Growing Snow Peas in Kisumu

Soil suitability analysis based on Kisumu's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Possible but challenging — Kisumu is only marginally suited to Snow Peas. Kisumu's soil (pH 5.54, slightly acidic) gives Snow Peas a suitability score of 46/100. Match fertilizer to Kisumu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Snow Peas can be grown in Kisumu County, but the soil scores 46/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. Local soils average pH 5.54 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Snow Peas prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.91 g/kg), phosphorus (12.5 mg/kg) and potassium (166 mg/kg) all meet Snow Peas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Snow Peas prefers loam soils, while Kisumu is largely clay, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. Snow Peas's full potential is about 1,800 kg/acre (~KES 333,000/acre at KES 185/kg), but at Kisumu's 46/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 1,035 kg/acre (~KES 191,475/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

46Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorKisumu soilSnow Peas needsStatus
pH5.545.57.5OK
Nitrogen0.91 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus12.5 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium166 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,200 mm700–1,200 mmOK
Altitude1,150 m1,500–3,000 mLow

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Snow Peas are a legume and fix their own Nitrogen. No top dressing needed.
Bags per Acre
0

Recommended seed varieties

Oregon Sugar PodMedium/Highland
East Africa Seeds · 60-70 days · 750–1000 kg/acre
Flat edible pods; excellent export quality; disease tolerant.
Mammoth MeltingHighland
Simlaw Seeds · 65-75 days · 800–1100 kg/acre
Large pods; sweet flavor; suited to highland export production.

Economics

Market priceKES 185/kg
Expected yield in Kisumu1,035 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 191,475/acre
Adjusted for Kisumu's 46/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Snow Peas can reach 1,800 kg/acre (~KES 333,000/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(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