Growing Pumpkin in Bomet

Soil suitability analysis based on Bomet's nutrient profile

Bomet County is well suited to Pumpkin, scoring 76/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.02 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.8–7.5 band Pumpkin prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.38 g/kg), phosphorus (23.6 mg/kg) and potassium (237 mg/kg) all meet Pumpkin's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Pumpkin prefers sandy loam soils, while Bomet is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At current prices (about KES 30/kg) and a typical 10,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Pumpkin crop here can gross roughly KES 300,000 per acre.

76Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorBomet soilPumpkin needsStatus
pH6.025.87.5OK
Nitrogen1.38 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus23.6 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium237 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,500 mm500–1,200 mmHigh
Altitude1,900 m0–2,100 mOK

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Direct Sowing & Basal
Month 2
Vine Management & Top Dressing
Month 3
Fruit Development & Harvest

Short Rains

Month 1
Direct Sowing & Basal
Month 2
Vine Management
Month 3
Fruit Development & Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4 and at vine-run
Instruction
Top-dress when vines begin to run. Add potassium at fruit set.
Bags per Acre
0.4

Economics

Market priceKES 30/kg
Expected yield in Bomet9,500 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 285,000/acre
Adjusted for Bomet's 76/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Pumpkin can reach 10,000 kg/acre (~KES 300,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

Preferred textureSandy Loam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 3,275(5,600)
Urea
KES 3,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)

Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag