Growing Tomato in Mombasa

Soil suitability analysis based on Mombasa's nutrient profile

Quick answer

Yes — Mombasa is well suited to Tomato. Mombasa's soil (pH 6.24, slightly acidic) gives Tomato 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 Tomato, 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 band Tomato 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. Tomato prefers loam soils, while Mombasa is largely sandy, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. At current prices (about KES 50/kg) and a typical 15,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Tomato crop here can gross roughly KES 750,000 per acre.

75Suitability score

Soil & climate match

FactorMombasa soilTomato needsStatus
pH6.2467OK
Nitrogen0.95 g/kgmin 1.2 g/kgLow
Phosphorus8.4 mg/kgmin 20 mg/kgLow
Potassium136 mg/kgmin 200 mg/kgLow
Rainfall1,000 mm600–1,400 mmOK
Altitude50 m0–1,800 mOK

Planting calendar

Long Rains

Month 1
Nursery Preparation & Transplanting
Month 2
Top Dressing & Staking & Pest Control
Month 3
Harvesting & Disease Management

Short Rains

Month 1
Nursery & Transplanting & Basal Fertilizer
Month 2
Staking & Top Dressing & Pest Control
Month 3
Harvesting

Dry Season

Month 1
Land Preparation & Irrigation Setup
Month 2
Nursery (irrigated)
Month 3
Transplanting & Basal Fertilizer

Top dressing guide

Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3, 6, and 9
Instruction
Split into 3 applications. Add foliar potassium at fruiting stage.
Bags per Acre
0.5

Recommended seed varieties

Rambo F1Medium/Highland
Royal Seeds · 75-80 days · 6–7.2 tons/acre
Determinate hybrid; excellent disease tolerance.
Money MakerMedium/Highland
Simlaw Seeds · 80-90 days · 4–4.8 tons/acre
Reliable open-pollinated variety.

Economics

Market priceKES 50/kg
Expected yield in Mombasa14,063 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 703,150/acre
Adjusted for Mombasa's 75/100 suitability. Under ideal conditions Tomato can reach 15,000 kg/acre (~KES 750,000/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