Divisi
When to plant African nightshade in Magharibi
Mjini Magharibi, United Republic of Tanzania
Known here as mnavu · mnafu
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.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Favourable | |
| When to plant | 8 Oct 2026 – 28 Oct 2026 opens in 1 week | 2 Mar 2026 – 8 Oct 2026 |
| Expected harvest | about 18.0 t/ha | about 23.2 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 7 Dec 2026 to 25 Feb 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 8 Oct 2026. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for Magharibi is close to normal, so these dates match the pattern the area usually follows.
Planting after 28 Oct 2026 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Magharibi
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 96% |
| The lie of the land | 88% |
For african nightshade in Magharibi, the lie of the land is the tightest of the three at 88%. 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 2025 season in Magharibi
| When the rains are expected | August 2025 to August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Rain in a typical year | About 1,554 mm |
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 1,554 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| What that supports | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season |
| Ground this covers | 4 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 50% of this area. |
| 50% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 361 growing days · about 1,560 mm · August to August |
|---|---|
| 14% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 278 growing days · about 1,340 mm · September to June |
| 14% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 264 growing days · about 1,200 mm · October to June |
| 9% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 276 growing days · about 1,350 mm · September to June |
last updated 16 September 2026
Frost and pest pressure hold back about 15% 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 Magharibi
| Planting material | About 125,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 72 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 14 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 90 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 Magharibi 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.
African nightshade in nearby districts
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 Magharibi?
Magharibi rates as favourable for african nightshade.
When should I plant african nightshade in Magharibi?
Typically 8 Oct 2026 to 28 Oct 2026, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Magharibi, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
