The best time to plant wheat in Nigeria is the dry cold season months of November – February. Wheat grows only in the cold months of the year. If heat is planted in the hotter months of the year, it will not grow and yield well.
There is also less incidences of fungal diseases in the months of November – February. Planting wheat in these months can significantly increase the yield.
The best time to plant wheat in Nigeria should be based on factors like temperature, level of rainfall, the availability of irrigation, pests and diseases and availability of labour etc.
The best time to plant wheat across the climatic zones of Nigeria
The best time to plant wheat across the climatic zones of Nigeria is discussed below:
Mangrove Swamp Forest Zone
Wheat will not grow well in the mangrove swamp forest zone of Nigeria because it is humid and warm almost all year round.
Rain Forest Zone
Wheat will not grow well in the rain forest zone of Nigeria because it is humid and warm almost all year round.
Guinean Savannah Zone
Wheat will not grow well in the Guinean Savannah zone of Nigeria because it is humid and warm almost all year round.
Sudan Savannah Zone
The best time to plant wheat in the Sudan savannah zone like Niger State and Northern part of Nasarawa is November - February. This is due to the fact that these months are usually cold.
Sahel Savannah Zone
The best time to plant wheat in the Sahel savannah zone like Borno State and Yobe State is November - February. This is due to the fact that these months are usually cold.
Factors that can affect the time to plant wheat in Nigeria
The following factors can affect the time to plant wheat in Nigeria:
Temperature
Temperature is the most important factor when it comes to the growing of wheat in Nigeria. The temperature must be low for you to plant wheat.
The main reason why wheat is grown in the harmattan months in the far north of Nigeria is because of the low temperature during this period.
The availability of water
The availability of water can affect the time to plant wheat in Nigeria. Sprinklers, spray tubes and center pivots are some of the irrigation systems that can be used to irrigate wheat crop.
Intensity of pests and diseases
The intensity of pests and diseases can also affect the time to plant wheat in Nigeria. For example, the risk of fungal diseases in the rainy season is usually high; this can be a disincentive to grow wheat in the rainy season.
Availability of labour
The availability of labour can also affect the time to plant wheat. At a particular time of the year, the availability of labour can be very high while at some other time, labour can be scarce.
Should you wish to know the best time to plant wheat, kindly contact us through sales@veggieconcept.ng.
Read our latest article on the Price of a bag of wheat in Nigeria.