Divisi
When to plant African nightshade in Chelia
Khenchela, Algeria
African nightshade (Solanum scabrum — mnavu, managu, osuga, nsugga, umsobo) is one of Africa's most-loved traditional leafy vegetables: soft, dark, iron- and vitamin-rich leaves that cook down fast and sell steadily at market.
| Fit | Favourable |
|---|---|
| When to plant | 21 May 2027 – 9 Aug 2027 opens in 33 weeks |
| Expected harvest | about 15.8 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 20 Jul 2027 to 7 Dec 2027, depending on the planting date |
| Ready to harvest | 60–120 days after planting |
| Work it takes | 103–191 days per hectare, by hand |
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.
If you only get one chance to plant, aim for around 30 Jun 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for Chelia is close to normal, so these dates match the pattern the area usually follows.
Planting after 9 Aug 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Chelia
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 76% |
| The lie of the land | 45% |
For african nightshade in Chelia, the lie of the land is the tightest of the three at 45%. You cannot flatten it, but you can farm it: plant along the contour rather than up and down, ridge or tie ridges to hold water on the slope, and expect shallower rooting than the crop would manage on flat ground.
The 2026 season in Chelia
| Rain in a typical year | About 406 mm |
|---|---|
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 406 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| What that supports | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it, cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date |
| Ground this covers | 4 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 32% of this area. |
| 32% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 131 growing days · about 410 mm |
|---|---|
| 24% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 161 growing days · about 340 mm · October to March |
| 16% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 160 growing days · about 330 mm · October to March |
| 12% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 128 growing days · about 320 mm |
last updated 18 September 2026
Sloping ground holds back about 35% of yield here.
What african nightshade needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained sandy loam, loam or clay loam soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 6.0 and 6.5 |
| Spacing | 40 cm between rows, 20 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium |
What it takes to grow african nightshade in Chelia
| Planting material | About 125,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 63 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 13 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 79 kg per hectare |
| In the shops | A basal compound at planting — Compound D, or an NPK blend — covers the phosphate and potash. A nitrogen top dressing — urea or AN — goes on once the crop is established. |
| Hand work | 103–191 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a african nightshade crop of that size carries off the field. What you actually apply depends on what your soil already holds — which is what a soil test, or the app's field records, tell you.
What to watch for
Grow African nightshade with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes Chelia as a whole — 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.
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
Will african nightshade grow well in Chelia?
Chelia rates as favourable for african nightshade.
When should I plant african nightshade in Chelia?
Typically 21 May 2027 to 9 Aug 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Chelia, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
