Growing Grapes in Machakos
Soil suitability analysis based on Machakos's nutrient profile
Machakos County is well suited to Grapes, scoring 89/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 7.03 — neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Grapes prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.82 g/kg), phosphorus (31.4 mg/kg) and potassium (338 mg/kg) all meet Grapes's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Grapes, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 150/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Grapes crop here can gross roughly KES 1,200,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Machakos soil | Grapes needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.03 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.82 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 31.4 mg/kg | min 20 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 338 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 700 mm | 500–1,000 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,100 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Pruning & Bud Break & Basal
Month 2
Training & Top Dressing
Month 3
Fruit Set & Harvest
Short Rains
Month 1
Pruning & Bud Break
Month 2
Training & Top Dressing
Month 3
Fruit Set & Harvest
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
At bud break and fruit set
Instruction
Add potassium at veraison for sugar and colour. Avoid late nitrogen.
Bags per Acre
0.5
Economics
Market priceKES 150/kg
Expected yield 8,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 1,200,000/acre
Preferred textureLoam
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 3,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,875(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 3,275(5,600)
Urea
KES 3,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag