Growing Cucumber in Uasin Gishu

Soil suitability analysis based on Uasin Gishu's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Uasin Gishu is well suited to Cucumber. Uasin Gishu's soil (pH 6.39, slightly acidic) gives Cucumber a suitability score of 85/100. Match fertilizer to Uasin Gishu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Uasin Gishu County is well suited to Cucumber, scoring 85/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.39 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.8–7 band Cucumber prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.56 g/kg), phosphorus (25.3 mg/kg) and potassium (227 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 #45 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Uasin Gishu 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.

85Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorUasin Gishu soilCucumber needsStatus
pH6.395.87OK
Nitrogen1.56 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.3 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium227 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,100 mm500–1,200 mmOK
Altitude2,100 m0–2,000 mHigh

Planting calendar for Uasin Gishu

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

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

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Direct Sowing & Basal
November
Trellising & Top Dressing
December
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 Uasin Gishu
0.50.4

Uasin Gishu's nitrogen (1.56 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