Growing Tomato in Elgeyo Marakwet

Soil suitability analysis based on Elgeyo Marakwet's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Elgeyo Marakwet is well suited to Tomato. Elgeyo Marakwet's soil (pH 6.27, slightly acidic) gives Tomato a suitability score of 91/100. Match fertilizer to Elgeyo Marakwet's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Elgeyo Marakwet County is well suited to Tomato, scoring 91/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.27 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7 band Tomato prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.39 g/kg), phosphorus (22.2 mg/kg) and potassium (213 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.

91Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorElgeyo Marakwet soilTomato needsStatus
pH6.2767OK
Nitrogen1.39 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgOK
Phosphorus22.2 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgOK
Potassium213 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgOK
Rainfall1,000 mm600–1,400 mmOK
Altitude1,800 m0–1,800 mOK

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 15,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 750,000/acre

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