Divisi
When to plant Irish potato in Basse-Banio
Nyanga, Gabon
The Irish potato (mbatatisi, ikirayi, viazi mviringo) is a cool-weather crop grown for the tubers that swell underground — it is not a grain, and it is not the same plant as sweet potato.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Moderate | |
| When to plant | 17 Aug 2027 – 26 Aug 2027 opens in 46 weeks | 10 Jun 2027 – 20 Jul 2027 |
| Expected harvest | about 7.7 t/ha | about 41.7 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 26 Oct 2027 to 3 Jan 2028, depending on the planting date | |
| Ready to harvest | 70–130 days after planting | |
| Work it takes | 110–185 days per hectare, by hand | |
| Rain meets its needs | 79% | |
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 17 Aug 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
No seasonal forecast reaches Basse-Banio yet, so these dates follow the rains it usually gets rather than this year's.
Planting after 26 Aug 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Basse-Banio
| Rain and temperature | 60% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 76% |
| The lie of the land | 45% |
For irish potato in Basse-Banio, the lie of the land is the tightest of the three at 45%. 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 2026/27 season in Basse-Banio
| When the rains are expected | September 2026 to July 2027 |
|---|---|
| Rain in a typical year | About 1,692 mm |
| This season's rain | Leaning dry — January, February, September, October, November and December look short of rain. Plant at the early end of the window, favour quicker and more drought-tolerant crops, and keep moisture in the soil: mulch, and weed early. |
| 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 | 2 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 96% of this area. |
| 96% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 312 growing days · about 1,690 mm · September to July |
|---|---|
| 4% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 309 growing days · about 1,660 mm · September to July |
last updated 17 September 2026
What irish potato needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained loam or sandy loam soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 5.0 and 6.5 |
| Spacing | 75 cm between rows, 28 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | potassium and magnesium |
What it takes to grow irish potato in Basse-Banio
| Planting material | About 47,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 25 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 8 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 45 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 | 110–185 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a irish potato 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 Irish potato with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes Basse-Banio 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 irish potato grow well in Basse-Banio?
Basse-Banio rates as moderate for irish potato.
When should I plant irish potato in Basse-Banio?
Typically 17 Aug 2027 to 26 Aug 2027, typical season.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Basse-Banio, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
