Growing Thyme in Lamu
Soil suitability analysis based on Lamu's nutrient profile
Generally not ideal — Lamu is poorly suited to Thyme. Lamu's soil (pH 6.31, slightly acidic) gives Thyme a suitability score of 0/100. Match fertilizer to Lamu's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Lamu County is a challenging environment for Thyme (soil-match score 0/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.31 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–8 band Thyme 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 medium/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly sandy soils suit Thyme, which favours sandy loam. At 10 m, the county sits below Thyme's preferred altitude range (800–2400 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Thyme is the #96 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Lamu County. Thyme's full potential is about 2,000 kg/acre (~KES 300,000/acre at KES 150/kg), but at Lamu's 0/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 0 kg/acre (~KES 0/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.
Better matched to Lamu's soil: Sesame (Simsim), Sorghum, and Cowpeas — each scores higher on the same soil.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Lamu soil | Thyme needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.31 | 6–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.74 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 9.6 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 117 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 600 mm | 400–900 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 10 m | 800–2,400 m | Low |
Planting calendar for Lamu
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· November–January
Top dressing guide
Lamu's nitrogen (0.74 g/kg) is 93% of the 0.8 g/kg Thyme needs, so the standard 0.2 bags/acre is raised to 0.25. Split it across two applications to limit leaching.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag