Growing Snow Peas in Makueni
Soil suitability analysis based on Makueni's nutrient profile
Generally not ideal — Makueni is poorly suited to Snow Peas. Makueni's soil (pH 7.5, alkaline) gives Snow Peas a suitability score of 25/100. Match fertilizer to Makueni's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Makueni County is a challenging environment for Snow Peas (soil-match score 25/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 7.5 — alkaline and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Snow Peas prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.86 g/kg), phosphorus (29.6 mg/kg) and potassium (351 mg/kg) all meet Snow Peas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Snow Peas, which favours loam. At 1000 m, the county sits below Snow Peas's preferred altitude range (1500–3000 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. Snow Peas's full potential is about 1,800 kg/acre (~KES 333,000/acre at KES 185/kg), but at Makueni's 25/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 563 kg/acre (~KES 104,155/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Makueni soil | Snow Peas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.5 | 5.5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.86 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 29.6 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 351 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 700–1,200 mm | Low |
| Altitude | 1,000 m | 1,500–3,000 m | Low |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag