Growing Cabbage in Kericho

Soil suitability analysis based on Kericho's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Kericho is well suited to Cabbage. Kericho's soil (pH 5.94, slightly acidic) gives Cabbage a suitability score of 81/100. Match fertilizer to Kericho's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Kericho County is well suited to Cabbage, scoring 81/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.94 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7.5 band Cabbage prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.34 g/kg), phosphorus (23.7 mg/kg) and potassium (225 mg/kg) all meet Cabbage's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay soils suit Cabbage, which favours clay loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cabbage is the #20 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kericho County. At current prices (about KES 18/kg) and a typical 15,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Cabbage crop here can gross roughly KES 270,000 per acre.

81Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorKericho soilCabbage needsStatus
pH5.9457.5OK
Nitrogen1.34 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus23.7 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgOK
Potassium225 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,800 mm700–1,500 mmHigh
Altitude2,000 m800–2,500 mOK

Planting calendar for Kericho

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Nursery & Transplanting & Basal Fertilizer
May
Top Dressing & Caterpillar Control
June
Head Formation & Pest Scouting

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Nursery & Transplanting
November
Top Dressing & Pest Control
December
Harvesting

Dry Season· FebruaryApril

February
Irrigation-based Transplanting
March
Top Dressing & Pest Management
April
Harvesting & Land Preparation

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3 and Week 6 after transplanting
Instruction
Split into 2 applications. Cabbage is a heavy N feeder.
Bags per acre in Kericho
1

Kericho's nitrogen (1.34 g/kg) already meets Cabbage's 1.2 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Seed varieties for Kericho

Varieties suited to Kericho's 2,000 m altitude and 1,800 mm annual rainfall — 2 of 2 cabbage varieties we list.

Gloria F1Medium/Highland
East Africa Seeds · 70-85 days · 15–20 tons/acre
Compact heads; tolerant to black rot.
Copenhagen MarketMedium/Highland
Simlaw Seeds · 80-95 days · 12.5–17.5 tons/acre
Round heads; reliable open-pollinated variety.

Economics

Market priceKES 18/kg
Expected yield 15,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 270,000/acre

Preferred textureClay Loam

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