Sequential sowings were carried out at Dodoma, Tanzania, to examine the effect of changing climatic parameters on the growth and yield of bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea). Sowings took place on 4 January, 4 February and 4 March 1994; 4 and 24 January, and 13 February 1995; 4 and 21 January, and 7 February 1996. Rainfall during the crop life cycle varied from 163 to 611 mm, mean photoperiod from 11.82 to 12.09 h d−1 and mean temperature from 22.6 to 24.4 °C. In 1994, the highest pod yields were achieved at the earliest sowing date, with a maximum of 2.87 and 1.42 t ha−1 for the red- and cream-seeded landraces, representing pod harvest indices of 0.56 and 0.34 respectively. A 30-d delay in sowing caused >60% reduction in pod yield, and a further 30-d delay resulted in no pods at all. Similarly, in 1995 successive delays in sowing caused dramatic yield declines, and the maximum yield was much lower, at 0.44 t ha−1. In 1996 there was no significant difference in pod yields between the two early sowing dates for the red-seeded landrace and yields were again lower than in 1994 with a maximum of 1.02 t ha−1. Differences in dry matter production between sowings and years were attributed mainly to differences in the amount and distribution of rainfall and to declining temperatures towards the end of the season; however, partitioning to pods was remarkably consistent across sowings.