Growing Cabbage in Kericho
Soil suitability analysis based on Kericho's nutrient profile
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. 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.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Kericho soil | Cabbage needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.94 | 5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.34 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 23.7 mg/kg | min 20 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 225 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,800 mm | 700–1,500 mm | High |
| Altitude | 2,000 m | 800–2,500 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Nursery & Transplanting & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Top Dressing & Caterpillar Control
Month 3
Head Formation & Pest Scouting
Short Rains
Month 1
Nursery & Transplanting
Month 2
Top Dressing & Pest Control
Month 3
Harvesting
Dry Season
Month 1
Irrigation-based Transplanting
Month 2
Top Dressing & Pest Management
Month 3
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
1
Recommended seed varieties
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(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