Growing Mint in Uasin Gishu

Soil suitability analysis based on Uasin Gishu's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Uasin Gishu is well suited to Mint. Uasin Gishu's soil (pH 6.39, slightly acidic) gives Mint a suitability score of 91/100. Match fertilizer to Uasin Gishu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Uasin Gishu County is well suited to Mint, scoring 91/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.39 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Mint prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.56 g/kg), phosphorus (25.3 mg/kg) and potassium (227 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 #27 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Uasin Gishu 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.

91Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorUasin Gishu soilMint needsStatus
pH6.3967.5OK
Nitrogen1.56 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.3 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium227 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,100 mm700–1,400 mmOK
Altitude2,100 m500–2,200 mOK

Planting calendar for Uasin Gishu

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

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

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Runner Planting & Basal
November
Weeding & Top Dressing
December
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 Uasin Gishu
0.250.3

Uasin Gishu's nitrogen (1.56 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