Divisi
When to plant Swiss chard in Merouana
Batna, Algeria
Swiss chard — muriwo, mchicha, silverbeet, spinach beet — is the dependable 'spinach' of African markets and home gardens, though it is not true spinach.
| Fit | Favourable |
|---|---|
| When to plant | 2 Mar 2027 – 29 Aug 2027 opens in 22 weeks |
| Expected harvest | about 46.3 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 30 Jun 2027 to 25 Feb 2028, depending on the planting date |
| Ready to harvest | 120–180 days after planting |
| Work it takes | 73–145 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 2 Mar 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for Merouana is close to normal, so these dates match the pattern the area usually follows.
Planting after 29 Aug 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Merouana
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 76% |
| The lie of the land | 88% |
For swiss chard in Merouana, 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 2026 season in Merouana
| Rain in a typical year | About 301 mm |
|---|---|
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 301 mm falling roughly when it always does |
| What that supports | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it, warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth |
| Ground this covers | 3 kinds of ground. The season below is the largest that farms — about 42% of this area. |
| 42% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 133 growing days · about 300 mm |
|---|---|
| 33% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 147 growing days · about 310 mm · October to March |
| 25% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 113 growing days · about 380 mm |
last updated 17 September 2026
The soil holds back about 10% of yield here.
What swiss chard 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 |
| Rain it needs | About 600–1,500 mm across the season |
| Spacing | 50 cm between rows, 27 cm between plants |
| Feed it most with | nitrogen, potassium and boron |
What it takes to grow swiss chard in Merouana
| Planting material | About 200,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 162 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 58 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 278 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 | 73–145 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a swiss chard 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 Swiss chard with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes Merouana 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.
Swiss chard 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 swiss chard grow well in Merouana?
Merouana rates as favourable for swiss chard.
When should I plant swiss chard in Merouana?
Typically 2 Mar 2027 to 29 Aug 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Merouana, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
