Growing Lettuce in Nandi
Soil suitability analysis based on Nandi's nutrient profile
Nandi County is well suited to Lettuce, scoring 84/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.17 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7 band Lettuce prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.37 g/kg), phosphorus (26.4 mg/kg) and potassium (207 mg/kg) all meet Lettuce's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Lettuce, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 50/kg) and a typical 7,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Lettuce crop here can gross roughly KES 350,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nandi soil | Lettuce needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.17 | 6–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.37 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 26.4 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 207 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,400 mm | 600–1,200 mm | High |
| Altitude | 1,900 m | 800–2,500 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Nursery & Transplanting
Month 2
Top Dressing & Weeding
Month 3
Harvest
Short Rains
Month 1
Direct Sowing & Basal
Month 2
Thinning & Top Dressing
Month 3
Harvest
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Week 2 and 4 after transplanting
Instruction
Light feeder — split into two small applications to avoid bitterness.
Bags per Acre
0.3
Economics
Market priceKES 50/kg
Expected yield 7,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 350,000/acre
Preferred textureLoam
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
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