Growing French Beans in Garissa

Soil suitability analysis based on Garissa's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Generally not ideal — Garissa is poorly suited to French Beans. Garissa's soil (pH 7.96, alkaline) gives French Beans a suitability score of 0/100. Match fertilizer to Garissa's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Garissa County is a challenging environment for French Beans (soil-match score 0/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. At an average pH of 7.96 the soil sits above French Beans's preferred 5.8–7 range, which can limit uptake of phosphorus and micronutrients. Nitrogen (0.61 g/kg), phosphorus (37.7 mg/kg) and potassium (407 mg/kg) all meet French Beans's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. French Beans prefers loam soils, while Garissa is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. Garissa receives approximately 250 mm/year — well below French Beans's minimum of 900 mm — so supplemental irrigation would be essential for this crop. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, French Beans is the #94 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Garissa County. French Beans's full potential is about 3,500 kg/acre (~KES 280,000/acre at KES 80/kg), but at Garissa's 0/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 0 kg/acre (~KES 0/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Garissa's soil: Sisal, Aloe Vera, and Green Grams — each scores higher on the same soil.

0Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorGarissa soilFrench Beans needsStatus
pH7.965.87Adjust
Nitrogen0.61 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus37.7 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgOK
Potassium407 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall250 mm900–1,500 mmLow
Altitude200 m1,000–2,100 mLow

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 Garissa0 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 0/acre
Adjusted for Garissa's 0/100 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