Growing Courgette (Zucchini) in Nakuru

Soil suitability analysis based on Nakuru's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Nakuru is well suited to Courgette (Zucchini). Nakuru's soil (pH 6.28, slightly acidic) gives Courgette (Zucchini) 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 Courgette (Zucchini), scoring 93/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.28 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.8–7 band Courgette (Zucchini) prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.59 g/kg), phosphorus (25.2 mg/kg) and potassium (239 mg/kg) all meet Courgette (Zucchini)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Courgette (Zucchini), which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Courgette (Zucchini) is the #28 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nakuru County. At current prices (about KES 50/kg) and a typical 12,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Courgette (Zucchini) crop here can gross roughly KES 600,000 per acre.

93Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNakuru soilCourgette (Zucchini) needsStatus
pH6.285.87OK
Nitrogen1.59 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.2 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium239 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall900 mm500–1,200 mmOK
Altitude1,750 m0–2,100 mOK

Planting calendar for Nakuru

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Direct Sowing & Basal
May
Top Dressing & Pest Control
June
Fruiting & Harvest

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Direct Sowing & Basal
November
Top Dressing
December
Fruiting & Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3 and at flowering
Instruction
Add potassium at fruiting for continuous fruit set and quality.
Bags per acre in Nakuru
0.50.4

Nakuru's nitrogen (1.59 g/kg) already meets Courgette (Zucchini)'s 1.2 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 50/kg
Expected yield 12,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 600,000/acre

Preferred textureLoam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 3,275(5,600)
Urea
KES 3,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)

Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag