Broccoli farming guide — Kenya

Soil requirements, top counties, seed varieties, fertilizer plan & economics

Interested in starting or scaling broccoli farming in Kenya? This comprehensive guide maps out the optimal soil requirements (such as target pH ranges), the most suitable counties for growing broccoli, certified seed varieties, seasonal fertilizer guidelines, and a detailed per-acre production budget to set you up for a successful harvest.

Soil requirements

pH range
6–7.5
Nitrogen
high
Phosphorus
high
Potassium
high
Preferred texture: Loam

Optimizing soil and fertilizers for Broccoli in Kenya

To achieve maximum yields when farming broccoli in Kenya, managing soil suitability is crucial. This crop performs best within a soil pH range of 6 to 7.5. Soils that fall outside this range can lock out essential macro and micro-nutrients, leading to stunted growth or crop failure. For acidic soils, applying dolomitic or calcitic agricultural lime is recommended at least 30 days before planting to normalize acidity.

Fertilizer application should be calibrated based on the crop’s nutrient demands. Broccoli has a high nitrogen requirement, high phosphorus requirement, and high potassium demand. Using certified seed varieties suited for your specific altitude and rainfall pattern, combined with a precise basal and top-dressing program (such as applying CAN at Week 3 then head initiation (week 6)), ensures high crop quality and protects your overall farm investment.

Best counties for Broccoli

Challenging counties for Broccoli

These counties may need soil amendments for Broccoli

Certified seed varieties

CalabreseHighland
Simlaw Seeds · 70-90 days · 2–3.5 tons/acre
Open-pollinated broccoli; central head plus side shoots; suited to cool highlands.
Green Magic F1Highland
East Africa Seeds · 60-75 days · 3–4.5 tons/acre
Hybrid; uniform dome heads; heat tolerant; export and supermarket quality.
Marathon F1Highland
Royal Seeds · 75-95 days · 2.8–4.3 tons/acre
Large dense heads; downy mildew tolerant; excellent for high-altitude production.

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Nursery Preparation & Transplanting & DAP Basal
Month 2
CAN Top Dressing (week 3) & Caterpillar Control
Month 3
Head Initiation Top Dress & Harvesting

Short Rains

Month 1
Nursery & Transplanting
Month 2
Top Dressing & DBM Scouting
Month 3
Harvesting

Dry Season

Month 1
Irrigation-based Transplanting
Month 2
CAN Top Dressing & Pest Management
Month 3
Harvesting & Land Preparation

Economics

Market priceKES 90/kg
Expected yield5,000 kg/acre

Est. revenueKES 450,000/acre

Top dressing

Product: CAN
Timing: Week 3 then head initiation (week 6)
Bags/acre: 1.5

Apply CAN 3 weeks after transplanting and again at head initiation (~week 6); broccoli needs steady N for tight heads

Fertilizer prices

DAPKES 2,500
CANKES 2,500
NPK 17:17:17KES 2,500
UreaKES 2,500
LimeKES 1,500

Subsidized price / 50kg bag

Check your county for Broccoli