Growing Lemongrass in Nairobi
Soil suitability analysis based on Nairobi's nutrient profile
Yes — Nairobi is well suited to Lemongrass. Nairobi's soil (pH 6.85, near-neutral) gives Lemongrass a suitability score of 91/100. Match fertilizer to Nairobi's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Nairobi County is well suited to Lemongrass, scoring 91/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.85 — neutral and inside the 5.5–7.5 band Lemongrass prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.1 g/kg), phosphorus (22.1 mg/kg) and potassium (236 mg/kg) all meet Lemongrass's requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly clay loam soils suit Lemongrass, which favours loam. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Lemongrass is the #20 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Nairobi County. At current prices (about KES 60/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Lemongrass crop here can gross roughly KES 480,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Nairobi soil | Lemongrass needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.85 | 5.5–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.1 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 22.1 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 236 mg/kg | min 150 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 900 mm | 700–1,800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,700 m | 0–2,000 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Nairobi
Long Rains· March–MayMain season here
Short Rains· October–December
Top dressing guide
Nairobi's nitrogen (1.1 g/kg) already meets Lemongrass's 0.8 g/kg requirement, so this is a maintenance rate.
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag