Growing Tree Tomato (Tamarillo) in Elgeyo Marakwet
Soil suitability analysis based on Elgeyo Marakwet's nutrient profile
Elgeyo Marakwet County is well suited to Tree Tomato (Tamarillo), scoring 92/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.27 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.8–7 band Tree Tomato (Tamarillo) prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.39 g/kg), phosphorus (22.2 mg/kg) and potassium (213 mg/kg) all meet Tree Tomato (Tamarillo)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Tree Tomato (Tamarillo), which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 80/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Tree Tomato (Tamarillo) crop here can gross roughly KES 640,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Elgeyo Marakwet soil | Tree Tomato (Tamarillo) needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.27 | 5.8–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.39 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 22.2 mg/kg | min 20 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 213 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 800–1,800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,800 m | 1,500–2,800 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Short Rains
Top dressing guide
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag