Divisi
When to plant Irish potato in Benghazi
East, Libya
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 | 2 Nov 2026 – 22 Nov 2026 opens in 5 weeks | 8 Oct 2026 – 22 Mar 2027 |
| Expected harvest | 17.9–22.5 t/ha | about 45.0 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 11 Jan 2027 to 1 Apr 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 meets its needs | 64% | |
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 2 Nov 2026. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for Benghazi is close to normal, so these dates match the pattern the area usually follows.
Planting after 22 Nov 2026 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Benghazi
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 96% |
| The lie of the land | 76% |
For irish potato in Benghazi, the lie of the land is the tightest of the three at 76%. 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 season in Benghazi
| Rain in a typical year | About 175 mm |
|---|---|
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 175 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 | 2 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 70% of this area. |
| 70% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 79 growing days · about 140 mm |
|---|---|
| 27% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 103 growing days · about 230 mm · November to March |
last updated 17 September 2026
Limited water holds back about 40% 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 Benghazi
| Planting material | About 47,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 68 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 21 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 119 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 Benghazi 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 Benghazi?
Benghazi rates as favourable for irish potato.
When should I plant irish potato in Benghazi?
Typically 2 Nov 2026 to 22 Nov 2026, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Benghazi, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
