Divisi
When to plant Kale in East Wellega
Oromia, Ethiopia
Known here as gomen
Rape, covo and kale are the everyday leafy greens of the African plot — the relish in the pot most nights.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Favourable | |
| When to plant | 14 Apr 2027 – 3 Jul 2027 opens in 28 weeks | 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 |
| Expected harvest | about 32.4 t/ha | about 39.0 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 12 Aug 2027 to 30 Dec 2027, depending on the planting date | |
| Ready to harvest | 120–180 days after planting | |
| Work it takes | 100–222 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 4 May 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for East Wellega is close to normal, so these dates match the pattern the area usually follows.
Planting after 3 Jul 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in East Wellega
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 76% |
| The lie of the land | 88% |
For kale in East Wellega, 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 2027 season in East Wellega
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | April 2027 to November 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 1,811 mm |
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 1,811 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| This season's heat | Hotter than usual — about +1.4 °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 | 3 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 62% of this area. |
| 62% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 236 growing days · about 1,560 mm · April to November |
|---|---|
| 34% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 223 growing days · about 1,370 mm · April to November |
| 3% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 258 growing days · about 1,770 mm · March to November |
last updated 16 September 2026
Frost and pest pressure hold back about 15% of yield here.
What kale needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained sandy loam, loam or clay loam soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 5.5 and 6.8 |
| Spacing | 45 cm between rows, 45 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | nitrogen, potassium, calcium, sulphur, boron and molybdenum |
What it takes to grow kale in East Wellega
| Planting material | About 60,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 146 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 32 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 194 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 | 100–222 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a kale 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 Kale with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes East Wellega 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.
Kale 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 kale grow well in East Wellega?
East Wellega rates as favourable for kale.
When should I plant kale in East Wellega?
Typically 14 Apr 2027 to 3 Jul 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across East Wellega, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
