Growing Mint in Nandi

Soil suitability analysis based on Nandi's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Nandi is well suited to Mint. Nandi's soil (pH 6.17, slightly acidic) gives Mint a suitability score of 87/100. Match fertilizer to Nandi's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Nandi County is well suited to Mint, scoring 87/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.17 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Mint prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.37 g/kg), phosphorus (26.4 mg/kg) and potassium (207 mg/kg) all meet Mint's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Mint, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Mint is the #25 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nandi County. At current prices (about KES 100/kg) and a typical 4,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Mint crop here can gross roughly KES 400,000 per acre.

87Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNandi soilMint needsStatus
pH6.1767.5OK
Nitrogen1.37 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus26.4 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium207 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,400 mm700–1,400 mmOK
Altitude1,900 m500–2,200 mOK

Planting calendar for Nandi

Long Rains· MarchMayMain season here

March
Runner Planting & Basal
April
Weeding & Top Dressing
May
Continuous Harvest

Short Rains· AugustOctober

August
Runner Planting & Basal
September
Weeding & Top Dressing
October
Continuous Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3 and after each cutting
Instruction
Top-dress after each cut for vigorous regrowth. Keep soil consistently moist.
Bags per acre in Nandi
0.250.3

Nandi's nitrogen (1.37 g/kg) already meets Mint's 1.2 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 100/kg
Expected yield 4,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 400,000/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