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What grows in iLembe

KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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Map showing the boundary of iLembe

The 2025 season in iLembe

When the rains are expectedJuly 2025 to July 2025
Rain in a typical yearAbout 974 mm
This season's rainRain close to usual — plan around about 974 mm falling roughly when it always does
What that supportsenough rain for a long crop, or two in a year, warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth
Ground this covers4 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 54% of this area.
54% enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 365 growing days · about 930 mm · July to July
33% enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 273 growing days · about 870 mm · August to June
6% enough rain for one full main crop; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 264 growing days · about 830 mm · September to May
6% enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 365 growing days · about 930 mm · July to July

last updated 17 September 2026

What grows in iLembe

54% lowland, humid, mild winter, rain year-round — 67 crops

33% lowland, humid, mild winter, one season — 52 crops

6% lowland, sub-humid, mild winter — 52 crops

6% humid, mild winter — 60 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 iLembe

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.

  • Robusta coffee Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Cashew Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cassava Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cocoa Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Coconut Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Taro Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Oil palm Unsuitable — Temperature

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 7 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

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

Lemon, Lime, Mandarin, Sweet orange, Grapefruit all rate well in iLembe — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Lemon in iLembe?

In iLembe the window for Lemon runs 9 Aug 2026 to 11 Apr 2027.

Is there a farming app that works in iLembe?

Divisi does. It reads iLembe'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 iLembe, 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.

Crop guides Pest guides Disease guides Where to sell it Farming glossary Farming insights Read the Hive Feed How the advice is made