Growing Beans in Nairobi
Soil suitability analysis based on Nairobi's nutrient profile
Yes — Nairobi is well suited to Beans. Nairobi's soil (pH 6.85, near-neutral) gives Beans a suitability score of 92/100. Match fertilizer to Nairobi's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Nairobi County is well suited to Beans, scoring 92/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.85 — neutral and inside the 6–7 band Beans prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.1 g/kg), phosphorus (22.1 mg/kg) and potassium (236 mg/kg) all meet Beans's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Beans, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Beans is the #7 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nairobi County. At current prices (about KES 130/kg) and a typical 800 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Beans crop here can gross roughly KES 104,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nairobi soil | Beans needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.85 | 6–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.1 g/kg | min 0.5 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 22.1 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 236 mg/kg | min 100 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 900 mm | 500–1,600 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,700 m | 0–2,500 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Nairobi
Long Rains· March–MayMain season here
Short Rains· October–December
Dry Season· January–March
Top dressing guide
Nairobi's nitrogen reads 1.1 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Beans is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.
Seed varieties for Nairobi
7 beans varieties are rated for Nairobi's altitude (1,700 m) and rainfall (900 mm):
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag