Tea farming guide — Kenya

Soil requirements

Optimizing soil and fertilizers for Tea in Kenya

To achieve maximum yields when farming tea in Kenya, managing soil suitability is crucial. This crop performs best within a soil pH range of 4.5 to 6.5. Soils that fall outside this range can lock out essential macro and micro-nutrients, leading to stunted growth or crop failure. For acidic soils, applying dolomitic or calcitic agricultural lime is recommended at least 30 days before planting to normalize acidity.

Fertilizer application should be calibrated based on the crop’s nutrient demands. Tea has a high nitrogen requirement, medium phosphorus requirement, and medium potassium demand. Using certified seed varieties suited for your specific altitude and rainfall pattern, combined with a precise basal and top-dressing program (such as applying NPK 26:5:5 at Continuous (every 3 months)), ensures high crop quality and protects your overall farm investment.

Best counties for Tea

Challenging counties for Tea

These counties may need soil amendments for Tea

Certified seed varieties

Planting calendar