Growing Lemon in Nairobi
Soil suitability analysis based on Nairobi's nutrient profile
Nairobi County is well suited to Lemon, scoring 90/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.85 — neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Lemon prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen — measured at N 1.1 g/kg, P 22.1 mg/kg, K 236 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Lemon, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 50/kg) and a typical 10,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Lemon crop here can gross roughly KES 500,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nairobi soil | Lemon needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.85 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.1 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 22.1 mg/kg | min 20 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 236 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 900 mm | 600–1,500 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,700 m | 0–2,100 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Month 1
Transplanting & Basal
Month 2
Pruning & Top Dressing
Month 3
Flowering & Fruit Set
Short Rains
Month 1
Transplanting & Basal
Month 2
Pruning & Top Dressing
Month 3
Fruit Development
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Three times per year
Instruction
Split citrus feeding across the year. Foliar zinc and manganese keep leaves healthy.
Bags per Acre
0.6
Economics
Market priceKES 50/kg
Expected yield 10,000 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 500,000/acre
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