Growing Cucumber in Trans Nzoia

Soil suitability analysis based on Trans Nzoia's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Trans Nzoia is well suited to Cucumber. Trans Nzoia's soil (pH 5.93, slightly acidic) gives Cucumber a suitability score of 89/100. Match fertilizer to Trans Nzoia's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Trans Nzoia County is well suited to Cucumber, scoring 89/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.93 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.8–7 band Cucumber prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.68 g/kg), phosphorus (27.3 mg/kg) and potassium (213 mg/kg) all meet Cucumber's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Cucumber, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Cucumber is the #24 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Trans Nzoia County. At current prices (about KES 40/kg) and a typical 12,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Cucumber crop here can gross roughly KES 480,000 per acre.

89Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorTrans Nzoia soilCucumber needsStatus
pH5.935.87OK
Nitrogen1.68 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus27.3 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium213 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,200 mm500–1,200 mmOK
Altitude1,900 m0–2,000 mOK

Planting calendar for Trans Nzoia

Long Rains· MarchMayMain season here

March
Direct Sowing & Basal
April
Trellising & Top Dressing & Pest Control
May
Fruit Development & Harvest

Short Rains· AugustOctober

August
Direct Sowing & Basal
September
Trellising & Top Dressing
October
Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3 and 5 then at flowering
Instruction
Add foliar potassium at fruiting for fruit size and quality.
Bags per acre in Trans Nzoia
0.50.4

Trans Nzoia's nitrogen (1.68 g/kg) already meets Cucumber's 1.2 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 40/kg
Expected yield 12,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 480,000/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