Is Machakos good for growing French Beans?

Machakos County scores 51/100 for French Beans suitability (moderate). Soil pH is 7.03 against a preferred 5.8–7, nitrogen 0.82 g/kg and phosphorus 31.4 mg/kg. County rainfall is 700 mm/year against French Beans's 900–1500 mm range. Soil amendments or irrigation may be needed before planting French Beans.

What fertilizer is best for French Beans in Machakos?

Base the plan on Machakos's soil: pH 7.03 (apply lime to reach 5.8–7), nitrogen 0.82 g/kg and phosphorus 31.4 mg/kg. Get an exact bag-per-acre basal and top-dressing schedule free at https://shambaiq.com/app.

What soil pH does French Beans need, and does Machakos have it?

French Beans grows best at pH 5.8–7. Machakos averages pH 7.03, which is outside the ideal range and may need lime or sulphur.

How much can I earn from French Beans per acre in Machakos?

At roughly KES 80/kg and an expected 3,500 kg/acre, gross revenue is about KES 280,000 per acre before input costs. Use the ShambaIQ budget tool for a net figure based on your fertilizer plan.

Growing French Beans in Machakos

Soil suitability analysis based on Machakos's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Possible but challenging — Machakos is only marginally suited to French Beans. Machakos's soil (pH 7.03, near-neutral) gives French Beans a suitability score of 51/100. Match fertilizer to Machakos's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

French Beans can be grown in Machakos County, but the soil scores 51/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. At an average pH of 7.03 the soil sits above French Beans's preferred 5.8–7 range, which can limit uptake of phosphorus and micronutrients. Nitrogen (0.82 g/kg), phosphorus (31.4 mg/kg) and potassium (338 mg/kg) all meet French Beans's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit French Beans, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, French Beans is the #77 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Machakos County. French Beans's full potential is about 3,500 kg/acre (~KES 280,000/acre at KES 80/kg), but at Machakos's 51/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 2,231 kg/acre (~KES 178,480/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Machakos's soil: Mango, Sisal, and Moringa — each scores higher on the same soil.

Suitability score

Soil & climate match

Factor	Machakos soil	French Beans needs	Status
pH	7.03	5.8–7	Adjust
Nitrogen	0.82 g/kg	min 0.5 g/kg	OK
Phosphorus	31.4 mg/kg	min 20 mg/kg	OK
Potassium	338 mg/kg	min 150 mg/kg	OK
Rainfall	700 mm	900–1,500 mm	Low
Altitude	1,100 m	1,000–2,100 m	OK

Planting calendar for Machakos

Long Rains· March–May

March

Sowing & DAP Basal Fertilizer (at planting)

April

Weeding & Pest Scouting (bean fly)

May

Pod Fill & Harvesting starts

Short Rains· October–DecemberMain season here

October

Sowing & Basal Fertilizer

November

Weeding & Bean Fly Control

December

Harvesting & Grading for export

Dry Season· January–March

January

Harvesting remaining pods & Land Preparation

February

Soil pH testing & lime if needed

March

Seed multiplication & storage

Top dressing guide

Product

CAN

Timing

Week 2-3 after emergence

Instruction

Apply when seedlings have 2-3 true leaves, then a second light dose at flowering for pod fill

Bags per acre in Machakos

Machakos's nitrogen (0.82 g/kg) already meets French Beans's 0.5 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Recommended seed varieties

No variety in our list is specifically rated for Machakos's 1,100 m altitude and 700 mm rainfall, so all 5 are shown. Confirm with your agrovet before buying.

JuliaMedium/Highland

Seminis · 50-60 days · 2500–3250 kg/acre

Fine bean (extra-fine) for EU export; uniform straight pods; resistant to rust and anthracnose.

SamanthaMedium/Highland

Syngenta · 55-65 days · 2750–3500 kg/acre

Fine bean; long dark-green pods; tolerant to halo blight; leading export variety.

AmyMedium/Highland

Pop Vriend Seeds · 50-60 days · 2500–3250 kg/acre

Extra-fine bean; high yielding; good shelf life for air-freight to Europe.

SerengetiMedium/Highland

Syngenta · 55-65 days · 2750–3600 kg/acre

Bobby/whole-bean type; vigorous; rust and BCMV tolerant.

TeresaMedium/Highland

Seminis · 50-60 days · 2400–3100 kg/acre

Fine bean; smooth pods; suited to prepared and processed export.

Economics

Market priceKES 80/kg

Expected yield in Machakos2,231 kg/acre

Estimated revenueKES 178,480/acre

Adjusted for Machakos's 51/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions French Beans can reach 3,500 kg/acre (~KES 280,000/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(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

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