Growing Tree Tomato (Tamarillo) in West Pokot
Soil suitability analysis based on West Pokot's nutrient profile
West Pokot County is well suited to Tree Tomato (Tamarillo), scoring 90/100 on ShambaIQ's soil-match model. Local soils average pH 6.04 — slightly acidic to near-neutral and inside the 5.8–7 band Tree Tomato (Tamarillo) prefers, so no lime is usually required. Nitrogen (1.67 g/kg), phosphorus (24.8 mg/kg) and potassium (211 mg/kg) all meet Tree Tomato (Tamarillo)'s requirements, so a maintenance fertilizer programme is enough. The county's predominantly sandy loam soils suit Tree Tomato (Tamarillo), which favours loam. At current prices (about KES 80/kg) and a typical 8,000 kg/acre yield, a well-managed Tree Tomato (Tamarillo) crop here can gross roughly KES 640,000 per acre.
Soil & climate match
| Factor | West Pokot soil | Tree Tomato (Tamarillo) needs | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pH | 6.04 | 5.8–7 | OK |
| Nitrogen | 1.67 g/kg | min 1.2 g/kg | OK |
| Phosphorus | 24.8 mg/kg | min 20 mg/kg | OK |
| Potassium | 211 mg/kg | min 200 mg/kg | OK |
| Rainfall | 1,000 mm | 800–1,800 mm | OK |
| Altitude | 1,500 m | 1,500–2,800 m | OK |
Planting calendar
Long Rains
Short Rains
Top dressing guide
Economics
Fertilizer prices
Green = subsidized · (Commercial) per 50kg bag