Growing Butternut Squash in Baringo

Soil suitability analysis based on Baringo's nutrient profile

Baringo County is well suited to Butternut Squash, scoring 92/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.22 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Butternut Squash prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.32 g/kg), phosphorus (23.4 mg/kg) and potassium (212 mg/kg) all meet Butternut Squash's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Butternut Squash, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 40/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Butternut Squash crop here can gross roughly KES 320,000 per acre.

92Suitability score

Soil match analysis

NutrientBaringo soilButternut Squash needsStatus
pH6.225.57.5OK
Nitrogen1.32 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus23.4 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium212 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Sowing hills & Basal Fertilizer (NPK)
Month 2
Vine Training & Top Dressing
Month 3
Fruit Set Monitoring & Harvesting

Short Rains

Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Vine Management & Pest Scouting
Month 3
Harvesting & Curing

Dry Season

Month 1
Harvesting & Storage
Month 2
Land Preparation & Manure Application
Month 3
Seed Selection & Drying

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4-5 at vining
Instruction
Apply CAN when vines begin to run, before flowering; keep granules off the stems
Bags per Acre
1

Recommended seed varieties

Atlas F1Medium/Dryland
East Africa Seeds · 75-90 days · 6–9 tons/acre
High yielding butternut; uniform pear-shaped fruits; good shelf life for export.
WalthamMedium
Simlaw Seeds · 80-95 days · 5–8 tons/acre
Open-pollinated butternut; sweet orange flesh; reliable yield; good local market.
Pluto F1Medium/Dryland
Royal Seeds · 75-90 days · 6.5–9.5 tons/acre
Vigorous hybrid; powdery mildew tolerant; excellent export quality.

Economics

Market priceKES 40/kg
Expected yield8,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 320,000/acre

Preferred textureSandy Loam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)

Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag