Growing Celery in Mombasa

Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile

Mombasa County is a challenging environment for Celery (soil-match score 0/100) and will need significant amendment before planting. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Celery prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — measured at N 0.95 g/kg, P 8.4 mg/kg, K 136 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Celery prefers loam soils, while Mombasa is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At 50 m, the county sits below Celery's preferred altitude range (1000–2600 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. Celery's full potential is about 12,000 kg/acre (~KES 840,000/acre at KES 70/kg), but at Mombasa's 0/100 suitability a realistic target here is closer to 0 kg/acre (~KES 0/acre) unless the constraints above are addressed.

0Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorMombasa soilCelery needsStatus
pH6.2467.5OK
Nitrogen0.95 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgLow
Phosphorus8.4 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgLow
Potassium136 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgLow
Rainfall1,000 mm700–1,400 mmOK
Altitude50 m1,000–2,600 mLow

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Nursery & Transplanting & Basal
Month 2
Top Dressing & Weeding
Month 3
Blanching & Harvest

Short Rains

Month 1
Nursery & Transplanting & Basal
Month 2
Top Dressing & Weeding
Month 3
Blanching & Harvest

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Every 3 weeks
Instruction
Heavy feeder needing constant moisture and nitrogen for crisp stalks.
Bags per Acre
0.5

Economics

Market priceKES 70/kg
Expected yield in Mombasa0 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 0/acre
Adjusted for Mombasa's 0/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Celery can reach 12,000 kg/acre (~KES 840,000/acre) — attainable here only after the climate and soil constraints below are addressed.

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