Climatch
For growers

What can I grow in Cusco?

🇵🇪Cusco, Cuzco Department, Peru

Cusco is in hardiness zone 9a, has about 242 frost-free days a year, and gets about 1,700 chill hours a winter and 27 in (694 mm) of rain a year. Best fits: blueberry, barley, canola (rapeseed), wheat and potato.

Find land with a climate like Cusco →
Hardiness zone
Zone 9a
Coldest night 22°F (-6°C)
Frost season
Sep 5 – May 6
Last and first frost; 242 frost-free days
Frost-safe planting
After Sep 28
Past the last frost 9 years in 10
Winter chill
1,700 hours
75 chill portions
Summer heat
985 °F·days(547 °C·days)
Degree days above 50°F (10°C)
Hot days
0 days
Above 95°F (35°C) a year
Rain
27 in(694 mm)
Per year
Dry season
5 months
Months with rain under 2× the average °C

Great fits (80+)

  1. 100%fit

    Blueberry

    Northern highbush (Bluecrop, Duke)

    Fruit · Perennial

    Every requirement is in its ideal range.

    See it on the chartWhere else it grows
    Why this score ▸
    • Winter chill (9 winters in 10)100

      Here: 70 portions · Ideal: at least 55 portions

    • Coldest night of the year (average)100

      Here: 22°F (-6°C) · Ideal: at least -20°F (-29°C)

    • Frost-free days100

      Here: 242 days · Ideal: at least 140 days

    • Days above 95°F (35°C)100

      Here: 0 days · Ideal: at most 15 days

    • Yearly rain100

      Here: 27 in (694 mm) · Ideal: 30–59 in (750–1,500 mm) · covered by irrigation

    Needs acidic soil (pH 4.5–5.5), which climate can't tell us. Shallow roots: irrigate in dry spells.

    Vaccinium corymbosum / V. virgatum. Sources: Retamales & Hancock, Blueberries (CABI, 2nd ed.); NC State Extension: blueberry chill requirements. Ranges not yet reviewed by an agronomist.

  2. 100%fit

    Barley

    Grain · Annual · Plant in January

    Every requirement is in its ideal range.

    See it on the chartWhere else it grows
    Why this score ▸
    • Growing-season average100

      Here: 53°F (12°C) · Ideal: 52–68°F (11–20°C)

    • Coldest growing-season night (monthly average)100

      Here: 39°F (4°C) · Ideal: at least 32°F (0°C)

    • Growing-season rain100

      Here: 17 in (429 mm) · Ideal: 7.9–20 in (200–500 mm)

    The most cold- and drought-tolerant small grain; malting barley wants a cool, dry finish.

    Hordeum vulgare. Sources: FAO ECOCROP: Hordeum vulgare; FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 33 (Doorenbos & Kassam 1979). Ranges not yet reviewed by an agronomist.

  3. 100%fit

    Canola (rapeseed)

    Spring canola

    Oilseed · Annual · Plant in September

    Every requirement is in its ideal range.

    See it on the chartWhere else it grows
    Why this score ▸
    • Growing-season average100

      Here: 54°F (12°C) · Ideal: 54–70°F (12–21°C)

    • Coldest growing-season night (monthly average)100

      Here: 37°F (3°C) · Ideal: at least 32°F (0°C)

    • Growing-season rain100

      Here: 9.5 in (242 mm) · Ideal: 9.8–22 in (250–550 mm) · covered by irrigation

    Heat over ~30 °C at flowering cuts yield; a cool-season crop in warm climates.

    Brassica napus. Sources: FAO ECOCROP: Brassica napus; Canola Council of Canada: Canola Encyclopedia. Ranges not yet reviewed by an agronomist.

  4. 100%fit

    Wheat

    Spring wheat

    Grain · Annual · Plant in September

    Every requirement is in its ideal range.

    See it on the chartWhere else it grows
    Why this score ▸
    • Growing-season average100

      Here: 54°F (12°C) · Ideal: 54–72°F (12–22°C)

    • Coldest growing-season night (monthly average)100

      Here: 37°F (3°C) · Ideal: at least 32°F (0°C)

    • Growing-season rain100

      Here: 9.5 in (242 mm) · Ideal: 9.8–24 in (250–600 mm) · covered by irrigation

    In mild-winter climates spring wheat is sown in autumn and grows through the cool season.

    Triticum aestivum. Sources: FAO ECOCROP: Triticum aestivum; FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 33 (Doorenbos & Kassam 1979). Ranges not yet reviewed by an agronomist.

  5. 93%fit

    Potato

    Root crop · Annual · Plant in October

    Holding it back: Growing season too cool: 54°F (12°C) here, ideal 55–68°F (13–20°C)

    See it on the chartWhere else it grows
    Why this score ▸
    • Growing-season average86

      Here: 54°F (12°C) · Ideal: 55–68°F (13–20°C)

    • Coldest growing-season night (monthly average)100

      Here: 39°F (4°C) · Ideal: at least 37°F (3°C)

    • Growing-season rain100

      Here: 15 in (374 mm) · Ideal: 14–28 in (350–700 mm)

    Tubers form best with cool nights; above ~25 °C tuber growth stalls. In the tropics it's a highland or cool-season crop.

    Solanum tuberosum. Sources: FAO ECOCROP: Solanum tuberosum; FAO Crop Water Information: potato. Ranges not yet reviewed by an agronomist.

  6. 86%fit

    Strawberry

    Fruit · Annual · Plant in October

    Holding it back: Growing season too cool: 54°F (12°C) here, ideal 57–75°F (14–24°C)

    See it on the chartWhere else it grows
    Why this score ▸
    • Growing-season average74

      Here: 54°F (12°C) · Ideal: 57–75°F (14–24°C)

    • Coldest growing-season night (monthly average)100

      Here: 39°F (4°C) · Ideal: at least 37°F (3°C)

    • Growing-season rain100

      Here: 8.9 in (226 mm) · Ideal: 5.9–18 in (150–450 mm)

    Grown as a short-season crop in most commercial systems; day-neutral types fruit through summer.

    Fragaria × ananassa. Sources: FAO ECOCROP: Fragaria × ananassa; UC ANR: Strawberry production. Ranges not yet reviewed by an agronomist.

Worth a try (50–79)

  1. 79%fit

    Cherry

    Sweet cherry (Bing, Lapins)

    Fruit · Perennial

    Holding it back: Not enough summer heat: 985 °F·days (547 °C·days) here, ideal at least 1,440 °F·days (800 °C·days)

    See it on the chartWhere else it grows
    Why this score ▸
    • Winter chill (9 winters in 10)100

      Here: 70 portions · Ideal: at least 60 portions

    • Coldest night of the year (average)100

      Here: 22°F (-6°C) · Ideal: at least -11°F (-24°C)

    • Frost-free days100

      Here: 242 days · Ideal: at least 150 days

    • Degree days above 50°F (10°C)16

      Here: 985 °F·days (547 °C·days) · Ideal: at least 1,440 °F·days (800 °C·days)

    • Days above 95°F (35°C)100

      Here: 0 days · Ideal: at most 30 days

    • Yearly rain100

      Here: 27 in (694 mm) · Ideal: 20–39 in (500–1,000 mm)

    Rain near harvest splits sweet cherries. Spring frosts at bloom are the main yield risk.

    Prunus avium / P. cerasus. Sources: Fadón et al. 2020, Chilling and heat requirements of temperate stone fruit trees (Prunus sp.) (Agronomy); FAO ECOCROP: Prunus avium. Ranges not yet reviewed by an agronomist.

  2. 58%fit

    Garlic

    Hardneck (Music, Chesnok Red)

    Vegetable · Annual

    Holding it back: Summers too cool: 55°F (13°C) here, ideal 61–79°F (16–26°C)

    See it on the chartWhere else it grows
    Why this score ▸
    • Coldest-month average60

      Here: 47°F (8°C) · Ideal: at most 43°F (6°C)

    • Coldest night of the year (average)100

      Here: 22°F (-6°C) · Ideal: at least -22°F (-30°C)

    • Warmest-month average19

      Here: 55°F (13°C) · Ideal: 61–79°F (16–26°C)

    • Yearly rain100

      Here: 27 in (694 mm) · Ideal: 16–39 in (400–1,000 mm)

    Planted in autumn and harvested in early summer; cloves need weeks below ~10 °C to form bulbs (hardnecks more than softnecks).

    Allium sativum. Sources: UC ANR: Garlic production in California; FAO ECOCROP: Allium sativum. Ranges not yet reviewed by an agronomist.

Long shots (1)▸
  1. 20%fit

    Sunflower

    Oilseed · Annual · Plant in October

    Holding it back: Growing season too cool: 54°F (12°C) here, ideal 64–82°F (18–28°C)

    See it on the chartWhere else it grows
    Why this score ▸
    • Growing-season average5

      Here: 54°F (12°C) · Ideal: 64–82°F (18–28°C)

    • Coldest growing-season night (monthly average)68

      Here: 39°F (4°C) · Ideal: at least 43°F (6°C)

    • Growing-season rain100

      Here: 15 in (374 mm) · Ideal: 12–28 in (300–700 mm)

    Deep roots make it fairly drought tolerant.

    Helianthus annuus. Sources: FAO ECOCROP: Helianthus annuus; FAO Crop Water Information: sunflower. Ranges not yet reviewed by an agronomist.

Won't grow here (33)▸
  • Almond: Not enough summer heat: 985 °F·days (547 °C·days) here, ideal at least 3,420 °F·days (1,900 °C·days)
  • Apple: Not enough summer heat: 985 °F·days (547 °C·days) here, ideal at least 1,800 °F·days (1,000 °C·days)
  • Avocado: Winters get too cold: 22°F (-6°C) here, ideal at least 32°F (0°C)
  • Banana: Winters too cold: 47°F (8°C) here, ideal at least 61°F (16°C)
  • Cacao: Winters too cold: 47°F (8°C) here, ideal at least 68°F (20°C)
  • Cassava: Too cool overall: 52°F (11°C) here, ideal 72–86°F (22–30°C)
  • Citrus: Winters get too cold: 22°F (-6°C) here, ideal at least 28°F (-2°C)
  • Coffee (arabica): Too cool overall: 52°F (11°C) here, ideal 64–72°F (18–22°C)
  • Cotton: Growing season too cool: 52°F (11°C) here, ideal 72–90°F (22–32°C)
  • Date palm: Summers too cool: 55°F (13°C) here, ideal 88–104°F (31–40°C)
  • Fig: Summers too cool: 55°F (13°C) here, ideal 72–90°F (22–32°C)
  • Hemp: Summer days too short: 12.9 h here, ideal at least 14.5 h
  • Hops: Summer days too short: 12.9 h here, ideal at least 15.0 h
  • Kiwifruit: Not enough summer heat: 985 °F·days (547 °C·days) here, ideal at least 2,520 °F·days (1,400 °C·days)
  • Lavender: Summers too cool: 55°F (13°C) here, ideal 63–79°F (17–26°C)
  • Macadamia: Winters get too cold: 22°F (-6°C) here, ideal at least 30°F (-1°C)
  • Maize (corn): Not enough summer heat: 985 °F·days (547 °C·days) here, ideal at least 1,980 °F·days (1,100 °C·days)
  • Mango: Winters get too cold: 22°F (-6°C) here, ideal at least 39°F (4°C)
  • Olive: Summers too cool: 55°F (13°C) here, ideal 73–86°F (23–30°C)
  • Peach: Not enough summer heat: 985 °F·days (547 °C·days) here, ideal at least 2,340 °F·days (1,300 °C·days)
  • Peanut: Growing season too cool: 53°F (11°C) here, ideal 72–86°F (22–30°C)
  • Pear: Not enough summer heat: 985 °F·days (547 °C·days) here, ideal at least 1,800 °F·days (1,000 °C·days)
  • Pecan: Not enough summer heat: 985 °F·days (547 °C·days) here, ideal at least 4,320 °F·days (2,400 °C·days)
  • Pistachio: Summers too cool: 55°F (13°C) here, ideal 79–91°F (26–33°C)
  • Rice: Growing season too cool: 53°F (12°C) here, ideal 72–88°F (22–31°C)
  • Saffron: Summers too cool: 55°F (13°C) here, ideal 68–82°F (20–28°C)
  • Sorghum: Growing season too cool: 53°F (12°C) here, ideal 72–91°F (22–33°C)
  • Soybean: Growing season too cool: 54°F (12°C) here, ideal 68–86°F (20–30°C)
  • Sugarcane: Too cool overall: 52°F (11°C) here, ideal 72–86°F (22–30°C)
  • Tea: Too cool overall: 52°F (11°C) here, ideal 61–77°F (16–25°C)
  • Tomato: Growing season too cool: 54°F (12°C) here, ideal 64–81°F (18–27°C)
  • Walnut: Not enough summer heat: 985 °F·days (547 °C·days) here, ideal at least 2,700 °F·days (1,500 °C·days)
  • Wine grapes: Too cool to ripen: 824 °F·days (458 °C·days) here, ideal 2,610–3,510 °F·days (1,450–1,950 °C·days)

Climate vs. crop needs

Temperature (°F)

HighLow

20°40°60°80°JFMAMJJASONDHigh Jan: 65°High Feb: 65°High Mar: 65°High Apr: 66°High May: 66°High Jun: 66°High Jul: 65°High Aug: 66°High Sep: 67°High Oct: 69°High Nov: 69°High Dec: 67°Low Jan: 42°Low Feb: 43°Low Mar: 42°Low Apr: 39°Low May: 35°Low Jun: 31°Low Jul: 30°Low Aug: 32°Low Sep: 37°Low Oct: 39°Low Nov: 41°Low Dec: 42°Coldest night here: 22°

Rain (in per month)

 

0246JFMAMJJASONDRain Jan: 5.8Rain Feb: 5.4Rain Mar: 4.2Rain Apr: 1.5Rain May: 0.3Rain Jun: 0.1Rain Jul: 0.2Rain Aug: 0.3Rain Sep: 0.6Rain Oct: 1.5Rain Nov: 2.4Rain Dec: 5.0
  • Coldest night it survives: -29°F (well below the chart)
  • Coldest night here: 22°F
  • Ideal rain a year: 30–59 in. Here: 27 in, so plan on irrigation.

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How these scores work

Each crop has an ideal range and hard limits for things like winter cold, chill hours, summer heat and rain. A score of 100 means everything is in range; one hard limit crossed means 0. Annual crops are scored over their best growing season, which sets the planting month. Scores assume irrigation where rain falls short, and flag crops that need it.

Climate comes from 1991–2020 monthly averages for the 4 km climate cell around the town. Frost dates, chill and hardiness zones are estimated from those averages by simulating daily weather, so check them against local records. Soil, slope and water rights matter as much as climate. Crop ranges come from FAO ECOCROP and university extension guides and haven't been reviewed by an agronomist yet.

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