Growing Watermelon in Kajiado
Soil suitability analysis based on Kajiado's nutrient profile
Kajiado County is well suited to Watermelon, scoring 92/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.55 — neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Watermelon prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.97 g/kg), phosphorus (20.6 mg/kg) and potassium (257 mg/kg) all meet Watermelon's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Watermelon, which favours sandy. At current prices (about KES 10/kg) and a typical 5,500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Watermelon crop here can gross roughly KES 55,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Kajiado soil | Watermelon needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.55 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.97 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 20.6 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 257 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3-4 after transplanting
Instruction
Apply when runners start expanding. Supplement with foliar potassium.
Bags per Acre
0.5
Recommended seed varieties
Sugar BabyDryland/Medium
Simlaw Seeds · 75-90 days · 100-150 tons/acre
Small round fruits; sweet red flesh; popular local market.
Charleston GreyMedium
Simlaw Seeds · 80-95 days · 120-180 tons/acre
Large oblong fruits; excellent taste; high yield.
Economics
Market priceKES 10/kg
Expected yield5,500 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 55,000/acre
Preferred textureSandy
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag