Growing Cabbage in Kisumu

Soil suitability analysis based on Kisumu's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes, with the right inputs — Kisumu is moderately suited to Cabbage. Kisumu's soil (pH 5.54, slightly acidic) gives Cabbage a suitability score of 73/100. Match fertilizer to Kisumu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Kisumu County is a solid choice for Cabbage, with a soil-match score of 73/100. Local soils average pH 5.54 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7.5 band Cabbage prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 0.91 g/kg, P 12.5 mg/kg, K 166 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly clay soils suit Cabbage, which favours clay loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cabbage is the #37 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kisumu 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.

73Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorKisumu soilCabbage needsStatus
pH5.5457.5OK
Nitrogen0.91 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgLow
Phosphorus12.5 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgLow
Potassium166 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgLow
Rainfall1,200 mm700–1,500 mmOK
Altitude1,150 m800–2,500 mOK

Planting calendar for Kisumu

Long Rains· MarchMayMain season here

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

Short Rains· SeptemberNovember

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

Dry Season· JanuaryMarch

January
Irrigation-based Transplanting
February
Top Dressing & Pest Management
March
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 Kisumu
1.251

Kisumu's nitrogen (0.91 g/kg) is 76% of the 1.2 g/kg Cabbage needs, so the standard 1 bag/acre is raised to 1.25. Split it across two applications to limit leaching.

Recommended seed varieties

No variety in our list is specifically rated for Kisumu's 1,150 m altitude and 1,200 mm rainfall, so all 2 are shown. Confirm with your agrovet before buying.

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 in Kisumu13,688 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 246,384/acre
Adjusted for Kisumu's 73/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Cabbage can reach 15,000 kg/acre (~KES 270,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

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