Growing Spinach in Uasin Gishu
Soil suitability analysis based on Uasin Gishu's nutrient profile
Uasin Gishu County is well suited to Spinach, 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 Spinach prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.56 g/kg), phosphorus (25.3 mg/kg) and potassium (227 mg/kg) all meet Spinach's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Spinach, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 25/kg) and a typical 3,500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Spinach crop here can gross roughly KES 87,500 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Uasin Gishu soil | Spinach needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.39 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.56 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 25.3 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 227 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
Recommended seed varieties
ViroflayMedium/Highland
Simlaw Seeds · 40-50 days · 60-80 bags/acre
Large dark leaves; continuous harvest; heat tolerant.
Giant NobelMedium/Highland
East Africa Seeds · 45-55 days · 70-90 bags/acre
Vigorous growth; smooth leaves; good market demand.
Economics
Market priceKES 25/kg
Expected yield3,500 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 87,500/acre
Preferred textureLoam
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag