Growing Spinach in Lamu
Soil suitability analysis based on Lamu's nutrient profile
Lamu County is well suited to Spinach, scoring 78/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.31 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Spinach 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/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Spinach prefers loam soils, while Lamu is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At current prices (about KES 25/kg) and a typical 3,500 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Spinach crop here can gross roughly KES 87,500 per acre.
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Lamu soil | Spinach 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 150 mg/kg | Low |
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag