Growing Strawberry in Bungoma

Soil suitability analysis based on Bungoma's nutrient profile

Bungoma County is well suited to Strawberry, scoring 81/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.56 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–6.8 band Strawberry prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 1.12 g/kg, P 15.7 mg/kg, K 161 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Strawberry, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 200/kg) and a typical 6,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Strawberry crop here can gross roughly KES 1,200,000 per acre.

81Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorBungoma soilStrawberry needsStatus
pH5.565.56.8OK
Nitrogen1.12 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgLow
Phosphorus15.7 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgLow
Potassium161 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgLow
Rainfall1,400 mm700–1,500 mmOK
Altitude1,500 m1,500–2,800 mOK

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Runner Transplanting & Basal
Month 2
Mulching & Top Dressing
Month 3
Fruiting & Harvest

Short Rains

Month 1
Runner Transplanting & Basal
Month 2
Mulching & Top Dressing
Month 3
Fruiting & Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Every 3 weeks in season
Instruction
Split-feed through the fruiting window. Add foliar calcium and potassium for fruit quality.
Bags per Acre
0.4

Economics

Market priceKES 200/kg
Expected yield 6,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 1,200,000/acre

Preferred textureLoam

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