Divisi
When to plant Amaranth in Naivasha
Nakuru, Kenya
Known here as mchicha
Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is a fast, heat-loving plant that gives you two harvests from one crop — tender leaves and tiny grain.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Favourable | |
| When to plant | 21 Sep 2026 – 12 Feb 2027 open now | 10 Jun 2026 – 10 Feb 2027 |
| Expected harvest | about 10.8 t/ha | about 30.0 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 21 Oct 2026 to 12 Jul 2027, depending on the planting date | |
| Ready to harvest | 30–150 days after planting | |
| Work it takes | 78–163 days per hectare, by hand | |
| Rain meets its needs | 60% | |
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 7 Jan 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's outlook for Naivasha leans wet. Plant at the early end of the window, and make sure water can drain off the field — a wet year does more damage through waterlogging than through the rain itself.
Planting after 12 Feb 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Naivasha
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 96% |
| The lie of the land | 96% |
For amaranth in Naivasha, rain and temperature is the tightest of the three at 96%. This one is fixed. It is why the planting window above is where it is — hitting those dates is the whole of your control here.
The 2026 season in Naivasha
| Rainy seasons | Two each year — two chances to plant |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | March 2026 to June 2026 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 576 mm |
| This season's rain | Leaning wet — November and December look heavier than usual. Make sure water can drain off the field; a wet year does more damage through waterlogging and disease than through the rain itself. |
| This season's heat | Hotter 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 supports | enough rain for one full main crop, 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 57% of this area. |
| 57% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 196 growing days · about 680 mm · February to June |
|---|---|
| 22% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 355 growing days · about 890 mm · February to January |
| 9% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 313 growing days · about 740 mm · February to January |
| 8% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 198 growing days · about 610 mm · March to June |
last updated 30 September 2026
What amaranth needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained sandy loam or loam soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 5.5 and 7.0 |
| Spacing | 10 cm between rows, 10 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium |
What it takes to grow amaranth in Naivasha
| Nitrogen (N) | About 43 kg per hectare |
|---|---|
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 10 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 54 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 | 78–163 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a amaranth 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 Amaranth with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes Naivasha 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.
Amaranth 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 amaranth grow well in Naivasha?
Naivasha rates as favourable for amaranth.
When should I plant amaranth in Naivasha?
Typically 21 Sep 2026 to 12 Feb 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Naivasha, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
