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What grows in West Rand

Gauteng, South Africa

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Map showing the boundary of West Rand

The 2026/27 season in West Rand

Rainy seasonsOne each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it
When the rains are expectedOctober 2026 to April 2027
Rain in a typical yearAbout 678 mm
This season's rainLeaning dry — January, February, November 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 heatHotter than usual — about +1.9 °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 full main crop, warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth
Ground this covers4 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 56% of this area.
56% enough rain for one full main crop; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 194 growing days · about 650 mm · October to April
20% enough rain for one full main crop; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 190 growing days · about 650 mm · October to April
17% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 150 growing days · about 580 mm · October to April
7% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 178 growing days · about 600 mm · October to April

last updated 17 September 2026

What grows in West Rand

56% highland, sub-humid, mild winter — 40 crops

20% lowland, sub-humid, mild winter — 42 crops

17% lowland, semi-arid, mild winter — 41 crops

7% highland, semi-arid, mild winter — 40 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 Divisi would not plant in West Rand

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.

  • Sweet orange Moderate — Water
  • Mandarin Moderate — Water
  • Guava Moderate — Water
  • Pineapple Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Sugarcane Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Avocado Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Grapefruit Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Lime Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Mango Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Moringa Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Papaya Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Passion fruit Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Lemon Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Banana Unsuitable
  • Cashew Unsuitable
  • Cassava Unsuitable
  • Chickpea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cocoa Unsuitable
  • Coconut Unsuitable
  • Taro Unsuitable
  • Arabica coffee Unsuitable
  • Robusta coffee Unsuitable
  • Cotton Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Egusi melon Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Enset Unsuitable
  • Ginger Unsuitable
  • Oil palm Unsuitable
  • Pigeon pea Unsuitable
  • Rice Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Tea Unsuitable
  • Turmeric Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Yam Unsuitable — Temperature

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 32 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

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

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 West Rand?

Sunflower, Niger seed, Watermelon, Jute mallow, Finger millet all rate well in West Rand — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Sunflower in West Rand?

In West Rand the window for Sunflower runs 13 Nov 2026 to 12 Jan 2027.

Is there a farming app that works in West Rand?

Divisi does. It reads West Rand'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 West Rand, 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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