Cabbage farming guide — Kenya

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

Interested in starting or scaling cabbage farming in Kenya? This comprehensive guide maps out the optimal soil requirements (such as target pH ranges), the most suitable counties for growing cabbage, 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
5–7.5
Nitrogen
high
Phosphorus
high
Potassium
high
Preferred texture: Clay Loam

Optimizing soil and fertilizers for Cabbage in Kenya

To achieve maximum yields when farming cabbage in Kenya, managing soil suitability is crucial. This crop performs best within a soil pH range of 5 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. Cabbage 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 and Week 6 after transplanting), ensures high crop quality and protects your overall farm investment.

Best counties for Cabbage

Challenging counties for Cabbage

These counties may need soil amendments for Cabbage

Certified seed varieties

Gloria F1Medium/Highland
East Africa Seeds · 70-85 days · 15–20 tons/acre
Compact heads; tolerant to black rot.
Copenhagen MarketMedium/Highland
Simlaw Seeds · 80-95 days · 12.5–17.5 tons/acre
Round heads; reliable open-pollinated variety.

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Nursery & Transplanting & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Top Dressing & Caterpillar Control
Month 3
Head Formation & Pest Scouting

Short Rains

Month 1
Nursery & Transplanting
Month 2
Top Dressing & Pest Control
Month 3
Harvesting

Dry Season

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

Economics

Market priceKES 12/kg
Expected yield10,000 kg/acre

Est. revenueKES 120,000/acre

Top dressing

Product: CAN
Timing: Week 3 and Week 6 after transplanting
Bags/acre: 1

Split into 2 applications. Cabbage is a heavy N feeder.

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 Cabbage