Crops · 6 min read
Planting maize in summer rainfall areas
By Agricultural Extension Team
Timing, spacing and seed choice make the biggest difference to yields in the Highveld and KwaZulu-Natal midlands.
Key tips
- Plant after the first 25 mm of rain so the seedbed holds enough moisture.
- Use a plant population of 18,000–25,000 plants per hectare for dryland fields.
- Choose a cultivar suited to your area’s season length and rainfall.
- Scout for fall armyworm weekly from emergence to tasseling.