Divisi
When to plant Teff in Zakkar
Djelfa, Algeria
Teff (Eragrostis tef) is a fine, tufted grass that carries the smallest grain of any cereal in the world — seed almost as fine as dust.
| Fit | Favourable |
|---|---|
| When to plant | 11 Apr 2027 – 1 May 2027 opens in 28 weeks |
| Expected harvest | about 2.9 t/ha |
| Harvest | From 10 Jun 2027 to 29 Aug 2027, depending on the planting date |
| Ready to harvest | 60–120 days after planting |
| Work it takes | 88–174 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 11 Apr 2027. That is the point in the window where the rains are most reliably established.
This season's rainfall outlook for Zakkar is close to normal, so these dates match the pattern the area usually follows.
Planting after 1 May 2027 leaves the crop short of season: it runs into the dry months before it has finished filling.
What decides this in Zakkar
| Rain and temperature | 96% |
|---|---|
| The soil | 96% |
| The lie of the land | 60% |
For teff in Zakkar, 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 season in Zakkar
| Rain in a typical year | About 273 mm |
|---|---|
| This season's rain | Rain close to usual — plan around about 273 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 68% of this area. |
| 68% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth 102 growing days · about 250 mm |
|---|---|
| 28% | enough rain for one short crop, and only if timed to it; cool for part of the year, so frost sets the planting date 116 growing days · about 300 mm |
| 4% | too dry for rain-fed cropping without irrigation; warm, with a cool spell that slows winter growth no rain-fed season · about 220 mm |
last updated 15 September 2026
Sloping ground holds back about 20% of yield here.
What teff needs to grow here
| Soil it likes | sandy loam, loam, clay loam or clay |
|---|---|
| Soil sourness (pH) | Happiest between pH 5.2 and 5.8 |
| Feed it most with | phosphorus, nitrogen, zinc, sulphur and boron |
What it takes to grow teff in Zakkar
| Planting material | About 3,000,000 plants per hectare |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | About 87 kg per hectare |
| Phosphate (P₂O₅) | About 29 kg per hectare |
| Potash (K₂O) | About 72 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 | 88–174 days per hectare, by hand |
These are the nutrients a teff 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 Teff with a plan, not a guess
Everything above describes Zakkar 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 teff grow well in Zakkar?
Zakkar rates as favourable for teff.
When should I plant teff in Zakkar?
Typically 11 Apr 2027 to 1 May 2027, forecast-adjusted.
Is this exact for my own field?
No — these are readings taken across Zakkar, not on your field. Soil, slope and rainfall change from one farm to the next. Check your own location to see your own numbers.