Divisi
When to plant Okra in République démocratique du Congo
Known here as bamia · binda · gombo
Okra (derere, idelele, lady's finger, gumbo) is a tall, hairy, hot-weather vegetable grown for its tender green pods — the slippery, 'drawing' relish that thickens the pot.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Favourable | |
| When to plant | 4 Sep 2026 – 31 Mar 2027 open now | 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 |
| Expected harvest | about 8.3 t/ha | about 11.7 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 19 Oct 2026 to 4 Jun 2027, depending on the planting date | |
| Ready to harvest | 45–65 days after planting | |
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 10 Jan 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's outlook for République démocratique du Congo 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 31 Mar 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in République démocratique du Congo
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 76% |
| The lie of the land | 60% |
For okra in République démocratique du Congo, the lie of the land is the tightest of the three at 60%. 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 2025/26 season in République démocratique du Congo
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | September 2025 to May 2026 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 1,104 mm in a typical farming district |
| Across its districts | From about 826 mm in the driest of 164 districts to about 1,709 mm in the wettest |
| 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 +1.2 °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 | 4 kinds of ground. The season below is one typical farming district's, not a figure for the whole of this area. |
| 60% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 347 growing days · about 1,450 mm · January to December |
|---|---|
| 21% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 235 growing days · about 1,070 mm · September to May |
| 8% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 278 growing days · about 1,300 mm · August to May |
| 5% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 293 growing days · about 1,310 mm · March to December |
last updated 16 September 2026 · from all 164 areas within it
What okra needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained sandy loam or loam soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 6.0 and 6.7 |
| Spacing | 53 cm between rows, 38 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium |
What it takes to grow okra in République démocratique du Congo
| Planting material | About 55,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 42 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 8 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 46 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. |
These are the nutrients a okra 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 Okra with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes République démocratique du Congo 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.
Okra 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 okra grow well in République démocratique du Congo?
République démocratique du Congo rates as favourable for okra.
When should I plant okra in République démocratique du Congo?
Typically 4 Sep 2026 to 31 Mar 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across République démocratique du Congo, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
