Growing Passion Fruit in Kilifi

Soil suitability analysis based on Kilifi's nutrient profile

Kilifi County is a challenging environment for Passion Fruit (soil-match score 1/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Passion Fruit prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 0.8 g/kg, P 11 mg/kg, K 109 mg/kg against this crop's high/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Passion Fruit, which favours loam. At 150 m, the county sits below Passion Fruit's preferred altitude range (1200–2500 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. Passion Fruit's full potential is about 8,000 kg/acre (~KES 560,000/acre at KES 70/kg), but at Kilifi's 1/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 100 kg/acre (~KES 7,000/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.