Malawi Crop Calendar
What to plant and harvest across 3 agro-ecological zones in Malawi — 13 crops with sowing windows, growing periods and local notes.
Sow this July
3 cropsAll crops in Malawi
Cabbage, common
Carrot
Lettuce
Corn, sweet
Cowpea
Onion
Peanut
Potato
Rice
Sorghum
Sweet potato
Tomato
Wheat, bread
Agro-ecological zones
other High Altitude areas
These are areas above 1300m above seal level and are characterised by cool temperatures and overcast conditions.
Practices: Rainfed. Wheat, beans, soybean, pigeon peas, chickpea, potatoes, tea, coffee, bananas, vegetables
other Low Altitude areas
Less than 600m above sea level. High temperatures of about 30oC or more, relatively flat and have a generally short rainy season of between 3 to 4 months long (December to February/March). Average rainfall is between 700 to 800 mm per annum
Practices: Rice, Maize, Irrigation, Phaseolus beans, Groundnut, Soybean, Pigeon pea, Cowpea, Sesame, Cassava, Sweetpotatoes, Cotton, Bananas,
other Medium Altitude areas
Comprises about 60% of the total cultivated area. It varies in altitude from 600 to 1300 above seal level. This is characterised by moderate temperature and a fairly long rainy season of between 4 to 5 months (November/December to April), with an average of about 875 mm of rain per annum.
Practices: Major agriculture practice is maize, others include tobacco, groundnut, soybean, cassava, sweetpotatoes, sunflower, sesame, finger millet, vegetables