Growing Vine Spinach (Nderema) in Uasin Gishu

Soil suitability analysis based on Uasin Gishu's nutrient profile

Uasin Gishu County is well suited to Vine Spinach (Nderema), 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 Vine Spinach (Nderema) prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.56 g/kg), phosphorus (25.3 mg/kg) and potassium (227 mg/kg) all meet Vine Spinach (Nderema)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Vine Spinach (Nderema), which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 50/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Vine Spinach (Nderema) crop here can gross roughly KES 250,000 per acre.

85Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorUasin Gishu soilVine Spinach (Nderema) needsStatus
pH6.395.87OK
Nitrogen1.56 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus25.3 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium227 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,100 mm800–1,800 mmOK
Altitude2,100 m0–2,000 mHigh

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Direct Sowing & Basal
Month 2
Trellising & Top Dressing
Month 3
Continuous Harvest

Short Rains

Month 1
Direct Sowing & Basal
Month 2
Trellising & Top Dressing
Month 3
Continuous Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 2 and after each harvest
Instruction
Top-dress after each cutting for continuous leafy regrowth.
Bags per Acre
0.3

Economics

Market priceKES 50/kg
Expected yield 5,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 250,000/acre

Preferred textureLoam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
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