Growing Snow Peas in Elgeyo Marakwet
Soil suitability analysis based on Elgeyo Marakwet's nutrient profile
Elgeyo Marakwet County is well suited to Snow Peas, scoring 93/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.27 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Snow Peas prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.39 g/kg), phosphorus (22.2 mg/kg) and potassium (213 mg/kg) all meet Snow Peas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Snow Peas, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 185/kg) and a typical 1,300 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Snow Peas crop here can gross roughly KES 240,500 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Elgeyo Marakwet soil | Snow Peas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.27 | 5.5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.39 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 22.2 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 213 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
Top dressing guide
Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Snow peas fix nitrogen. Apply calcium foliar to support flowering.
Bags per Acre
0
Recommended seed varieties
Oregon Sugar PodMedium/Highland
East Africa Seeds · 60-70 days · 15-20 bags/acre
Flat edible pods; excellent export quality; disease tolerant.
Mammoth MeltingHighland
Simlaw Seeds · 65-75 days · 16-22 bags/acre
Large pods; sweet flavor; suited to highland export production.
Economics
Market priceKES 185/kg
Expected yield1,300 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 240,500/acre
Preferred textureLoam
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