Kale (Sukuma Wiki) Production — 60-Day Guide
A practical guide to growing sukuma wiki (kale) for both household food security and market income. Covers nursery management, transplanting, fertilisation, pest control, and continuous leaf harvesting for urban and peri-urban farmers across Kenya.
MkulimaHub Advisory Team
Curated by certified agronomists, veterinarians, and agricultural engineers across Kenya
10 years experience
These programmes are developed and reviewed by the MkulimaHub editorial team in collaboration with practising agronomists, veterinarians, and agricultural engineers across Kenya. Every activity is grounded in Kenyan growing conditions, locally available inputs, and real market realities.
Sample Schedule (First 2 Weeks)
Land Preparation
Dig or rip soil to 20 cm depth. Incorporate well-composted manure (3 kg/m²). Kale grows in most Kenyan soils — good drainage is the main requirement.
Nursery Sowing
Prepare a raised nursery bed. Sow kale seeds in rows 5 cm apart, 0.5 cm deep. Mulch with dry grass. Water twice daily. Germination in 5–7 days. Varieties: Thousand-headed, Collard, or Ethiopian kale.
Nursery Management
Thin overcrowded seedlings to 2 cm spacing. Protect from strong afternoon sun with shade net or grass thatch for first 2 weeks.
Nursery Fertilisation
Apply dilute CAN solution (3 g/litre) as foliar spray or water in. Seedlings should be 10–12 cm tall by Day 14, with 2 true leaves.
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