Tomato farming

Crop overview

Tomato is one of Kenya's most popular vegetables, eaten fresh and cooked every day. Growers choose between determinate varieties, which grow to a set size, and indeterminate varieties, which keep growing and need staking or trellising.

Importance of the crop

Tomatoes are in steady demand, which makes them attractive commercially. They are also demanding crops that need careful management of water, pests and diseases, so planning and record keeping matter.

Suitable climate

Tomatoes grow best with plenty of sunshine and moderate temperatures. Very cold, very hot or very wet spells reduce flowering and fruit set and increase disease. Greenhouses and tunnels are popular because they protect the crop from rain and reduce blight. See greenhouse farming.

Verify locally: figures, varieties and product choices differ by altitude, season and variety. Confirm with your county agricultural extension officer or KALRO before acting.

Soil requirements

Choose deep, well-drained, fertile loam with plenty of organic matter. Avoid fields where tomatoes, potatoes, chillies or capsicum grew recently, and fields with a history of bacterial wilt. A soil test and pH check are worthwhile.

Land preparation

Plough or dig deeply and make a fine seedbed. Add well-decomposed manure or compost. Mark rows, and use raised beds where drainage is poor. If you will use stakes or a trellis, prepare the materials before transplanting.

Seed and seedling selection

Choose a variety suited to your market (fresh or processing), your system (open field or greenhouse) and disease risks. Buy certified seed or seedlings from a reputable, registered source, and ask about tolerance to wilt, blight and nematodes.

Verify locally: figures, varieties and product choices differ by altitude, season and variety. Confirm with your county agricultural extension officer or KALRO before acting.

Nursery management

Sow in trays or a raised nursery bed with clean, well-drained soil or mix. Keep seedlings moist and lightly shaded, watch for damping-off, and harden them off before transplanting. Healthy, disease-free seedlings are the foundation of the crop. See our nursery guide.

Transplanting

Transplant healthy seedlings in the evening or on a cloudy day into moist soil, plant firmly and water immediately. Support indeterminate varieties early with stakes or strings.

Spacing

Spacing depends on the variety, whether plants are staked, and your growing system. Follow the seed supplier's recommendation. Good spacing lets air move through the crop, which lowers disease.

Verify locally: figures, varieties and product choices differ by altitude, season and variety. Confirm with your county agricultural extension officer or KALRO before acting.

Fertilizer and manure

Tomatoes feed heavily. Use well-decomposed manure or compost plus fertilizers guided by soil tests and your extension officer. Uneven watering and calcium shortage are linked to blossom-end rot (a dark patch at the fruit base), so water consistently. See organic manure.

Verify locally: figures, varieties and product choices differ by altitude, season and variety. Confirm with your county agricultural extension officer or KALRO before acting.

Irrigation

Provide regular, even watering. Drip irrigation is ideal because it keeps leaves dry and cuts disease. Swings between dry and very wet soil can cause fruit cracking and blossom-end rot. Mulch to hold moisture.

Weed management

Weed early and often, and mulch between rows. Take care not to damage shallow roots. Keep field edges clean because weeds hide pests and diseases.

Pest management

Key pests include tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta), whiteflies, aphids, fruit worms (bollworm) and red spider mites, plus root-knot nematodes in the soil. Scout weekly, remove damaged leaves and use traps where available. If spraying is needed, use only registered products and follow label instructions and harvest intervals.

Verify locally: figures, varieties and product choices differ by altitude, season and variety. Confirm with your county agricultural extension officer or KALRO before acting.

Disease management

Major problems are early and late blight, bacterial wilt, bacterial spot and virus diseases. Reduce risk with rotation, clean seedlings, good spacing, pruning for air flow, drip irrigation and removing infected plants. Blight spreads fast in wet weather, so act early and get advice quickly.

Verify locally: figures, varieties and product choices differ by altitude, season and variety. Confirm with your county agricultural extension officer or KALRO before acting.

Common problems and solutions

Harvesting

Pick when fruits reach the colour your market wants: usually at the breaker stage (first colour change) for transport, or fully red for nearby sale. Harvest regularly by hand and handle gently to avoid bruising.

Post-harvest handling

Harvest in the cool morning, keep fruit shaded and sort by size and quality. Use clean, strong, ventilated crates instead of heavy sacks, which crush fruit. Do not pile crates too high, and take produce to market quickly.

Expected production

Yields vary widely with variety, management, altitude and season, so we do not quote a figure here. Keep your own records each season to learn what your land really produces, and ask your extension officer for realistic local figures.

Verify locally: figures, varieties and product choices differ by altitude, season and variety. Confirm with your county agricultural extension officer or KALRO before acting.

Marketing

Tomato prices change often with supply. Know your buyers and plan harvest timing; staggered planting spreads supply. Grading, clean packaging and reliability raise prices. Consider direct sales to hotels, restaurants and supermarkets.

Frequently asked questions