Divisi
When to plant Mandarin in East Bale
Oromia, Ethiopia
The mandarin (also called tangerine or naartjie) is the hardiest and easiest-to-peel of the citrus trees — a small, spreading evergreen that lives and bears fruit for decades.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Favourable | |
| When to plant (establish) | 3 Mar 2027 – 8 May 2027 opens in 22 weeks | 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 |
| Expected harvest | about 9.1 t/ha | about 35.0 t/ha |
| Work it takes | 91–203 days per hectare, by hand | |
| Rain meets its needs | 98% | |
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 25 Mar 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's outlook for East Bale 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 8 May 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in East Bale
| Rain and temperature | 88% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 76% |
| The lie of the land | 88% |
For mandarin in East Bale, 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 East Bale
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | March 2026 to May 2026 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 461 mm |
| This season's rain | Leaning wet — make sure water can drain off the field. |
| What that supports | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it, warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season |
| Ground this covers | 4 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 38% of this area. |
| 38% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 112 growing days · about 480 mm · March to May |
|---|---|
| 29% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 146 growing days · about 610 mm · March to June |
| 10% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 252 growing days · about 870 mm · March to November |
| 8% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 199 growing days · about 700 mm · July to November |
last updated 16 September 2026
What mandarin needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained loam or sandy loam soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 6.0 and 6.5 |
| Spacing | 550 cm between rows, 550 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, zinc and boron |
What it takes to grow mandarin in East Bale
| Planting material | About 340 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 18 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 4 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 23 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 | 91–203 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a mandarin 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 Mandarin with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes East Bale 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.
Mandarin 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 mandarin grow well in East Bale?
East Bale rates as favourable for mandarin.
When should I plant mandarin in East Bale?
Typically 3 Mar 2027 to 8 May 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across East Bale, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
