Growing Spinach in Mombasa

Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Mombasa is well suited to Spinach. Mombasa's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Spinach a suitability score of 79/100. Match fertilizer to Mombasa's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.

Mombasa County is well suited to Spinach, scoring 79/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.24 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Spinach 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/medium demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. Spinach prefers loam soils, while Mombasa is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At current prices (about KES 25/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Spinach crop here can gross roughly KES 200,000 per acre.

79Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorMombasa soilSpinach needsStatus
pH6.2467.5OK
Nitrogen0.95 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgLow
Phosphorus8.4 mg/kgmin 12 mg/kgLow
Potassium136 mg/kgmin 150 mg/kgLow
Rainfall1,000 mm600–1,400 mmOK
Altitude50 m0–2,500 mOK

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 2-3 after transplanting
Instruction
Apply when plants are established. Spinach is a leafy crop and needs nitrogen for continuous harvest.
Bags per Acre
0.5

Recommended seed varieties

ViroflayMedium/Highland
Simlaw Seeds · 40-50 days · 3–4 tons/acre
Large dark leaves; continuous harvest; heat tolerant.
Giant NobelMedium/Highland
East Africa Seeds · 45-55 days · 3.5–4.5 tons/acre
Vigorous growth; smooth leaves; good market demand.

Economics

Market priceKES 25/kg
Expected yield in Mombasa7,900 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 197,500/acre
Adjusted for Mombasa's 79/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Spinach can reach 8,000 kg/acre (~KES 200,000/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