Growing tomatoes in Kenya can be profitable for farmers who understand the crop’s requirements!
But you may ask yourself: Is tomato farming worth the investment? What skills do I need to succeed? How do I handle the notorious diseases that affect tomatoes? These are common concerns for anyone looking to venture into tomato farming in Kenya.
The good news is that tomatoes remain one of Kenya’s most sought-after vegetables, with demand consistently outpacing supply in urban markets, hotels, and processing industries. Kenya’s favorable climate allows farmers to grow tomatoes throughout the year, whether in open fields or greenhouses.
Read on to understand tomato farming in Kenya, planting process and expected profits of this leading horticultural crop in Kenya.
Also Read: How to Farm Dragon Fruit in Kenya and Profits Per Yield
How to Farm Tomatoes
Tomatoes is one of Kenya’s most profitable horticultural crops, with year-round demand in both local and export markets, but success requires more than just planting and hoping for the best – it demands careful planning, proper variety selection, and diligent crop management just like most agricultural crops.
Let’s get into it!
1. Choose the Right Location
Tomato farming thrives across various regions in Kenya, which meet the ecological factors that are required for optimal tomato growth. The factors are as shown in the table below:
| Ecological Factor | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Altitude | Can be cultivated up to 2,000 meters above sea level |
| Rainfall | Minimum 600mm annually, needs to be well distributed throughout growing season |
| Temperature | Optimal daytime: 20-25°C Optimal nighttime: 15-17°C |
| Soil | Well-drained sandy loam or clay loam soils with pH range of 6.0-7.5 |
Tomatoes grow in these regions in Kenya each offering unique advantages for cultivation. These regions include:
– The Central Region, including areas like Kirinyaga, Murang’a, and Kiambu, provides excellent growing conditions with moderate temperatures and good rainfall patterns.
– The Rift Valley, particularly around Nakuru and Naivasha, offers ideal conditions with its rich volcanic soils and moderate climate.
– Eastern regions such as Meru and Embu have proven successful for tomato cultivation, especially with proper irrigation systems in place.
– Western Kenya, including areas like Kisii and Migori, also supports tomato farming, though careful disease management is crucial during wet seasons.
2. Choose Suitable Tomato Varieties
The success of tomato farming in Kenya largely depends on choosing the right varieties for your specific region and market needs.
Determinate varieties, which grow as bush-type plants, include popular choices like Rio Grande, Roma VF, and Kilele F1. These varieties are preferred by many farmers due to their compact growth habit and concentrated fruiting period.
Choose this variety if:
– Ideal for those seeking low-maintenance tomato plants that don’t require frequent pruning or complex trellising systems
– You have a limited space since these compact plants thrive in containers and small gardens
– Perfect if you want to avoid the time and effort needed to install and maintain supporting structures throughout the growing season
– Excellent choice if your main goal is preserving and canning your harvest, as fruits ripen within a concentrated period
– Well-suited for regions with short growing seasons, as determinate varieties mature quickly and produce their harvest earlier
Indeterminate varieties, such as Money Maker and Cal J, grow as vining plants and provide extended harvesting periods. These climbing varieties typically require staking or trellising but can offer higher yields over a longer period. This variety is mainly preferred by those who use a greenhouse for tomato farming.
Choose this variety if:
– If you want a continuous harvest of fresh tomatoes throughout the season for daily kitchen needs.
– If you prefer regular harvesting of fresh tomatoes rather than bulk harvesting for processing or canning
– If you have sufficient garden space and don’t mind regular maintenance including staking, trellising, and pruning
– Great choice for tomato enthusiasts who prioritize flavor and enjoy experimenting with different heritage varieties
– Best suited for regions with long growing seasons, giving plants enough time to mature and produce fruit before frost sets in.
3. Land and Nursery Preparation
Successful tomato farming begins with proper land preparation. The soil should be well-drained and rich in organic matter, with a pH between 5.5 and 6.8.
Begin by thoroughly clearing the land of weeds and debris, followed by deep plowing to a depth of 20-30 centimeters. This preparation helps create optimal conditions for root development and water retention after the tomatoes are transplanted from the nursery.
The nursery stage is critical for developing healthy seedlings. Prepare raised nursery beds (approximately 15 centimeters in height) using a mixture of well-decomposed manure and soil.
Note: The soil must be finely textured with small particles to facilitate the emergence of young seedlings. This fine texture is especially important because tomato seeds are small and need optimal conditions to break through the soil surface.
Seeds should be sown in rows and covered lightly with soil. There should be walkways of at least 30 centimeters between beds to allow easy access for maintenance. When planting the seeds, maintain a shallow depth of approximately 1 centimeter
The nursery period typically lasts 4-5 weeks, during which regular but moderate watering is essential. After planting, apply a light layer of mulch over the seedbed. This mulch serves multiple purposes:
– It helps maintain consistent soil moisture.
– Reduces the impact of water droplets during irrigation.
– Helps regulate soil temperature for optimal germination conditions.
4. Watering and Early Care
The critical period immediately following seeding requires careful attention to watering practices. Morning watering is optimal, as it allows excess moisture to evaporate during the day, reducing the risk of fungal diseases. Seedlings emerge around the eighth day after planting, though this can vary slightly based on environmental conditions.
Tip: Continue regular watering throughout the nursery period, but begin reducing irrigation one to two weeks before planned transplanting. This reduction helps “harden off” the seedlings, preparing them for the stress of transplanting.
The entire nursery period typically lasts about one month.
5. Transplanting Process
Begin by thoroughly watering the nursery bed to ease the removal of seedlings and protect their root systems. Using a garden trowel, carefully remove each seedling while preserving a ball of soil around its roots. This soil ball is crucial for transplant success as it protects the roots and provides a familiar growing medium for the young plant.
Note: The actual transplanting should be performed either early in the morning or in the evening to minimize transplant shock.
6. Field Planting
In your prepared production land, plant the seedlings with a spacing of 60 centimeters between rows and 45 centimeters between plants. This spacing provides adequate room for plant development, air circulation, and maintenance activities.
Each planting hole should be deep enough to accommodate the seedling’s root ball while allowing the plant to sit at the same depth it was growing in the nursery.
7. Fertilizer Application
The fertilization program begins with a base application of phosphate fertilizer, which is crucial for root development. After transplanting, apply nitrogen-based fertilizers – either urea at 2-3 weeks or CAN (Calcium Ammonium Nitrate) after 5 weeks, to support leaf development. When the plants begin flowering, apply NPK fertilizer, and repeat this application after the first harvest.
Note: Remember that fertilization should be based on soil deficiency and plant needs rather than following a rigid schedule.
8. Transplanted Tomato Watering
Tomatoes require consistent moisture throughout their growing cycle, but the amount and frequency of irrigation must be carefully controlled. A mature tomato plant typically needs 1-2 inches of water per week, depending on climate conditions and soil type.
The optimal watering schedule follows these guidelines:
– Water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than daily light watering
– Apply water early in the morning to reduce evaporation
Tip: Adjust watering based on: Weather conditions (reduce during rainy periods), growth stage (increase during flowering and fruiting) and soil moisture levels (check by inserting finger 2-3 inches into soil)
Overwatering can lead to several serious problems to your tomatoes like:
– Nutrient leaching from the soil
– Root rot and fungal diseases
– Reduced fruit quality and splitting
– Decreased oxygen availability to roots
– Increased susceptibility to soil-borne diseases
Underwatering is also not good since it can lead to:
– Blossom end rot development
– Stunted growth
– Reduced fruit size
– Poor fruit set
– Wilting and leaf drop
9. Tomato Supporting
The vertical string trellis system should be installed early in the growing cycle, ideally within a week after transplanting. This timing is critical because:
– Young plants are easier to train
– Early support prevents stem damage
– Root systems can develop properly around support structures
– Plants develop stronger structural integrity
A proper support system is crucial for tomato production, offering multiple benefits including:
– Maximizes space utilization through vertical growth
– Improves air circulation around plants
– Reduces disease pressure
– Makes harvesting and maintenance easier
– Increases fruit quality by keeping tomatoes off the ground
– Allows for higher plant density in the growing area
10. Pruning and Maintenance
Weekly pruning sessions should focus on removing side shoots, old or diseased leaves, and non-productive laterals. Pay special attention to suckers that develop in the joints between branches – these will never bear fruit and only drain energy from the plant. As plants mature, remove yellowing lower leaves to maintain plant health and prevent disease development.
Note: Exercise caution during pruning to avoid damaging productive branches.
Pest and Disease Control in Tomatoes
These diseases and pests can highly impact the productivity of tomatoes:
1. The American Bollworm
The American Bollworm represents one of the most significant threats to tomato production worldwide. This pest, in its larval stage, manifests as a moth caterpillar that can appear in various colors including brown, green, or pink. What makes this pest particularly destructive is its feeding behavior and reproductive cycle.
Female moths lay their eggs directly on young tomato fruits, and upon hatching, the larvae immediately bore into the fruit. The distinctive characteristic of this pest is its feeding pattern – the worm positions itself with its head inside the tomato fruit while feeding, making it difficult to control once established.
The entry holes created by these pests not only damage the fruit directly but also provide access points for secondary infections by bacteria and fungi. This compound damage can lead to significant crop losses if left unmanaged.
2. Cutworm (Agrotis species)
The cutworm is a notorious nocturnal pest that emerges from the soil to feed on young tomato plants, typically cutting through the stem at or just below the soil surface. These grayish-brown to black caterpillars can destroy entire seedling stands in a single night, making early detection and prevention crucial for plant establishment.
3. Red Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae)
Red spider mites are microscopic pests that thrive in hot, dry conditions, appearing as tiny reddish dots on the undersides of tomato leaves. These pests feed by piercing plant cells and sucking out the contents, causing characteristic stippling on leaves that eventually turns to yellowing, while heavy infestations create fine webbing across leaves and stems, leading to severe plant stress and reduced yields.
4. Two-Spotted Spider Mite (Tetranychus urticae)
The two-spotted spider mite, closely related to the red spider mite, appears as small yellowish-green pests with two dark spots on their backs. They multiply rapidly in warm, dry conditions and cause similar damage to red spider mites, with infested leaves showing a speckled yellow appearance before turning bronze and eventually dying off.
5. Tuta Absoluta (Tomato Leaf Miner)
Tuta absoluta has emerged as one of the most devastating tomato pests worldwide, with the larvae creating distinctive mines within leaves, stems, and fruits. The pest’s rapid reproduction rate and ability to attack all above-ground parts of the plant make it particularly destructive, with severe infestations capable of causing 80-100% crop loss when left uncontrolled.
6. Root-Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne species)
These microscopic soil-dwelling roundworms attack tomato roots, causing characteristic root galls or “knots” that disrupt water and nutrient uptake. The damage caused by nematodes extends beyond direct root injury, as the wounds they create provide entry points for soil-borne pathogens, leading to compound plant health issues and significant yield reduction.
7. Whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci)
Whiteflies are small, white-winged insects that cluster on the undersides of leaves, feeding on plant sap and excreting honeydew that promotes sooty mold growth. These pests not only cause direct feeding damage but also serve as vectors for several viral diseases, making their control essential for both direct damage prevention and disease management.
8. Aphids (Multiple species)
Aphids are small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on young growth and undersides of leaves, sucking plant sap and causing leaf curling and distortion. These pests excrete honeydew that attracts ants and promotes sooty mold growth, while also serving as vectors for various plant viruses that can devastate tomato crops.
9. Tomato Hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata)
The tomato hornworm is a large, green caterpillar with white stripes and a characteristic horn-like projection on its rear end. These voracious feeders can quickly defoliate tomato plants and damage fruits, with their large size and green coloration making them difficult to spot until significant damage has occurred.
10. Tomato Fruitworm (Helicoverpa zea)
The tomato fruitworm, also known as the corn earworm, is a serious pest that bores directly into tomato fruits. The moths lay eggs on leaves near flower clusters, and upon hatching, the larvae quickly bore into developing fruits, causing extensive damage and promoting fruit rot through secondary infections.
Integrated Pest Management Approach in Tomatoes
An effective pest management strategy combines cultural, biological, and chemical control methods. Regular field monitoring is essential for early detection and intervention. Crop rotation, proper field sanitation, and maintaining healthy plants form the foundation of pest management. When chemical control becomes necessary, a systematic approach using alternating insecticides prevents resistance development.
For chemical control, several effective insecticides are available in the market. These include:
– Occasion Star® 200SC
– Escort® 19EC, Lexus® 247SC
– Kingcode Elite® 50 EC
– Pentagon® 50 EC.
The key to successful chemical control lies in proper timing and alternation of different active ingredients to prevent resistance development.
Disease Management in Tomatoes
There are multiple diseases that affect tomato and impact their productivity. These are some of the diseases:
1. Tomato Blight
Tomato blight, caused by the fungal pathogen Phytophthora infestans, stands as the most serious disease affecting tomato production.
Note: This disease manifests through dry brown lesions that can appear on any part of the plant stems, leaves, and fruits.
The disease progression is particularly aggressive under moist conditions, as fungal spores readily germinate when free moisture is present on plant surfaces.
Control of tomato blight requires an integrated approach. Cultural practices such as proper plant spacing, adequate ventilation, and avoiding overhead irrigation help create unfavorable conditions for disease development. When chemical control becomes necessary, several effective fungicides can be applied in rotation, including:
– Ransom® 600WP
– Gearlock Turbo® 250WP
– Absolute® 375SC
– Trinity Gold® 452WP
– Tower® 720WP
– Fortress Gold® 720WP
– Cadilac® 80%WP.
2. Bacterial Wilt
Bacterial wilt presents a particularly challenging disease to manage as infected plants often show rapid decline and death, especially under favorable weather conditions. The bacterial pathogen attacks the plant’s vascular system, leading to systemic infection and eventual plant collapse.
Prevention is the primary strategy for managing bacterial wilt, with emphasis on using certified disease-free seeds and maintaining field sanitation. Once established in a field, the pathogen can persist in soil for extended periods, making crop rotation essential.
3. Blossom End Rot
Blossom end rot, while technically a physiological disorder rather than a disease, requires careful management to prevent crop losses. This condition manifests as:
Note: A dark, sunken area at the blossom end of the fruit and is primarily caused by calcium deficiency or irregular water supply.
Management focuses on maintaining consistent soil moisture through regular irrigation practices and supplementing with calcium-based products.
Tip: Ferrari gold, a calcium-based foliar fertilizer, has proven particularly effective in preventing and managing this condition.
Tomato Farming in Kenya: Planting Process and Expected Profits Infographic
Tomato Harvesting
Tomato harvesting typically begins around the 70th day after transplanting, though this varies by variety.
Note: Monitor fruit development carefully and harvest when fruits reach the appropriate maturity stage for your market requirements. Proper harvesting technique and timing are crucial for maintaining fruit quality and maximizing yield potential.
Stages of Tomato Ripeness
1. Dark Green Stage (Mature Green)
At this initial harvest stage, fruits show their first transition from dark green to a subtle reddish-pink shade. This stage is particularly important for commercial shipping operations.
Fruits harvested at this stage can be treated with ethylene gas 48 hours before shipping to promote uniform ripening. However, careful selection is crucial, as immature green tomatoes will develop poor color and quality even with ethylene treatment.
2. Breaker Stage
The breaker stage represents a critical transition point where approximately one-quarter of the fruit’s surface shows a distinct pink coloration. This stage is considered optimal for commercial harvesting operations.
Fruits harvested at the breaker stage demonstrate superior shipping tolerance and typically command higher market prices due to their ability to develop full color and flavor during transport and storage.
3. Pink Stage
By this stage, approximately three-quarters of the fruit’s surface displays pink coloration. This represents an intermediate harvest point suitable for shorter distribution chains. The fruits continue to develop flavor while maintaining adequate firmness for handling and short-distance transport.
4. Reddish Pink Stage
At this stage, fruits maintain their firmness while showing reddish-pink coloration across nearly their entire surface. This is the ideal harvest stage for local market distribution, offering an optimal balance between ripeness and handling durability.
Fruits at this stage appeal to consumers while still providing adequate shelf life for local retail operations.
5. Fully Ripe Stage
The final stage presents fully softened fruits with deep red coloration. While these fruits offer peak eating quality, their soft texture makes them primarily suitable for immediate processing or direct consumption.
Processing operations typically prefer this stage as it provides maximum flavor development and color intensity.
Tomato Harvesting Best Practices
Adopt these techniques, to maximize on yields:
1. Timing and Technique
Harvest operations should be conducted during early morning or evening hours to minimize heat stress on both fruits and workers. The proper harvesting technique involves a gentle twisting motion to separate fruits from their stems, avoiding pulling or tearing that could damage both the fruit and plant.
2. Post-Harvest Handling
Immediately after harvesting, fruits should be placed carefully in baskets or crates, never piled or dumped, to prevent bruising and damage. Keep harvested fruits in shaded areas to prevent heat damage and maintain quality. The use of shallow containers prevents excess weight on bottom fruits.
3. Harvest Frequency
Since tomato fruits don’t mature simultaneously on the plant, multiple harvests are necessary throughout the growing season. Typically, fields should be harvested every 4 days, with most crops requiring 7-11 separate harvests over their productive lifetime.
Tomato Yield Expectations
Tomato yields vary significantly based on variety selection and growing conditions. Tomatoes produce 20-25 tons per hectare under good management practices.
Profits from Tomatoes in Kenya Per 1 Acre Piece of Land
| Item | Unit | Quantity | Unit cost | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land preparation | One acres | 1 | 2,500 | 2,500 |
| Seeds | 100 gram | 2 | 400 | 800 |
| Chemicals | 13,500 | |||
| Nursery management | Labour (MD) | 4 | 250 | 1,000 |
| Land preparation, planting and fertilizer application | Labour (MD) | 26 | 250 | 6,500 |
| Weeding (1,2,3) and top dressing | Labour (MD) | 36 | 250 | 9,000 |
| Spraying | Labour (MD) | 6 | 250 | 1,500 |
| Watering (irrigation) | Labour (MD) | 10 | 250 | 2,500 |
| Harvesting and grading | Labour (MD) | 70 | 250 | 17,500 |
| Market preparation | Labour (MD) | 18 | 250 | 4,500 |
| Total variables | 46,700 | |||
| Interest on working capital | Kshs | 0.12 | 46,700 | 5,604 |
| Total gross output | Crate | 400 | 700 | 280,000 |
| Gross margin | 227,696 |
Note: 1 crate contains 25 Kgs of tomato
Factors Affecting Tomato Yield
Several key factors influence final yield:
– Variety selection and genetic potential
– Growing season and environmental conditions
– Management practices and input levels
– Pest and disease pressure
– Irrigation management
– Soil fertility and nutrition programs
– Harvest timing and efficiency
Good Luck Farming Tomatoes!
Tomato farming in Kenya has significant opportunities for growth balanced against persistent challenges. The sector’s ability to adapt and innovate in the face of these challenges demonstrates its resilience and potential for continued development. With proper support and strategic interventions, tomato farming can continue to play a vital role in Kenya’s agricultural sector, contributing to food security, economic growth, and rural development.
The success stories of many Kenyan tomato farmers show that with proper management practices, adequate support, and market access, tomato farming can be a highly profitable enterprise. As the sector continues to evolve, maintaining a balance between productivity, sustainability, and profitability will be key to ensuring its long-term viability and contribution to Kenya’s agricultural development.
