Growing Tomato in Bomet

Soil suitability analysis based on Bomet's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Bomet is well suited to Tomato. Bomet's soil (pH 6.02, slightly acidic) gives Tomato a suitability score of 76/100. Match fertilizer to Bomet's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Bomet County is well suited to Tomato, scoring 76/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.02 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7 band Tomato prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.38 g/kg), phosphorus (23.6 mg/kg) and potassium (237 mg/kg) all meet Tomato's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Tomato, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 50/kg) and a typical 15,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Tomato crop here can gross roughly KES 750,000 per acre.

76Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorBomet soilTomato needsStatus
pH6.0267OK
Nitrogen1.38 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus23.6 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgOK
Potassium237 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,500 mm600–1,400 mmHigh
Altitude1,900 m0–1,800 mHigh

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Nursery Preparation & Transplanting
Month 2
Top Dressing & Staking & Pest Control
Month 3
Harvesting & Disease Management

Short Rains

Month 1
Nursery & Transplanting & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Staking & Top Dressing & Pest Control
Month 3
Harvesting

Dry Season

Month 1
Land Preparation & Irrigation Setup
Month 2
Nursery (irrigated)
Month 3
Transplanting & Basal Fertilizer

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3, 6, and 9
Instruction
Split into 3 applications. Add foliar potassium at fruiting stage.
Bags per Acre
0.5

Recommended seed varieties

Rambo F1Medium/Highland
Royal Seeds · 75-80 days · 6–7.2 tons/acre
Determinate hybrid; excellent disease tolerance.
Money MakerMedium/Highland
Simlaw Seeds · 80-90 days · 4–4.8 tons/acre
Reliable open-pollinated variety.

Economics

Market priceKES 50/kg
Expected yield in Bomet14,250 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 712,500/acre
Adjusted for Bomet's 76/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Tomato can reach 15,000 kg/acre (~KES 750,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

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