Growing Thyme in Machakos
Soil suitability analysis based on Machakos's nutrient profile
Machakos County is well suited to Thyme, scoring 91/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 7.03 — neutral and inside the 6–8 band Thyme prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (0.82 g/kg), phosphorus (31.4 mg/kg) and potassium (338 mg/kg) all meet Thyme's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Thyme, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 150/kg) and a typical 2,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Thyme crop here can gross roughly KES 300,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Machakos soil | Thyme needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.03 | 6–8 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.82 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 31.4 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 338 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 700 mm | 400–900 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,100 m | 800–2,400 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Nursery & Transplanting
Month 2
Weeding & Light Feeding
Month 3
Harvest
Short Rains
Month 1
Direct Sowing
Month 2
Weeding
Month 3
Harvest
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Twice per season
Instruction
Light feeder — minimal nitrogen keeps the plant compact and aromatic.
Bags per Acre
0.2
Economics
Market priceKES 150/kg
Expected yield 2,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 300,000/acre
Preferred textureSandy Loam
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