Growing Garden Peas in Nairobi
Soil suitability analysis based on Nairobi's nutrient profile
Nairobi County is well suited to Garden Peas, scoring 88/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.85 — neutral and inside the 5.5–7 band Garden Peas prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.1 g/kg), phosphorus (22.1 mg/kg) and potassium (236 mg/kg) all meet Garden Peas's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Garden Peas, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 145/kg) and a typical 2,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Garden Peas crop here can gross roughly KES 290,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Nairobi soil | Garden Peas needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.85 | 5.5–7 | 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 150 mg/kg | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
Njabini (PI Moto super)Highland 1500-2600m
Simlaw Seeds · 60-90 days · 8-9 bags/acre
Dual purpose (fresh & dry); drought tolerant; requires vertical trailing.
GreenwichHighland 1600-2600m
Agventure Limited / RAGT · 90-120 days · 5-19 bags/acre
Large green grain; dual purpose; good soakability & rapid cookability.
KWS KariokaHighland 1600-2600m
Agventure Limited / KWS · 90-120 days · 5-17 bags/acre
Medium green grain; dual purpose; good color retention.
Economics
Market priceKES 145/kg
Expected yield2,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 290,000/acre
Preferred textureSandy Loam
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag