Crop calendar
What to plant, tend and harvest, month by month.
Our planting calendar for the Anambra valley, built from 28 years of rainfall records on the estate. Filter by crop group, or pick a month to see what should be happening in the fields right now.
This month
What should be happening now?
In the fields
The two seasons
Why the valley gets two maize crops
The rains in the South East come in two waves: from March to July, then a short dry spell in August, then again from September to early November. Maize needs about four months, so on well drained land you can fit two crops in a year. Cassava, on a twelve month cycle, simply grows through both.
The harmattan, from December to February, is for clearing, ploughing, mending ponds and milling. It is also when we hold outgrower training, because no one is in a hurry to be in the field.
- First rains: plant when the soil has held water for three days
- August break: harvest early maize, dry it on clean floors
- Late rains: second maize, rice harvest, cassava keeps growing
28
years of rainfall records
1,640
mm average rain a year
2
maize seasons
9
crops on the calendar
Does the calendar change each year?
The shape stays the same, but we move planting dates by a week or two when the rains come early or late. Outgrowers get the update by WhatsApp.
Can I print it?
Yes. Use your browser’s print option; the grid prints on one page.
Is it right for Delta State too?
Close. Asaba and the river towns run about a week ahead of the Anambra uplands.
Want this calendar on your phone?
Outgrowers get reminders by WhatsApp before every planting and fertiliser window.