Divisi
When to plant Swiss chard in Magra
M'Sila, 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 | 21 Jan 2027 – 2 Mar 2027 opens in 16 weeks |
| Expected harvest | about 43.7 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 21 May 2027 to 29 Aug 2027, 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 10 Feb 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for Magra is close to normal, so these dates match the pattern the area usually follows.
Planting after 2 Mar 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Magra
| Rain and temperature | 88% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 76% |
| The lie of the land | 76% |
For swiss chard in Magra, 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 season in Magra
| Rain in a typical year | About 224 mm |
|---|---|
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 224 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 4% of this area. |
| 89% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth no rain-fed season · about 210 mm |
|---|---|
| 7% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth no rain-fed season · about 170 mm |
| 4% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 147 growing days · about 310 mm · October to March |
last updated 15 September 2026
Frost and pest pressure hold back about 15% 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 Magra
| Planting material | About 200,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 153 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 55 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 262 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 Magra 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 Magra?
Magra rates as favourable for swiss chard.
When should I plant swiss chard in Magra?
Typically 21 Jan 2027 to 2 Mar 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Magra, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.