Growing African Nightshade in Nakuru
Soil suitability analysis based on Nakuru's nutrient profile
Yes — Nakuru is well suited to African Nightshade. Nakuru's soil (pH 6.28, slightly acidic) gives African Nightshade a suitability score of 93/100. Match fertilizer to Nakuru's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Nakuru County is well suited to African Nightshade, scoring 93/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.28 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band African Nightshade prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.59 g/kg), phosphorus (25.2 mg/kg) and potassium (239 mg/kg) all meet African Nightshade's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit African Nightshade, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, African Nightshade is the #16 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nakuru County. At current prices (about KES 50/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed African Nightshade crop here can gross roughly KES 250,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nakuru soil | African Nightshade needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.28 | 5.5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.59 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 25.2 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 239 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 900 mm | 800–1,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,750 m | 1,000–2,200 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