Is Kajiado good for growing French Beans?

Kajiado County scores 28/100 for French Beans suitability (poor). Soil pH is 6.55 against a preferred 5.8–7, nitrogen 0.97 g/kg and phosphorus 20.6 mg/kg. County rainfall is 500 mm/year against French Beans's 900–1500 mm range. Soil amendments or irrigation may be needed before planting French Beans.

What fertilizer is best for French Beans in Kajiado?

Base the plan on Kajiado's soil: pH 6.55, nitrogen 0.97 g/kg and phosphorus 20.6 mg/kg. Get an exact bag-per-acre basal and top-dressing schedule free at https://shambaiq.com/app.

What soil pH does French Beans need, and does Kajiado have it?

French Beans grows best at pH 5.8–7. Kajiado averages pH 6.55, which is within that range.

How much can I earn from French Beans per acre in Kajiado?

At roughly KES 80/kg and an expected 3,500 kg/acre, gross revenue is about KES 280,000 per acre before input costs. Use the ShambaIQ budget tool for a net figure based on your fertilizer plan.

Growing French Beans in Kajiado

Soil suitability analysis based on Kajiado's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Generally not ideal — Kajiado is poorly suited to French Beans. Kajiado's soil (pH 6.55, near-neutral) gives French Beans a suitability score of 28/100. Match fertilizer to Kajiado's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Kajiado County is a challenging environment for French Beans (soil-match score 28/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.55 — neutral and inside the 5.8–7 band French Beans prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.97 g/kg), phosphorus (20.6 mg/kg) and potassium (257 mg/kg) all meet French Beans's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit French Beans, which favours loam. Kajiado receives approximately 500 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 #87 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kajiado County. French Beans's full potential is about 3,500 kg/acre (~KES 280,000/acre at KES 80/kg), but at Kajiado's 28/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 1,225 kg/acre (~KES 98,000/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Kajiado's soil: Sorghum, Cowpeas, and Pigeon Peas — each scores higher on the same soil.

Suitability score

Soil & climate match

Factor	Kajiado soil	French Beans needs	Status
pH	6.55	5.8–7	OK
Nitrogen	0.97 g/kg	min 0.5 g/kg	OK
Phosphorus	20.6 mg/kg	min 20 mg/kg	OK
Potassium	257 mg/kg	min 150 mg/kg	OK
Rainfall	500 mm	900–1,500 mm	Low
Altitude	1,300 m	1,000–2,100 m	OK

Planting calendar for Kajiado

Long Rains· March–May

March

Sowing & DAP Basal Fertilizer (at planting)

April

Weeding & Pest Scouting (bean fly)

May

Pod Fill & Harvesting starts

Short Rains· October–DecemberMain season here

October

Sowing & Basal Fertilizer

November

Weeding & Bean Fly Control

December

Harvesting & Grading for export

Dry Season· January–March

January

Harvesting remaining pods & Land Preparation

February

Soil pH testing & lime if needed

March

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 in Kajiado

Kajiado's nitrogen (0.97 g/kg) already meets French Beans's 0.5 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Seed varieties for Kajiado

Varieties suited to Kajiado's 1,300 m altitude and 500 mm annual rainfall — 5 of 5 french beans varieties we list.

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 Kajiado1,225 kg/acre

Estimated revenueKES 98,000/acre

Adjusted for Kajiado's 28/100 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

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