What to plant in October in Kenya
24 vegetables, fruits and herbs to sow or plant in October in Kenya, for the climate around Nairobi area, Kenya (latitude -1, longitude 37).
Climate: Equatorial highland climate with no frost (coldest night 9 °C), warm days up to 30 °C, long rains in March to May, short rains in October to November, and a dry spell from June to September that needs irrigation.
Vegetables
Kale Brassica oleracea
Cool highland nights suit it and it keeps producing through the dry season with some water.
Harvest: 60–75 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Tomato Solanum lycopersicum
Warm days and mild nights give good fruit set, and it is best planted at the start or end of the rains.
Harvest: 70–90 daysModerateIn potsCare guide →
Spinach Spinacia oleracea
It grows quickly in the cool-season nights and bolts less when planted in the rains.
Harvest: 40–50 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Carrot Daucus carota
Mild highland temperatures give sweet roots in deep, loose soil.
Harvest: 70–90 daysModerateIn potsCare guide →
Onion Allium cepa
It forms bulbs well in the cool nights and suits beds with good drainage.
Harvest: 100–140 daysModerateCare guide →
Swiss chard Beta vulgaris
It tolerates warm days and cool nights and keeps cropping for months from one sowing.
Harvest: 50–60 daysEasyIn pots
Pumpkin Cucurbita pepo
Warm rainy-season soil and plenty of sun give large, reliable yields.
Harvest: 90–110 daysEasyCare guide →
Common bean Phaseolus vulgaris
It is a traditional rain-season crop here and fixes nitrogen in the soil.
Harvest: 60–75 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Managu Solanum scabrum
This African leafy green thrives in warm, humid conditions and is picked again and again.
Harvest: 40–60 daysEasyIn pots
Sweet potato Ipomoea batatas
Warm days and rain-season moisture suit its vines and tubers.
Harvest: 90–150 daysEasy
Garden pea Pisum sativum
Cool highland nights suit it, and it is best sown at the start of the rains.
Harvest: 60–75 daysModerateIn potsCare guide →
Sweet pepper Capsicum annuum
Warm days and mild nights give steady fruit in pots or beds.
Harvest: 70–90 daysModerateIn potsCare guide →
Fruits
Strawberry Fragaria × ananassa
Mild highland nights and a sunny spot give sweet berries, especially in pots and raised beds.
Harvest: 90–120 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Papaya Carica papaya
Its warm days suit it, and the 9 °C minimum is mild enough for a sheltered planting.
Harvest: 9–12 monthsModerateIn potsCare guide →
Banana Musa acuminata
Warm days and rain-season water suit it, and it fruits well in sheltered, mulched beds.
Harvest: 9–12 monthsModerateCare guide →
Passion fruit Passiflora edulis
Warm days and mild nights suit this vine, and it fruits well on a trellis.
Harvest: 9–12 monthsEasyCare guide →
Avocado Persea americana
Mild highland temperatures and good rainfall suit this tree, which fruits well with sun and drainage.
Harvest: 3–5 yearsModerateCare guide →
Mango Mangifera indica
Warm days and a dry period for flowering suit this tree in the lowland parts of the region.
Harvest: 3–5 yearsModerateCare guide →
Guava Psidium guajava
It tolerates the cool nights and the dry season, and bears heavily with little care.
Harvest: 2–3 yearsEasy
Herbs
Basil Ocimum basilicum
It loves warm days and grows fast from seed in sunny spots or pots.
Harvest: 30–45 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Coriander Coriandrum sativum
Cool highland nights suit it, and it is best sown at the start of the rains.
Harvest: 40–50 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Mint Mentha spicata
It thrives in moist soil and mild temperatures and spreads well in a container.
Harvest: 60–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Parsley Petroselinum crispum
It tolerates cool nights and keeps leafing for months in a balcony pot.
Harvest: 70–90 daysEasyIn potsCare guide →
Rosemary Salvia rosmarinus
It tolerates the dry season and mild nights, and does well in well-drained soil or pots.
Harvest: 90–120 daysModerateIn potsCare guide →