Garlic is a necessary vegetable for many recipes, but sometimes it can be hard to grow since it survives in small geographical areas. It can be grown in specific and different places in Kenya. This blog will tell you about the best places to grow garlic in Kenya.
Garlic does well in some places in Meru, Narok, and Nakuru counties; it also does well in Nyeri and Kajiado because these areas are hot with temperatures of above 30 degrees and well-drained fertile soil.
Garlic grows best in loose soil. Well-drained fertile soil and sandy loam are the ideal types of soil for the growing of garlic. Garlic farming in Kenya also does well in humid areas with low sunshine, moderate rain, and low temperatures with no strong.
How to Grow Garlic
In Kenya, an acre of land requires 100kg of garlic seeds. Garlic onions are harvested after 4 to 6 months, depending on the weather and the type of seeds used.
Fertile and Well-Drained Soil
Garlic farming in Kenya is done on fertile and well-drained light soil, with adequate moderate and low temperatures and no strong winds. Also, it requires a PH of 5.5 to 6.8. It is necessary to conduct soil testing before planting to ensure that soil-borne diseases are not present.
Prepare the Land Before Transplanting
The land is prepared before transplanting, whereby the land is ploughed to a depth of 6 to 8 inches and the soil should be a fine tithe. Before ploughing the land, the soil is mixed with organic manure to facilitate improved bulb formation.
Prepare the Nursery
Before planting the garlic, it is grown in the nursery bed and then transplanted into the main field after the seedlings have reached 6 to 14 inches. The seedlings are sown in rows with a distance of 12 inches between rows and 3 to 4 inches from one seedling to another in the nursery. After planting seeds in the nursery, they are mulched and removed after the seeds have sprouted.
Transplanting
When transplanting seedlings in the field, it is recommended to plant at a depth of about 2.5 inches. The distance between rows should be 6 inches from one seedling to another. During planting, use cow dung fertilizer for optimum yields.
Water the Garlic Plants
Garlic plants are watered if they are grown in areas with little rainfall. The watering of the garlic plant is started after the crops have sprouted. A top dressing of liquid manure is done regularly at the beginning of 6 to 8 weeks and increased during garlic bulb formation.
Garlic Growing in Various Places in Kenya
There are three main varieties of garlic grown in Kenya, including soft neck, hard neck, and elephant garlic.
Garlic farming can give a great profit per acre if a farmer manages it well. A well-managed acre of land can produce between 4000 and 5000 kg of garlic, and when you sell them at Ksh. 300 per kilo during peak season, you will make a total of Ksh. 1,200,000 and a profit of Ksh. 1,160,000 when you remove the cost of the seed.
Common places where garlic grows well in Kenya are Meru, Nakuru, and Narok Counties.
Nyeri
Conditions are favorable for garlic farming in Nyeri County because the place is hot and dry and has black cotton soil. A kilo of grade 1 and grade 2, which is bigger, is sold at Ksh. 250 and Ksh. 300, and garlic seeds are sold at Ksh. 450 in Nyeri County.
Narok
In Narok, garlic farming is profitable because the price of a kilo of garlic is between Ksh. 350 and Ksh. 450 and can go up to Ksh. 500 when demand is high.
Kajiado
There is garlic farming in Kajiado by different farmers who venture due to high demand by consumers. The common garlic farm in Kajiado is Ole Raha Farm in Isinya, and the variety being grown is the African Giant and the Rwanda variety. The harvests are sold in supermarkets and groceries in Nairobi.
Cost of Garlic Farming in Kenya
Cost of Seeds
The cost of garlic farming in Kenya is determined by the size of the land. For example, one acre of land requires 100 kg of garlic seeds, and one kilo costs approximately Ksh. 400, for a total cost of Ksh. 40,000 in garlic seeds.
Cost of Fertilizer
Fertilizer is also required by the farmer in order for the garlic to yield more. As a result, you’ll need a bag of 25kg of fertilizer, which costs Ksh. 500 per bag.
There are also incidental costs such as transportation and disease control, which could cost around Ksh. 10,000.
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