Divisi
When to plant Spider plant in Rukiga
Western, Uganda
Known here as jjobyo · mgagani
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 | Favourable | |
| When to plant | 1 Mar 2027 – 12 Apr 2027 opens in 22 weeks | 9 Aug 2026 – 21 Jan 2027 |
| Expected harvest | about 8.9 t/ha | same |
| Harvest | From 30 Apr 2027 to 11 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 29 Mar 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for Rukiga is close to normal, so these dates match the pattern the area usually follows.
Planting after 12 Apr 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Rukiga
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 96% |
| The lie of the land | 60% |
For spider plant in Rukiga, 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 2026 season in Rukiga
| When the rains are expected | July 2026 to July 2026 |
|---|---|
| Rain in a typical year | About 937 mm |
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 937 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| 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 | 4 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 66% of this area. |
| 66% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 336 growing days · about 900 mm · July to July |
|---|---|
| 18% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 294 growing days · about 750 mm · August to June |
| 11% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 285 growing days · about 710 mm · August to June |
| 5% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 275 growing days · about 680 mm · August to June |
last updated 17 September 2026
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 Rukiga
| Nitrogen (N) | About 44 kg per hectare |
|---|---|
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 9 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 53 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 Rukiga 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 Rukiga?
Rukiga rates as favourable for spider plant.
When should I plant spider plant in Rukiga?
Typically 1 Mar 2027 to 12 Apr 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Rukiga, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
