Divisi
When to plant Common bean in Igembe North
Meru, Kenya
Known here as maharage · maharagwe
The common bean is the number-one grain legume that people in East and Southern Africa eat straight from the pot — as dry beans (a pulse) or as fresh green/snap pods.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Favourable | |
| When to plant | 24 Sep 2026 – 24 Oct 2026 open now | 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 |
| Expected harvest | 2.0–2.4 t/ha | about 3.0 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 8 Dec 2026 to 21 Feb 2027, depending on the planting date | |
| Ready to harvest | 75–120 days after planting | |
| Work it takes | 81–185 days per hectare, by hand | |
| Rain meets its needs | 97% | |
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 4 Oct 2026. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's outlook for Igembe North 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 24 Oct 2026 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Igembe North
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 96% |
| The lie of the land | 88% |
For common bean in Igembe North, 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 2026 season in Igembe North
| Rainy seasons | Two each year — two chances to plant |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | October 2026 to December 2026 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 528 mm |
| This season's rain | Leaning wet — October, 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 +0.8 °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 | 4 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 33% of this area. |
| 33% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 159 growing days · about 590 mm · October to January |
|---|---|
| 32% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 195 growing days · about 850 mm · September to January |
| 11% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 114 growing days · about 460 mm · October to December |
| 10% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 263 growing days · about 1,790 mm · September to June |
last updated 30 September 2026
Frost and pest pressure hold back about 15% of yield here.
What common bean needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained sandy loam, loam, silt loam or clay loam soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 5.5 and 6.5 |
| Spacing | 50 cm between rows, 10 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | phosphorus |
What it takes to grow common bean in Igembe North
| Planting material | About 175,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 79 kg per hectare — the crop fixes most of this itself; inoculated seed matters more than a bag |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 26 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 41 kg per hectare |
| In the shops | A basal compound at planting — Compound D, or an NPK blend — covers the phosphate and potash. Skip the nitrogen top dressing; inoculated seed does that job. |
| Hand work | 81–185 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a common bean 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 Common bean with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes Igembe North 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.
Where to sell Common bean nearby
Common bean 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 common bean grow well in Igembe North?
Igembe North rates as favourable for common bean.
When should I plant common bean in Igembe North?
Typically 24 Sep 2026 to 24 Oct 2026, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Igembe North, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
