Growing French Beans in Bungoma

Soil suitability analysis based on Bungoma's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Bungoma is well suited to French Beans. Bungoma's soil (pH 5.56, slightly acidic) gives French Beans a suitability score of 79/100. Match fertilizer to Bungoma's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Bungoma County is well suited to French Beans, scoring 79/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. At an average pH of 5.56 the soil is slightly acidic to near-neutral, below French Beans's preferred 5.8–7 range; agricultural lime will lift pH and unlock phosphorus the crop cannot otherwise access. The main gap is phosphorus — measured at N 1.12 g/kg, P 15.7 mg/kg, K 161 mg/kg against this crop's low/high/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit French Beans, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, French Beans is the #31 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Bungoma County. At current prices (about KES 80/kg) and a typical 3,500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed French Beans crop here can gross roughly KES 280,000 per acre.

79Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorBungoma soilFrench Beans needsStatus
pH5.565.87Adjust
Nitrogen1.12 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus15.7 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgLow
Potassium161 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,400 mm900–1,500 mmOK
Altitude1,500 m1,000–2,100 mOK

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Sowing & DAP Basal Fertilizer (at planting)
Month 2
Weeding & Pest Scouting (bean fly)
Month 3
Pod Fill & Harvesting starts

Short Rains

Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Weeding & Bean Fly Control
Month 3
Harvesting & Grading for export

Dry Season

Month 1
Harvesting remaining pods & Land Preparation
Month 2
Soil pH testing & lime if needed
Month 3
Seed multiplication & storage

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 2-3 after emergence
Instruction
Apply when seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, then a second light dose at flowering for pod fill
Bags per Acre
1

Recommended seed varieties

JuliaMedium/Highland
Seminis · 50-60 days · 2500–3250 kg/acre
Fine bean (extra-fine) for EU export; uniform straight pods; resistant to rust and anthracnose.
SamanthaMedium/Highland
Syngenta · 55-65 days · 2750–3500 kg/acre
Fine bean; long dark-green pods; tolerant to halo blight; leading export variety.
AmyMedium/Highland
Pop Vriend Seeds · 50-60 days · 2500–3250 kg/acre
Extra-fine bean; high yielding; good shelf life for air-freight to Europe.
SerengetiMedium/Highland
Syngenta · 55-65 days · 2750–3600 kg/acre
Bobby/whole-bean type; vigorous; rust and BCMV tolerant.
TeresaMedium/Highland
Seminis · 50-60 days · 2400–3100 kg/acre
Fine bean; smooth pods; suited to prepared and processed export.

Economics

Market priceKES 80/kg
Expected yield in Bungoma3,456 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 276,480/acre
Adjusted for Bungoma's 79/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions French Beans can reach 3,500 kg/acre (~KES 280,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

Preferred textureLoam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
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