Growing Butternut Squash in Makueni
Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile
Yes — Makueni is well suited to Butternut Squash. Makueni's soil (pH 7.5, alkaline) gives Butternut Squash a suitability score of 75/100. Match fertilizer to Makueni's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Makueni County is well suited to Butternut Squash, scoring 75/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 7.5 — alkaline and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Butternut Squash prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.86 g/kg), phosphorus (29.6 mg/kg) and potassium (351 mg/kg) all meet Butternut Squash's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Butternut Squash, which favours sandy loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Butternut Squash is the #36 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Makueni County. At current prices (about KES 40/kg) and a typical 10,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Butternut Squash crop here can gross roughly KES 400,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Makueni soil | Butternut Squash needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.5 | 5.5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.86 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 29.6 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 351 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 500–1,200 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,000 m | 0–2,000 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