Growing Garlic in Taita Taveta
Soil suitability analysis based on Taita Taveta's nutrient profile
Taita Taveta County is well suited to Garlic, scoring 84/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.64 — neutral and inside the 6–7.5 band Garlic prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is nitrogen and potassium — measured at N 0.97 g/kg, P 12.9 mg/kg, K 104 mg/kg against this crop's high/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly loam soils suit Garlic, which favours sandy loam. At current prices (about KES 275/kg) and a typical 1,800 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Garlic crop here can gross roughly KES 495,000 per acre.
Suitability score
Soil match analysis
| Nutrient | Taita Taveta soil | Garlic needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.64 | 6–7.5 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 0.97 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | Low |
| Phosphorus | 12.9 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 104 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
Top dressing guide
Product
CAN
Timing
Week 3 and Week 6 after emergence
Instruction
Heavy feeding required before bulbs form. Supplement with sulfur.
Bags per Acre
0.5
Recommended seed varieties
Early PinkMedium/Highland
Local/KALRO · 120-150 days · 20-30 bags/acre
Good bulb size; pungent flavor; stores well.
Purple StripeHighland
Local · 130-160 days · 18-26 bags/acre
High allicin content; excellent storage; suited to cold highlands.
Economics
Market priceKES 275/kg
Expected yield1,800 kg/acre
Estimated revenueKES 495,000/acre
Preferred textureSandy Loam
Fertilizer prices
DAP
KES 2,500(6,500)
CAN
KES 2,500(4,500)
NPK 17:17:17
KES 2,500(5,600)
Urea
KES 2,500(5,500)
Lime
KES 1,500(1,800)
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag