Divisi
When to plant Swiss chard in Magharibi
Mjini Magharibi, United Republic of Tanzania
Known here as mchicha
Swiss chard — muriwo, mchicha, silverbeet, spinach beet — is the dependable 'spinach' of African markets and home gardens, though it is not true spinach.
| Measure | Rain-fed | With irrigation |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | Favourable | |
| When to plant | 21 May 2027 – 30 May 2027 opens in 33 weeks | same |
| Expected harvest | about 15.9 t/ha | about 46.3 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 18 Sep 2027 to 26 Nov 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 meets its needs | 59% | |
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 21 May 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for Magharibi is close to normal, so these dates match the pattern the area usually follows.
Planting after 30 May 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Magharibi
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 76% |
| The lie of the land | 88% |
For swiss chard in Magharibi, 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 2025 season in Magharibi
| When the rains are expected | August 2025 to August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Rain in a typical year | About 1,554 mm |
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 1,554 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 50% of this area. |
| 50% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 361 growing days · about 1,560 mm · August to August |
|---|---|
| 14% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 278 growing days · about 1,340 mm · September to June |
| 14% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 264 growing days · about 1,200 mm · October to June |
| 9% | enough rain for a long crop, or two in a year; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 276 growing days · about 1,350 mm · September to June |
last updated 16 September 2026
Limited water holds back about 45% 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 Magharibi
| Planting material | About 200,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 56 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 20 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 95 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 Magharibi 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.
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 Magharibi?
Magharibi rates as favourable for swiss chard.
When should I plant swiss chard in Magharibi?
Typically 21 May 2027 to 30 May 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Magharibi, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
