What grows in Lusaka
Zambia
The 2026/27 season in Lusaka
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | November 2026 to April 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 805 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 722 mm in the driest of 7 districts to about 824 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Leaning dry — January, February 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 +1.6 °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 | One kind of ground throughout. |
last updated 17 September 2026 · from all 7 areas within it
Lusaka's districts
What grows here
-
MangoFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 31 Oct 2026 – 9 Jan 2027 opens in 4 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 16.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
SoybeanFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 10 Nov 2026 – 20 Dec 2026 opens in 6 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Pearl milletFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 12 Nov 2026 – 11 Jan 2027 opens in 6 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.2 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
SorghumFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 12 Nov 2026 – 11 Jan 2027 opens in 6 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 3.3 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
TobaccoFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 10 Nov 2026 – 30 Dec 2026 opens in 6 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 2.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
Green gramFavourableGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 10 Nov 2026 – 19 Jan 2027 opens in 6 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 1.3 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
-
BananaFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 55.4 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable -
PineappleFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 64.7 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableSoil pH outside the crop's rangeCorrect soil pH (acidifier) -
GingerFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 7 of 7 districts
Plant 17 Nov 2026 – 7 Dec 2026 opens in 7 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 24.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableLate-maturing — drought risk -
CabbageFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 6 of 7 districts
Plant 1 May 2027 – 10 Jun 2027 opens in 30 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 43.5 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageableEarly-maturing — escapes late drought -
GarlicFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 6 of 7 districts
Plant 11 Apr 2027 – 1 May 2027 opens in 28 weeks
matched to this season's forecast
about 13.6 t/ha expected
Soil pH below the crop's optimumLate-maturing — drought risk -
SugarcaneFavourable Needs irrigationGrows well in 6 of 7 districts
Plant 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 open now
matched to this season's forecast
about 110.9 t/ha expected
Pest/disease risk — manageable
Plan the season, not just check it
The crops above are gathered from every district in Lusaka, 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
- Farmer Input Support Programme
- Sustainable Agriculture Financing Facility
- Department of Agriculture
- Seed Control and Certification Institute
- Zambia Agriculture Research Institute
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 Lusaka?
Mango, Soybean, Pearl millet, Sorghum, Tobacco all rate well in Lusaka — scored against its own rainfall, soil and terrain rather than a national average.
When should I plant Mango in Lusaka?
In Lusaka the window for Mango runs 31 Oct 2026 to 9 Jan 2027.
Is there a farming app that works in Lusaka?
Divisi does. It reads Lusaka'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 Lusaka, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.