Divisi
When to plant Groundnut in Beitbridge Urban
Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe
Known here as nzungu
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.
| Fit | Favourable |
|---|---|
| When to plant | 20 Jul 2026 – 21 Jan 2027 open now |
| Expected harvest | about 4.0 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 18 Oct 2026 to 20 Jun 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-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 Jan 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for Beitbridge Urban is close to normal, so these dates match the pattern the area usually follows.
Planting after 21 Jan 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Beitbridge Urban
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 96% |
| The lie of the land | 88% |
For groundnut in Beitbridge Urban, 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 season in Beitbridge Urban
| Rain in a typical year | About 340 mm |
|---|---|
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 340 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| What that supports | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation, 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 15% of this area. |
| 62% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season no rain-fed season · about 340 mm |
|---|---|
| 23% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season no rain-fed season · about 350 mm |
| 15% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 87 growing days · about 370 mm · November to February |
last updated 17 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 Beitbridge Urban
| Planting material | About 247,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 220 kg per hectare — the crop fixes most of this itself; inoculated seed matters more than a bag |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 40 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 120 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 Beitbridge Urban 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.
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 Beitbridge Urban?
Beitbridge Urban rates as favourable for groundnut.
When should I plant groundnut in Beitbridge Urban?
Typically 20 Jul 2026 to 21 Jan 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Beitbridge Urban, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.