Crop Planting Calendar

Soursop (also known as Graviola) is a tropical fruit tree producing large, spiny green fruits with creamy white aromatic flesh. It is highly prized for its unique flavour and growing scientific evidence of medicinal properties (leaves and fruit used in traditional medicine and nutraceuticals). Soursop thrives in Zimbabwe's warmer low-altitude areas and offers significant commercial potential for fresh fruit, juice, and medicinal leaf markets.

Yield: 15-25 tonnes/ha (from year 3-4)

Lemongrass is a fast-growing, drought-tolerant aromatic grass with significant commercial value in Zimbabwe's essential oil, culinary, and medicinal markets. It is one of the easiest high-value crops to establish, requiring minimal inputs while producing multiple harvests per year. Lemongrass essential oil (citral content 70-85%) commands strong export prices, and the fresh stalks are increasingly demanded by restaurants, herbal tea producers, and direct consumers.

Yield: 20-40 tonnes/ha fresh biomass; 100-200 kg/ha essential oil

The Baobab is Africa's iconic 'Tree of Life' — a drought-resilient, multi-purpose tree native to Zimbabwe's drier lowveld regions. It produces nutrient-dense fruit pulp (6x more vitamin C than oranges, 2x more calcium than milk), edible seeds, and leaves. Baobab is rapidly emerging as a high-value export superfood crop with growing international demand for its powder, oil, and derivatives. Zimbabwe has vast natural stands and growing potential for commercial cultivation.

Yield: 2-5 tonnes/ha dry powder equivalent (mature trees 10+ years)

Guava is a hardy, highly productive tropical fruit tree grown across Zimbabwe's warmer regions. It is valued for its high vitamin C content (4x more than oranges), versatility in processing, and relatively low input requirements. Guava is increasingly important as a commercial crop for juice, jam, and fresh fruit markets.

Yield: 20-40 tonnes/ha

Banana is a high-value perennial fruit crop grown widely in Zimbabwe's low-altitude, high-temperature regions. It provides year-round income and is an important food security crop. Zimbabwe produces both dessert and cooking bananas, with major production in the Zambezi Valley, Chipinge, and Birchenough Bridge areas.

Yield: 25-45 tonnes/ha

Sugar beans are one of Zimbabwe's most important food security crops, providing high-quality protein and essential nutrients. They are widely grown across the country's high and medium rainfall areas and are a staple in rural households. Sugar beans are also a significant cash crop with strong domestic and regional market demand.

Yield: 1.5-3.0 tonnes/ha

Ginger is one of the world's most widely traded spice crops, valued for its unique pungent flavour, medicinal properties, and industrial applications. In Zimbabwe, ginger is an emerging high-value specialty crop with significant potential for both domestic markets and regional/export trade to South Africa, Mozambique, and beyond. It thrives in Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands and higher rainfall areas of Manicaland and Mashonaland East. Ginger is increasingly sought after by health-conscious consumers, food processors, and the pharmaceutical industry — demand is growing over 8% annually globally. For Zimbabwean farmers, ginger offers an attractive return on investment with relatively low land requirements compared to traditional field crops.

Yield: 15–25 tonnes/ha fresh rhizomes

Turmeric is a tropical rhizomatous plant prized for its vibrant golden-yellow rhizomes, which contain curcumin — one of the most researched natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds in the world. In Zimbabwe, turmeric is an emerging high-value crop with strong export potential to health food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic markets. It thrives in humid, tropical conditions and can perform exceptionally well in Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands and lowveld regions. Demand for organic turmeric in global markets is growing at over 12% per year, making it an excellent diversification crop for Zimbabwean farmers.

Yield: 20–30 tonnes/ha fresh rhizomes (4–6 tonnes/ha dry)

Tobacco is Zimbabwe's most historically significant export crop and a cornerstone of the national economy. Zimbabwe produces some of the world's finest flue-cured Virginia tobacco, prized globally for its bright, golden leaf and mild flavour. The country consistently ranks among the top 5 tobacco producers worldwide. Grown primarily in Mashonaland provinces, tobacco remains a high-value cash crop for both large commercial operations and small-to-medium scale farmers under contract farming arrangements.

Yield: 2.0–3.5 tonnes/ha (flue-cured)

Macadamia is an emerging high-value tree crop in Zimbabwe, particularly in Manicaland. The nuts command premium global prices and have strong export demand from Asia and Europe.

Yield: 3–5 tonnes/ha

Avocado is a high-value export fruit grown mainly in Manicaland and the Eastern Highlands. Zimbabwe is a significant regional avocado exporter, with growing global demand.

Yield: 8–20 tonnes/ha

Papaya is a fast-fruiting tropical tree crop grown across Zimbabwe's warmer regions. It has excellent domestic market demand and export potential for fresh fruit and processed products.

Yield: 30–60 tonnes/ha

Watermelon is a popular summer crop in Zimbabwe, grown mainly in hotter, lower-altitude areas. It has strong domestic market demand and export potential to regional markets.

Yield: 20–40 tonnes/ha

Tea and coffee are grown in Zimbabwe's Eastern Highlands (Manicaland), particularly around Chipinge. They are important export crops with established global markets.

Yield: 1.5–3 tonnes/ha (made tea)

Swiss chard (silver beet) is a versatile leafy vegetable grown year-round in Zimbabwe. It is gaining popularity in formal retail due to its nutritional value and year-round availability.

Yield: 15–25 tonnes/ha

Sugar cane is grown commercially in the Lowveld region of Zimbabwe, primarily in the Triangle and Hippo Valley areas. It is a major foreign currency earner and employer.

Yield: 80–120 tonnes/ha

Stevia is a natural sweetener crop with growing global demand. It is being cultivated experimentally in Zimbabwe for export to health food and beverage industries.

Yield: 2–5 tonnes/ha (dry leaf)

Spinach is a fast-growing, nutritious leafy vegetable popular in Zimbabwe's urban markets. It is grown year-round under irrigation and commands consistent prices.

Yield: 10–20 tonnes/ha

Rape and covo (collard greens) are staple relish vegetables consumed throughout Zimbabwe. They are grown year-round under irrigation and are among the most widely traded vegetables.

Yield: 15–30 tonnes/ha

Pumpkin is widely grown across Zimbabwe as both a food security crop and a commercial vegetable. The leaves (muboora) and fruit are both consumed and traded.

Yield: 10–20 tonnes/ha

Parsley is a popular culinary herb grown under irrigation in Zimbabwe for domestic and export markets. It is a quick-turn crop with high value per hectare.

Yield: 8–15 tonnes/ha

Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruit) are grown mainly in the Eastern Highlands and Manicaland. Zimbabwe has significant potential for citrus export to regional and international markets.

Yield: 20–40 tonnes/ha

Okra is a warm-season vegetable popular across Zimbabwe for domestic consumption and export. It is heat-tolerant and performs well in the hotter growing regions.

Yield: 8–15 tonnes/ha

Moringa is a fast-growing, drought-tolerant tree with exceptional nutritional value. Its leaves, pods, seeds, and oil all have commercial value in health food and pharmaceutical markets.

Yield: 4–8 tonnes/ha (dry leaves)

Melons (watermelon, spanspek, honeydew) are warm-season cucurbit crops popular in Zimbabwe for domestic consumption and export. They perform well in hot, semi-arid regions.

Yield: 20–40 tonnes/ha

Mango is Zimbabwe's most widely grown fruit tree, found across most provinces. Both smallholder and commercial orchards produce mangoes for fresh consumption and processing.

Yield: 10–25 tonnes/ha

Lucerne (alfalfa) is a high-protein perennial fodder crop grown under irrigation in Zimbabwe. It is a key feed for dairy and livestock operations.

Yield: 10–20 tonnes/ha (DM)

Lettuce is a high-turnover salad crop grown year-round under irrigation in Zimbabwe. It is popular in supermarkets, restaurants, and export to regional markets.

Yield: 15–25 tonnes/ha

Coriander is a fast-growing culinary herb with strong export demand. It is grown year-round under irrigation in Zimbabwe, particularly in Mashonaland and around Harare.

Yield: 4–8 tonnes/ha

Chives are a popular culinary herb grown under irrigation in Zimbabwe. They have a quick turnaround cycle and consistent demand from restaurants and supermarkets.

Yield: 5–10 tonnes/ha

Chili pepper is a high-value spice and vegetable crop grown across Zimbabwe. Dried chili is a significant export earner, particularly to Europe and Asia.

Yield: 3–8 tonnes/ha (dried)

Cassava is a drought-tolerant, long-season staple crop grown mainly in the low-rainfall regions of Zimbabwe. It is a critical food security crop and has growing commercial value for starch and flour.

Yield: 8–25 tonnes/ha

Butternut squash is a popular and commercially important cucurbit in Zimbabwe. It is grown for fresh market sale and is valued for its sweet, dense flesh and long shelf life.

Yield: 15–30 tonnes/ha

Basil is a popular aromatic herb grown under irrigation in Zimbabwe for fresh and dried leaf markets. It has strong export potential to the EU.

Yield: 5–10 tonnes/ha

Amaranth is a highly nutritious, fast-growing leafy vegetable widely grown across Zimbabwe. Rich in protein and vitamins, it is used as a relish and is increasingly popular as an export vegetable.

Yield: 10–20 tonnes/ha

Sweet potato is a drought-tolerant, fast-maturing crop ideal for food security in Zimbabwe's marginal rainfall areas. It is both a nutritious food and a commercial crop with growing demand.

Yield: 10–25 tonnes/ha

Tomato is one of Zimbabwe's most commercially important vegetable crops, grown year-round under irrigation. It is a key income crop for smallholder and commercial farmers alike.

Yield: 25–60 tonnes/ha