Growing Butternut Squash in Narok

Soil suitability analysis based on Narok's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Narok is well suited to Butternut Squash. Narok's soil (pH 6.13, slightly acidic) gives Butternut Squash a suitability score of 91/100. Match fertilizer to Narok's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Narok County is well suited to Butternut Squash, scoring 91/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.13 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Butternut Squash prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.63 g/kg), phosphorus (25.7 mg/kg) and potassium (234 mg/kg) all meet Butternut Squash's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Butternut Squash prefers sandy loam soils, while Narok is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Butternut Squash is the #33 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Narok County. At current prices (about KES 40/kg) and a typical 10,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Butternut Squash crop here can gross roughly KES 400,000 per acre.

91Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorNarok soilButternut Squash needsStatus
pH6.135.57.5OK
Nitrogen1.63 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.7 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium234 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall800 mm500–1,200 mmOK
Altitude1,700 m0–2,000 mOK

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Sowing hills & Basal Fertilizer (NPK)
Month 2
Vine Training & Top Dressing
Month 3
Fruit Set Monitoring & Harvesting

Short Rains

Month 1
Sowing & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Vine Management & Pest Scouting
Month 3
Harvesting & Curing

Dry Season

Month 1
Harvesting & Storage
Month 2
Land Preparation & Manure Application
Month 3
Seed Selection & Drying

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4-5 at vining
Instruction
Apply when vines begin to run, before flowering; keep granules off the stems
Bags per Acre
1

Recommended seed varieties

Atlas F1Medium/Dryland
East Africa Seeds · 75-90 days · 6–9 tons/acre
High yielding butternut; uniform pear-shaped fruits; good shelf life for export.
WalthamMedium
Simlaw Seeds · 80-95 days · 5–8 tons/acre
Open-pollinated butternut; sweet orange flesh; reliable yield; good local market.
Pluto F1Medium/Dryland
Royal Seeds · 75-90 days · 6.5–9.5 tons/acre
Vigorous hybrid; powdery mildew tolerant; excellent export quality.

Economics

Market priceKES 40/kg
Expected yield 10,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 400,000/acre

Preferred textureSandy Loam

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