Divisi
When to plant Spider plant in Gakenke
Northern Province, Rwanda
Spider plant (Cleome gynandra) — known as chinsaga, dek, mgagani, tsisaka, munyevhe and 'African cabbage' — is a tough, fast leafy vegetable of the drylands.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Moderate | |
| When to plant | 6 Sep 2026 – 28 Apr 2027 open now | 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 |
| Expected harvest | about 3.7 t/ha | about 5.5 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 5 Nov 2026 to 27 Jul 2027, depending on the planting date | |
| Ready to harvest | 60–90 days after planting | |
| Work it takes | 80–157 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 10 Jan 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's outlook for Gakenke 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 28 Apr 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Gakenke
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 96% |
| The lie of the land | 30% |
For spider plant in Gakenke, the lie of the land is the tightest of the three at 30%. 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 Gakenke
| When the rains are expected | July 2026 to July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Rain in a typical year | About 1,172 mm |
| This season's rain | Leaning wet — make sure water can drain off the field. |
| What that supports | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year, 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 87% of this area. |
| 87% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 329 growing days · about 1,060 mm · August to July |
|---|---|
| 6% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 322 growing days · about 1,030 mm · August to July |
| 4% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 317 growing days · about 980 mm · August to July |
last updated 17 September 2026
Sloping ground holds back about 65% of yield here.
What spider plant needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | well-drained sandy loam, loam or clay loam soil |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 6.0 and 6.8 |
| Spacing | 30 cm between rows, 12 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | nitrogen and phosphorus |
What it takes to grow spider plant in Gakenke
| Nitrogen (N) | About 18 kg per hectare |
|---|---|
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 4 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 22 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 | 80–157 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a spider plant 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 Spider plant with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes Gakenke 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.
Spider plant 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 spider plant grow well in Gakenke?
Gakenke rates as moderate for spider plant.
When should I plant spider plant in Gakenke?
Typically 6 Sep 2026 to 28 Apr 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Gakenke, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
