Divisi
When to plant Egusi melon in Mina Al-Basal
Alexandria, Egypt
Egusi is a trailing melon vine — a cousin of the watermelon — but you do not grow it for the fruit.
| Fit | Favourable |
|---|---|
| When to plant | 1 May 2027 – 9 Aug 2027 opens in 30 weeks |
| Expected harvest | about 1.1 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 30 Jul 2027 to 6 Jan 2028, depending on the planting date |
| Ready to harvest | 90–150 days after planting |
| Work it takes | 50–108 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 1 May 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for Mina Al-Basal 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 Mina Al-Basal
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 96% |
| The lie of the land | 60% |
For egusi melon in Mina Al-Basal, the lie of the land is the tightest of the three at 60%. 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 season in Mina Al-Basal
| Rain in a typical year | About 174 mm |
|---|---|
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 174 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| What that supports | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it, warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth |
| Ground this covers | One kind of ground throughout. |
last updated 18 September 2026
What egusi melon needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained sandy loam or loam soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 6.0 and 7.0 |
| Rain it needs | About 600–1,400 mm across the season |
| Spacing | 150 cm between rows, 150 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | nitrogen and phosphorus |
What it takes to grow egusi melon in Mina Al-Basal
| Nitrogen (N) | About 38 kg per hectare |
|---|---|
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 13 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 13 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 | 50–108 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a egusi melon 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 Egusi melon with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes Mina Al-Basal 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 egusi melon grow well in Mina Al-Basal?
Mina Al-Basal rates as favourable for egusi melon.
When should I plant egusi melon in Mina Al-Basal?
Typically 1 May 2027 to 9 Aug 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Mina Al-Basal, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.