Divisi
When to plant Irish potato in Woleu-Ntem
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 | Favourable | |
| When to plant | 26 May 2027 – 29 Jun 2027 opens in 34 weeks | same |
| Expected harvest | about 30.7 t/ha | about 39.5 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 4 Aug 2027 to 6 Nov 2027, depending on the planting date | |
| Ready to harvest | 70–130 days after planting | |
| Work it takes | 110–185 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 26 May 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for Woleu-Ntem leans dry, so these dates sit later than the long-run average. Planting on the date you are used to risks germinating into a false start and having to replant.
Planting after 29 Jun 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Woleu-Ntem
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 76% |
| The lie of the land | 76% |
For irish potato in Woleu-Ntem, 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 2026 season in Woleu-Ntem
| When the rains are expected | August 2026 to August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Rain in a typical year | About 1,666 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 1,588 mm in the driest of 5 districts to about 2,192 mm in the wettest |
| This season's rain | Leaning dry. Plant at the early end of the window and favour quicker, more drought-tolerant crops. |
| 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 | One kind of ground throughout. |
last updated 18 September 2026 · from all 5 areas within it
Frost and pest pressure hold back about 15% of yield here.
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 Woleu-Ntem
| Planting material | About 47,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 101 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 31 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 178 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 Woleu-Ntem 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.
Irish potato 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 irish potato grow well in Woleu-Ntem?
Woleu-Ntem rates as favourable for irish potato.
When should I plant irish potato in Woleu-Ntem?
Typically 26 May 2027 to 29 Jun 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Woleu-Ntem, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
