Divisi
When to plant Jute mallow in Kibra
Nairobi, Kenya
Known here as mlenda · mrenda · murere
Jute mallow (Corchorus olitorius) — known as ewedu, molokhia, mrenda, murere, gusha and bush okra — is a fast, hot-season leafy vegetable grown for its tender leaves and soft shoot tips.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Favourable | |
| When to plant | 23 Feb 2027 – 12 Apr 2027 opens in 21 weeks | 29 Aug 2026 – 11 Apr 2027 |
| Expected harvest | 9.6–10.0 t/ha | about 15.0 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 4 Apr 2027 to 11 Jun 2027, depending on the planting date | |
| Ready to harvest | 40–60 days after planting | |
| Work it takes | 73–141 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 11 Mar 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's outlook for Kibra 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 12 Apr 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Kibra
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 96% |
| The lie of the land | 88% |
For jute mallow in Kibra, 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 2026 season in Kibra
| Rainy seasons | Two each year — two chances to plant |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | February 2026 to July 2026 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 890 mm |
| This season's rain | Leaning wet — January, February, October, 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 +1.0 °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 one full main crop, 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 50% of this area. |
| 50% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 234 growing days · about 870 mm · February to June |
|---|---|
| 50% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 239 growing days · about 890 mm · February to July |
last updated 30 September 2026
Frost and pest pressure hold back about 15% of yield here.
What jute mallow needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained loam or alluvial soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 5.5 and 7.0 |
| Spacing | 47 cm between rows, 12 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | nitrogen |
What it takes to grow jute mallow in Kibra
| Nitrogen (N) | About 40 kg per hectare |
|---|---|
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 8 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 50 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 | 73–141 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a jute mallow 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 Jute mallow with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes Kibra 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.
Jute mallow 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 jute mallow grow well in Kibra?
Kibra rates as favourable for jute mallow.
When should I plant jute mallow in Kibra?
Typically 23 Feb 2027 to 12 Apr 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Kibra, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
