Growing Grapes in Mombasa
Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile
Yes — Mombasa is well suited to Grapes. Mombasa's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Grapes a suitability score of 75/100. Match fertilizer to Mombasa's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Mombasa County is well suited to Grapes, scoring 75/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Grapes prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is phosphorus and potassium — measured at N 0.95 g/kg, P 8.4 mg/kg, K 136 mg/kg against this crop's medium/high/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Grapes prefers loam soils, while Mombasa is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Grapes is the #45 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Mombasa County. 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.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Mombasa soil | Grapes needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.24 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.95 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 8.4 mg/kg | min 20 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 136 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 500–1,000 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 50 m | 0–1,800 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Mombasa
Long Rains· April–JuneMain season here
Short Rains· November–January
Top dressing guide
Mombasa's nitrogen (0.95 g/kg) already meets Grapes's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag