Divisi
When to plant Sesame in Samburu North
Samburu, Kenya
Known here as ufuta
Sesame — also called simsim or benniseed — is a tough, upright oilseed that grows from knee to shoulder height and gives a seed that is about half oil.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Moderate | |
| When to plant | 4 Mar 2027 – 24 Mar 2027 opens in 22 weeks | 20 Jul 2026 – 2 Mar 2027 |
| Expected harvest | about 0.4 t/ha | about 1.2 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 2 Jun 2027 to 1 Aug 2027, depending on the planting date | |
| Ready to harvest | 90–130 days after planting | |
| Work it takes | 65–129 days per hectare, by hand | |
| Rain meets its needs | 45% | |
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 Mar 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for Samburu North is close to normal, so these dates match the pattern the area usually follows.
Planting after 24 Mar 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Samburu North
| Rain and temperature | 88% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 96% |
| The lie of the land | 88% |
For sesame in Samburu North, rain and temperature is the tightest of the three at 88%. This one is fixed. It is why the planting window above is where it is — hitting those dates is the whole of your control here.
The 2027 season in Samburu North
| Rain in a typical year | About 425 mm |
|---|---|
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 425 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| 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 41% of this area. |
| 41% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 95 growing days · about 370 mm |
|---|---|
| 21% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 151 growing days · about 520 mm · March to May |
| 17% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 132 growing days · about 470 mm · March to May |
| 5% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 168 growing days · about 570 mm · October to December |
last updated 30 September 2026
Limited water holds back about 55% of yield here.
What sesame needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained sandy loam or loam soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 5.5 and 7.5 |
| Rain it needs | About 300–600 mm across the season |
| Spacing | 37 cm between rows, 7 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | nitrogen, phosphorus and boron |
What it takes to grow sesame in Samburu North
| Planting material | About 265,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 22 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 6 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 20 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 | 65–129 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a sesame 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 Sesame with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes Samburu North 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.
Sesame 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 sesame grow well in Samburu North?
Samburu North rates as moderate for sesame.
When should I plant sesame in Samburu North?
Typically 4 Mar 2027 to 24 Mar 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Samburu North, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
