Divisi
When to plant Swiss chard in Makete
Njombe, 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 | 6 Nov 2026 – 15 Jan 2027 opens in 5 weeks | 21 Jan 2026 – 1 Jan 2027 |
| Expected harvest | about 32.4 t/ha | about 17.1 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 6 Mar 2027 to 14 Jul 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 5 Jan 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's outlook for Makete 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 15 Jan 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Makete
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 76% |
| The lie of the land | 88% |
For swiss chard in Makete, 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 2026/27 season in Makete
| Rainy seasons | One each year — one chance to plant, so timing carries it |
|---|---|
| When the rains are expected | October 2026 to June 2027 |
| Rain in a typical year | About 1,106 mm |
| This season's rain | Leaning wet — January, February, November and December look heavier than usual. Make sure water can drain off the field; a wet year does more damage through waterlogging and disease than through the rain itself. |
| This season's heat | Hotter than usual — about +1.2 °C over the growing months. Heat makes the same rain do less, so a dry spell bites sooner: do not plant late, and shade or mulch what you can. |
| What that supports | enough rain for one full main crop, 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 53% of this area. |
| 53% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 221 growing days · about 1,110 mm · October to June |
|---|---|
| 28% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 227 growing days · about 1,080 mm · October to June |
| 15% | enough rain for one full main crop; warm all year, so nothing but rain ends the season 232 growing days · about 1,310 mm · November to May |
| 4% | enough rain for one full main crop; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 232 growing days · about 1,110 mm · October to June |
last updated 16 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 Makete
| Planting material | About 200,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 113 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 40 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 194 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 Makete 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 Makete?
Makete rates as favourable for swiss chard.
When should I plant swiss chard in Makete?
Typically 6 Nov 2026 to 15 Jan 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Makete, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.
