Growing Tomato in Taita Taveta

Soil suitability analysis based on Taita Taveta's nutrient profile

Tomato can be grown in Taita Taveta County, but the soil scores 55/100 and needs targeted management to reach full potential. Local soils average pH 6.64 — 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 0.97 g/kg, P 12.9 mg/kg, K 104 mg/kg against this crop's high/high/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing those deficits. The county's predominantly loam soils suit Tomato, which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 40/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Tomato crop here can gross roughly KES 200,000 per acre.