Growing Passion Fruit in Mombasa
Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile
Generally not ideal — Mombasa is poorly suited to Passion Fruit. Mombasa's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Passion Fruit a suitability score of 0/100. Match fertilizer to Mombasa's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Mombasa County is a challenging environment for Passion Fruit (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 5.5–7.5 band Passion Fruit 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/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Passion Fruit prefers loam soils, while Mombasa is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At 50 m, the county sits below Passion Fruit's preferred altitude range (1200–2500 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. Passion Fruit's full potential is about 8,000 kg/acre (~KES 560,000/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.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Mombasa soil | Passion Fruit needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.24 | 5.5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.95 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 8.4 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | Low |
| Potassium | 136 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 900–1,800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 50 m | 1,200–2,500 m | Low |
Top dressing guide
Recommended seed varieties
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag