Growing Kale (Sukuma Wiki) in Nakuru
Soil suitability analysis based on Nakuru's nutrient profile
Yes — Nakuru is well suited to Kale (Sukuma Wiki). Nakuru's soil (pH 6.28, slightly acidic) gives Kale (Sukuma Wiki) a suitability score of 92/100. Match fertilizer to Nakuru's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Nakuru County is well suited to Kale (Sukuma Wiki), scoring 92/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.28 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5–7 band Kale (Sukuma Wiki) prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.59 g/kg), phosphorus (25.2 mg/kg) and potassium (239 mg/kg) all meet Kale (Sukuma Wiki)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Kale (Sukuma Wiki), which favours clay loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Kale (Sukuma Wiki) is the #32 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nakuru County. At current prices (about KES 20/kg) and a typical 12,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Kale (Sukuma Wiki) crop here can gross roughly KES 240,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nakuru soil | Kale (Sukuma Wiki) needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.28 | 5–7 | 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 | 700–1,800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,750 m | 500–2,500 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Nakuru
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· October–December
Dry Season· February–April
Top dressing guide
Nakuru's nitrogen (1.59 g/kg) already meets Kale (Sukuma Wiki)'s 1.2 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Seed varieties for Nakuru
Varieties suited to Nakuru's 1,750 m altitude and 900 mm annual rainfall — 2 of 2 kale (sukuma wiki) varieties we list.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag