Divisi
When to plant Groundnut in Kisumu West
Kisumu, Kenya
Known here as karanga · njugu
Groundnut (peanut) is a low, leafy legume that does something no other crop in your field does: it flowers above the ground, but then each fertilised flower sends a little stalk — a peg — down into the soil, and the nut grows and fills underground.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Favourable | |
| When to plant | 1 Jan 2027 – 10 Feb 2027 opens in 13 weeks | 30 Jun 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 |
| Expected harvest | 1.9–2.4 t/ha | about 3.3 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 1 Apr 2027 to 10 Jul 2027, depending on the planting date | |
| Ready to harvest | 90–150 days after planting | |
| Work it takes | 71–126 days per hectare, by hand | |
| Rain meets its needs | 98% | |
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 21 Jan 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's outlook for Kisumu West 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 10 Feb 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Kisumu West
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 76% |
| The lie of the land | 96% |
For groundnut in Kisumu West, the soil is the tightest of the three at 76%. This is the one you can actually move. Lime raises a sour soil, manure and compost lift what it holds, and both work within a season or two — money spent here changes the answer.
The 2025/26 season in Kisumu West
| When the rains are expected | February 2025 to January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Rain in a typical year | About 1,225 mm |
| This season's rain | Leaning wet — January, February, 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 +1.2 °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 a long crop, or two in a year, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season |
| Ground this covers | 3 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 78% of this area. |
| 78% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 329 growing days · about 1,090 mm · February to January |
|---|---|
| 15% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 365 growing days · about 1,490 mm · December to December |
| 7% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 357 growing days · about 1,250 mm · January to January |
last updated 30 September 2026
Frost and pest pressure hold back about 15% of yield here.
What groundnut needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained sandy loam or sandy soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 5.9 and 7.0 |
| Spacing | 45 cm between rows, 9 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | phosphorus, potassium and calcium |
What it takes to grow groundnut in Kisumu West
| Planting material | About 247,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 132 kg per hectare — the crop fixes most of this itself; inoculated seed matters more than a bag |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 24 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 72 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 | 71–126 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a groundnut 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 Groundnut with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes Kisumu West 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 Groundnut nearby
Groundnut 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 groundnut grow well in Kisumu West?
Kisumu West rates as favourable for groundnut.
When should I plant groundnut in Kisumu West?
Typically 1 Jan 2027 to 10 Feb 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Kisumu West, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
