Growing Snow Peas in Mombasa

Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Generally not ideal — Mombasa is poorly suited to Snow Peas. Mombasa's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Snow Peas 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 Snow Peas (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 Snow Peas 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 low/medium/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Snow Peas prefers loam soils, while Mombasa is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At 50 m, the county sits below Snow Peas's preferred altitude range (1500–3000 m), which limits yield potential due to heat stress. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Snow Peas is the #79 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Mombasa County. Snow Peas's full potential is about 1,800 kg/acre (~KES 333,000/acre at KES 185/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.

Better matched to Mombasa's soil: Finger Millet, Cashew Nuts, and Napier Grass — each scores higher on the same soil.

0Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorMombasa soilSnow Peas needsStatus
pH6.245.57.5OK
Nitrogen0.95 g/kgmin 0.5 g/kgOK
Phosphorus8.4 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgLow
Potassium136 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgLow
Rainfall1,000 mm700–1,200 mmOK
Altitude50 m1,500–3,000 mLow

Top dressing guide

Product
None
Timing
None required
Instruction
Snow Peas are a legume and fix their own Nitrogen. No top dressing needed.
Bags per acre in Mombasa
0

Mombasa's nitrogen reads 0.95 g/kg, but the rate stays at zero: Snow Peas is not top-dressed, for the crop-specific reason above.

Recommended seed varieties

No variety in our list is specifically rated for Mombasa's 50 m altitude and 1,000 mm rainfall, so all 2 are shown. Confirm with your agrovet before buying.

Oregon Sugar PodMedium/Highland
East Africa Seeds · 60-70 days · 750–1000 kg/acre
Flat edible pods; excellent export quality; disease tolerant.
Mammoth MeltingHighland
Simlaw Seeds · 65-75 days · 800–1100 kg/acre
Large pods; sweet flavor; suited to highland export production.

Economics

Market priceKES 185/kg
Expected yield in Mombasa0 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 0/acre
Adjusted for Mombasa's 0/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Snow Peas can reach 1,800 kg/acre (~KES 333,000/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(5,700)
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