What grows in Northern
Sierra Leone
The 2026 season in Northern
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | March 2026 to December 2026 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 2,621 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 1,925 mm in the driest of 4 districts to about 2,621 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 2,621 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| This season's heat | Hotter than usual — about +0.8 °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 a long crop, or two in a year, 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 a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 286 growing days · about 2,310 mm · March to December |
|---|---|
| 35% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 265 growing days · about 2,630 mm · April to December |
| 11% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 303 growing days · about 2,420 mm · March to December |
last updated 18 September 2026 · from all 4 areas within it
Northern's districts
What grows here
-
CashewFavourableGrows well in 4 of 4 districts
Plant 19 Mar 2026 – 15 Oct 2026 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
GuavaFavourableGrows well in 4 of 4 districts
Plant 16 Mar 2026 – 24 Sep 2026 closed for this season
matched to this season's forecast
24.6–24.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
LimeFavourableGrows well in 4 of 4 districts
Plant 16 Mar 2026 – 24 Sep 2026 closed for this season
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) -
MandarinFavourableGrows well in 4 of 4 districts
Plant 16 Mar 2026 – 24 Sep 2026 closed for this season
matched to this season's forecast
about 18.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (lime) -
MangoFavourableGrows well in 4 of 4 districts
Plant 4 Mar 2026 – 24 Sep 2026 closed for this season
matched to this season's forecast
about 18.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
African eggplantFavourableGrows well in 4 of 4 districts
Plant 4 Apr 2027 – 7 Sep 2027 opens in 27 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 20.7 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.
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 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 Northern?
Cashew, Guava, Lime, Mandarin, Mango all rate well in Northern — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Cashew in Northern?
In Northern the window for Cashew runs 19 Mar 2026 to 15 Oct 2026.
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.