Growing French Beans in Kilifi

Soil suitability analysis based on Kilifi's nutrient profile

Kilifi County is a challenging environment for French Beans (soil-match score 1/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.8–7 band French Beans prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus and potassium — measured at N 0.8 g/kg, P 11 mg/kg, K 109 mg/kg against this crop's low/high/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit French Beans, which favours loam. At 150 m, the county sits below French Beans's preferred altitude range (1000–2100 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. At current prices (about KES 80/kg) and a typical 3,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed French Beans crop here can gross roughly KES 240,000 per acre.