Growing French Beans in Machakos
Soil suitability analysis based on Machakos's nutrient profile
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.
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
Long Rains
Short Rains
Dry Season
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag