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What grows in Zaria

Kaduna, Nigeria

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Map showing the boundary of Zaria

The 2026 season in Zaria

Rainy seasonsOne each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it
When the rains are expectedMay 2026 to October 2026
Rain in a typical yearAbout 979 mm
This season's rainLeaning wet — October look heavier than usual. Make sure water can drain off the field; a wet year does more damage through waterlogging and disease than through the rain itself.
This season's heatHotter than usual — about +1.0 °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 covers3 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 83% of this area.
83% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 177 growing days · about 1,000 mm · May to October
14% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 177 growing days · about 1,000 mm · May to October
3% enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 180 growing days · about 1,010 mm · April to October

last updated 16 September 2026

What grows in Zaria

83% lowland, semi-arid, warm — 52 crops

14% semi-arid, warm — 52 crops

3% lowland, sub-humid, warm — 51 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 Zaria 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 Zaria

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.

  • Pineapple Moderate — Water
  • Sugarcane Moderate — Water
  • Avocado Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Banana Unsuitable — Water
  • Beetroot Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cabbage Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Chickpea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cocoa Unsuitable — Water
  • Coconut Unsuitable
  • Taro Unsuitable — Water
  • Arabica coffee Unsuitable — Water
  • Robusta coffee Unsuitable — Water
  • Enset Unsuitable
  • Garlic Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Ginger Unsuitable — Water
  • Oil palm Unsuitable — Water
  • Passion fruit Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Tea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Teff Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Wheat Unsuitable — Temperature

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 20 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

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

  • 2 September 2026 Amaranth — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Frost & pests
  • 2 September 2026 Amaranth — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
  • 2 September 2026 Chickpea — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Frost & pests
  • 2 September 2026 Chickpea — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
  • 2 September 2026 Mango — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Frost & pests

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 Zaria?

Cucumber, African eggplant, African nightshade, Amaranth, Bambara groundnut all rate well in Zaria — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Cucumber in Zaria?

In Zaria the window for Cucumber runs 30 May 2026 to 17 Sep 2026.

Is there a farming app that works in Zaria?

Divisi does. It reads Zaria'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 Zaria, 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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