Growing Garlic in Lamu
Soil suitability analysis based on Lamu's nutrient profile
Yes — Lamu is well suited to Garlic. Lamu's soil (pH 6.31, slightly acidic) gives Garlic a suitability score of 76/100. Match fertilizer to Lamu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Lamu County is well suited to Garlic, scoring 76/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.31 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Garlic prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 0.74 g/kg, P 9.6 mg/kg, K 117 mg/kg against this crop's high/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Garlic, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 275/kg) and a typical 3,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Garlic crop here can gross roughly KES 825,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Lamu soil | Garlic needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.31 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.74 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 9.6 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 117 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 500–900 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 10 m | 0–2,500 m | OK |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag