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Planting before the rains: our March checklist
The first storms usually arrive in the second half of March. The farms that do best are the ones that were ready a fortnight earlier. This is the list our block managers work through every year.
Three weeks out: soil and ridges
Finish ploughing and ridging while the ground is still dry enough for the tractor. Spread compost on the maize blocks. If the soil test asked for lime, it goes on now so it has time to work.
Two weeks out: planting material
Cut cassava stems from healthy plants only, 20 to 25 cm long with five to seven nodes. Keep them in the shade, upright, and plant within a week. Check maize seed for the certification tag and the date.
The best planting day is the one you were ready for two weeks earlier.
One week out: people and plans
Agree the planting gangs, the order of the blocks and the backup day if it storms. Charge the sprayer batteries. Brief the outgrower officers so the villages move with us.
The first rains: wait three days
One storm is not a season. We plant when the soil has held moisture for three days in a row. Planting into dry soil after a single shower is the most common early mistake we see.
Quick list
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- Plant cassava at a slight angle, two thirds buried
- Maize at 75 by 25 cm, two seeds per hole, thinned to one
- Record the planting date on every block
- Keep a few stems back to fill gaps after two weeks
Can I share this with my cooperative?
Yes, please do. Outgrowers get a printed copy with their season pack.
Who writes the journal?
Our block managers, mill leads and extension officers, edited by the communications team.