Growing Thyme in Kajiado

Soil suitability analysis based on Kajiado's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Kajiado is well suited to Thyme. Kajiado's soil (pH 6.55, near-neutral) gives Thyme a suitability score of 89/100. Match fertilizer to Kajiado's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Kajiado County is well suited to Thyme, scoring 89/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.55 — neutral and inside the 6–8 band Thyme prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.97 g/kg), phosphorus (20.6 mg/kg) and potassium (257 mg/kg) all meet Thyme's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Thyme, which favours sandy loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Thyme is the #31 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kajiado County. At current prices (about KES 150/kg) and a typical 2,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Thyme crop here can gross roughly KES 300,000 per acre.

89Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorKajiado soilThyme needsStatus
pH6.5568OK
Nitrogen0.97 g/kgmin 0.8 g/kgOK
Phosphorus20.6 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgOK
Potassium257 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgOK
Rainfall500 mm400–900 mmOK
Altitude1,300 m800–2,400 mOK

Planting calendar for Kajiado

Long Rains· MarchMay

March
Nursery & Transplanting
April
Weeding & Light Feeding
May
Harvest

Short Rains· OctoberDecemberMain season here

October
Direct Sowing
November
Weeding
December
Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Twice per season
Instruction
Light feeder — minimal nitrogen keeps the plant compact and aromatic.
Bags per acre in Kajiado
0.250.2

Kajiado's nitrogen (0.97 g/kg) already meets Thyme's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.

Economics

Market priceKES 150/kg
Expected yield 2,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 300,000/acre

Preferred textureSandy Loam

Fertilizer prices

DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(5,700)
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