What grows in Limpopo
South Africa
The 2026/27 season in Limpopo
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | November 2026 to February 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 371 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 371 mm in the driest of 5 districts to about 665 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Leaning 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 heat | Hotter than usual — about +2.2 °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 | 5 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 43% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 147 growing days · about 540 mm · November to April |
|---|---|
| 31% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 128 growing days · about 510 mm · November to March |
| 12% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 191 growing days · about 730 mm · October to April |
| 3% | 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 |
| 3% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 191 growing days · about 900 mm · October to April |
last updated 18 September 2026 · from all 5 areas within it
Limpopo's districts
What grows here
-
LablabFavourableGrows well in 5 of 5 districts
Plant 7 Nov 2026 – 7 Dec 2026 opens in 5 weeks
based on the rains it usually gets
1.3–1.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in season -
Pearl milletFavourableGrows well in 5 of 5 districts
Plant 6 Nov 2026 – 26 Dec 2026 opens in 5 weeks
based on the rains it usually gets
1.8–2.1 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Jute mallowFavourableGrows well in 5 of 5 districts
Plant 27 Nov 2026 – 15 Feb 2027 opens in 8 weeks
based on the rains it usually gets
6.3–7.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableNot enough water in seasonEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
WatermelonFavourableGrows well in 4 of 5 districts
Plant 20 Oct 2026 – 7 Feb 2027 opens in 3 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 22.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimumSteep slope -
SorghumFavourableGrows well in 4 of 5 districts
Plant 10 Dec 2026 – 30 Dec 2026 opens in 10 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
3.1–3.6 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
SunflowerFavourableGrows well in 4 of 5 districts
Plant 25 Dec 2026 – 14 Jan 2027 opens in 12 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.8 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought
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
-
ChickpeaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 4 of 5 districts
Plant 30 Jun 2027 – 9 Jul 2027 opens in 39 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 3.0 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
TurmericFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 4 of 5 districts
Plant 20 Jul 2026 – 17 Nov 2026 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 27.8 t/ha expected
Soil pH below the crop's optimumLate-maturing — drought risk -
GingerFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 3 of 5 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 23.0 t/ha expected
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum -
BananaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 2 of 5 districts
Plant 11 Apr 2027 – 21 May 2027 opens in 28 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 45.8 t/ha expected
Frost risk -
SugarcaneFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 1 of 5 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 71.6 t/ha expected
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageable -
TaroFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 1 of 5 districts
Plant 10 Jun 2026 – 21 May 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 14.9 t/ha expected
Frost riskPest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH below the crop's optimum
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Limpopo, 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 firstSupport and extension
- Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme
- Ilima/Letsema
- Agricultural Research Council
- National Extension Support Services
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.
Frequently asked questions
What crops grow well in Limpopo?
Lablab, Pearl millet, Jute mallow, Watermelon, Sorghum all rate well in Limpopo — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Lablab in Limpopo?
In Limpopo the window for Lablab runs 7 Nov 2026 to 7 Dec 2026.
Is there a farming app that works in Limpopo?
Divisi does. It reads Limpopo'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 Limpopo, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.