Growing Dragon Fruit in Vihiga
Soil suitability analysis based on Vihiga's nutrient profile
Yes — Vihiga is well suited to Dragon Fruit. Vihiga's soil (pH 5.62, slightly acidic) gives Dragon Fruit a suitability score of 76/100. Match fertilizer to Vihiga's nitrogen and phosphorus levels for the best result.
Vihiga County is well suited to Dragon Fruit, scoring 76/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 5.62 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.5–7 band Dragon Fruit prefers, so no lime is usually required. The main gap is potassium — measured at N 1.02 g/kg, P 14.8 mg/kg, K 164 mg/kg against this crop's medium/medium/high demand — so the fertilizer plan below prioritises closing that deficit. Dragon Fruit prefers sandy loam soils, while Vihiga is largely clay loam, so drainage and organic-matter management matter more here. On ShambaIQ's soil-match model, Dragon Fruit is the #24 soil match of the 106 crops we assess for Vihiga County. At current prices (about KES 500/kg) and a typical 5,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Dragon Fruit crop here can gross roughly KES 2,500,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | Vihiga soil | Dragon Fruit needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 5.62 | 5.5–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.02 g/kg | min 0.8 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 14.8 mg/kg | min 12 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 164 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | Low |
| Rainfall | 1,800 mm | 500–1,500 mm | High |
| Altitude | 1,700 m | 0–1,700 m | OK |
Planting calendar for Vihiga
Long Rains· March–MayMain season here
Short Rains· August–October
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag