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What grows in City of Cape Town

Western Cape, South Africa

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Map showing the boundary of City of Cape Town

The 2027 season in City of Cape Town

When the rains are expectedApril 2027 to October 2027
Rain in a typical yearAbout 499 mm
This season's rainRain close to usual — plan around about 499 mm falling roughly when it always does
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 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 67% of this area.
67% enough rain for one full main crop; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 203 growing days · about 600 mm · April to October
14% enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 167 growing days · about 500 mm · April to September
12% enough rain for one full main crop; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 215 growing days · about 640 mm · March to November
7% enough rain for one full main crop; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 206 growing days · about 540 mm · April to October

last updated 17 September 2026

What grows in City of Cape Town

67% lowland, sub-humid, mild winter — 25 crops

14% lowland, semi-arid, mild winter — 19 crops

12% sub-humid, cool — 6 crops

7% sub-humid, mild winter — 27 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 City of Cape Town 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 City of Cape Town

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.

  • Avocado Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Lemon Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Guava Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Mandarin Only in patches — clears in part of this area, not across any one zone
  • Enset Moderate — Water
  • Jute mallow Moderate — Water
  • Amaranth Moderate — Water
  • Groundnut Moderate — Temperature
  • Pineapple Moderate — Frost & pests
  • Sugarcane Moderate
  • Tea Moderate — Frost & pests
  • African eggplant Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Bambara groundnut Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Banana Unsuitable — Water
  • Cashew Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cassava Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Chickpea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cocoa Unsuitable
  • Coconut Unsuitable
  • Taro Unsuitable
  • Arabica coffee Unsuitable
  • Robusta coffee Unsuitable
  • Cotton Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Cowpea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Eggplant Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Egusi melon Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Finger millet Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Fonio Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Ginger Unsuitable
  • Grapefruit Unsuitable
  • Green gram Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Chilli Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Lablab Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Lime Unsuitable
  • Moringa Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Oil palm Unsuitable
  • Okra Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Pearl millet Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Pigeon pea Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Rice Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Roselle Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Sesame Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Sweet potato Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Turmeric Unsuitable
  • Watermelon Unsuitable — Temperature
  • Yam Unsuitable

Divisi scored 74 crops against this district's own ground; 46 came back without a sowing date.

Plan the season, not just check it

The crops and dates above are read at cells spread across City of Cape Town, 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 City of Cape Town

  • 2 September 2026 Lettuce — Planting window moved, now opens 20 Jul 2027
  • 2 September 2026 Rape Covo Kale — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Temperature
  • 2 September 2026 Rape Covo Kale — Suitability class changed, now rates Favourable
  • 2 September 2026 Wheat — Limiting factor changed, now held back mostly by Temperature
  • 2 September 2026 Wheat — Planting window moved, now opens 31 May 2027

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 City of Cape Town?

Beetroot, Lettuce, Kale, Swiss chard, Wheat all rate well in City of Cape Town — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.

When should I plant Beetroot in City of Cape Town?

In City of Cape Town the window for Beetroot runs 24 Mar 2027 to 2 Jul 2027.

Is there a farming app that works in City of Cape Town?

Divisi does. It reads City of Cape Town'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 City of Cape Town, 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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