Growing Rosemary in Kilifi

Soil suitability analysis based on Kilifi's nutrient profile

Kilifi County is a challenging environment for Rosemary (soil-match score 3/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–8 band Rosemary prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus and potassium — measured at N 0.8 g/kg, P 11 mg/kg, K 109 mg/kg against this crop's medium/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Rosemary, which favours sandy loam. At 150 m, the county sits below Rosemary's preferred altitude range (800–2400 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Rosemary is the #73 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Kilifi County. Rosemary's full potential is about 2,500 kg/acre (~KES 375,000/acre at KES 150/kg), but at Kilifi's 3/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 94 kg/acre (~KES 14,100/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

Better matched to Kilifi's soil: Sesame (Simsim), Sorghum, and Finger Millet — each scores higher on the same soil.