027 opens in 14 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
1.6–1.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
WatermelonFavourableGrows well in 5 of 7 districts
Plant 18 Jan 2027 – 7 Feb 2027 opens in 16 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
23.3–27.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
CucumberFavourableGrows well in 5 of 7 districts
Plant 18 Jan 2027 – 27 Feb 2027 opens in 16 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
15.8–18.3 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
-
Sweet orangeFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 17 Nov 2026 – 1 May 2027 opens in 7 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 36.5 t/ha expected
Soil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier)Correctable with liming -
GuavaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 10 Feb 2027 – 30 Jun 2027 opens in 19 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 31.2 t/ha expected
Soil pH below the crop's optimum -
MandarinFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 10 Feb 2027 – 30 Jun 2027 opens in 19 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 28.7 t/ha expected
Soil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier)Correctable with liming -
TurmericFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 27.8 t/ha expected
Frost riskSoil pH below the crop's optimumLate-maturing — drought risk -
ChickpeaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 30 Jun 2027 – 9 Jul 2027 opens in 39 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.7 t/ha expected
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
TeffFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 20 Jul 2027 – 9 Aug 2027 opens in 42 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 3.2 t/ha expected
Frost riskSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier)
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Omaheke, 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 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.
Frequently asked questions
What crops grow well in Omaheke?
Lablab, Jute mallow, Pearl millet, Sunflower, Watermelon all rate well in Omaheke — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Lablab in Omaheke?
In Omaheke the window for Lablab runs 17 Dec 2026 to 6 Jan 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Omaheke?
Divisi does. It reads Omaheke'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 Omaheke, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.