Growing Pumpkin in Uasin Gishu

Soil suitability analysis based on Uasin Gishu's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Uasin Gishu is well suited to Pumpkin. Uasin Gishu's soil (pH 6.39, slightly acidic) gives Pumpkin a suitability score of 92/100. Match fertilizer to Uasin Gishu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Uasin Gishu County is well suited to Pumpkin, scoring 92/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.39 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.8–7.5 band Pumpkin prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.56 g/kg), phosphorus (25.3 mg/kg) and potassium (227 mg/kg) all meet Pumpkin's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. Pumpkin prefers sandy loam soils, while Uasin Gishu is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Pumpkin is the #19 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Uasin Gishu County. At current prices (about KES 30/kg) and a typical 10,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Pumpkin crop here can gross roughly KES 300,000 per acre.

92Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorUasin Gishu soilPumpkin needsStatus
pH6.395.87.5OK
Nitrogen1.56 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.3 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium227 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,100 mm500–1,200 mmOK
Altitude2,100 m0–2,100 mOK

Planting calendar for Uasin Gishu

Long Rains· AprilJuneMain season here

April
Direct Sowing & Basal
May
Vine Management & Top Dressing
June
Fruit Development & Harvest

Short Rains· OctoberDecember

October
Direct Sowing & Basal
November
Vine Management
December
Fruit Development & Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 4 and at vine-run
Instruction
Top-dress when vines begin to run. Add potassium at fruit set.
Bags per acre in Uasin Gishu
0.50.4

Uasin Gishu's nitrogen (1.56 g/kg) already meets Pumpkin's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 30/kg
Expected yield 10,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 300,000/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