Tomatoes Farming Kenya | Veg Farms Kenya

Tips to Tomatoes Farming in Kenya

Tomatoes Farming Kenya is one of the most common and lucrative vegetable farming endeavors. Kenyan farmers grow tomatoes, which is sold in the neighborhood market. If you want to create a successful Tomatoes Farming business in Kenya, Tomatoes cultivation in Kenya may be your best alternative. 

In this blog post, we'll give tips on how to start a successful “Tomatoes farming Kenya”. “Tomatoes yield per acre in Kenya”, “Tomatoes price per kg in Kenya”, “Tomatoes market in Kenya”, “Tomatoes seeds in Kenya”, “Tomatoes spacing in cm” and “Tomatoes Cost of Production”

Table of Contents

•  Tomatoes Farming in Kenya
• Tomatoes Plant Types
• Varieties of Tomatoes Grown in Kenya
• Ecological Requirements for Growing Tomatoes
• Tomatoes Crop Care and Management
• Harvesting Tomatoes in Kenya.
• F.A.Q

Tomatoes Plant Types

Plants can either be indeterminate, which produces a continually growing single stem when side shoots are cut, or determinate, which develops a flower cluster and a bush-like structure.

Determinate Tomatoes

Determinate tomatoes plants typically grow earlier because, once blooms are formed, they focus all of their energy on filling and producing a consistent crop. Where there is just one crop grown and seasons are short, they are utilized more frequently. They are bushy in nature and have a short main stem, making them perfect for field growing of fresh tomatoes and automated harvesting of processed commodities.

Indeterminate Tomatoes

The flowering of indeterminate tomatoes plants never stops. If maintained well with good agricultural practices, such a tomatoes crop can make greater use of an extended season. After nine to ten months, they can reach heights of over ten meters, making them excellent for greenhouse tomatoes production in Kenya.

Varieties of Tomatoes Grown in Kenya

The types of tomatoes grown in Kenya are those that cease growing when the tomato fruit begins to appear on the top bud (determinate variety). Determined varieties typically reach a height of 80 to 100 centimeters, and because of their sturdy stems, they don't require propping.

The determinate varieties include

Rio Grande Tomatoes in Kenya

A deep red color tomatoes and delicious flavor

Type: Determinate

Maturity Days: Between 75 and 85 days to mature

Yield potential: Can produce more than 15 tons per acre

Resistances / Tolerances: Verticillium and Fusarium wilt tolerance

Kilele f1 Tomatoes in Kenya

Elongated tomatoes fruit, they have 21 days shelve life hence giving ample time for market search and Good for drier and humid areas

Type: Determinate

Maturity Days: Matures 75 days -85 days after transplanting

Yield potential: Yielding up to 35tonnes per acre

Resistances / Tolerances: Tolerant to yellow leaf curl

Assila f1 Tomatoes in Kenya

Red and sweet tomatoes, Oval in shape tomatoes

Type: Determinate

Maturity Days: Early maturity of 75 days

Yield potential: Yielding up to 21tonnes per acre

Resistances / Tolerances: Resistant to yellow leaf curl and nematodes

Hard membrane hence can be easily transported with minimum damage.

Cal j Tomatoes in Kenya

Cal J is a compact and determinate open pollinated tomato variety suitable for processing and Very firm smooth, intense red color with excellent flavor.

Type: Determinate

Maturity Days: Takes between 75 -85 days after transplanting

Yield potential: 15,000 – 20,000 kg/acre

Resistances / Tolerances: It is resistant to Verticillium and Fusarium.

Spacing: 35 cm x 100 cm.

Seed rate: 400 grams per acre with direct seeding or 80-100g for transplant

Eden f1 Tomatoes in Kenya

Bears Fruits of deep red blocky oval tomatoes with thick skin often weigh 150g.

If the fruits are harvested at the color break fruit stage, they have a 21-day shelf life.

Type: Determinate

Maturity Days: 70-75 days from transplanting.

Yield potential: Yielding to 50000kgs tomatoes per acre,

Resistances / Tolerances: Verticilium wilt, Fusarium wilt, Tomato mosaic virus, Alternaria stem canker, Grey leaf spot, and Nematodes.

Harvest window -90 days under good management

Rambo f1 Tomatoes in Kenya

Rambo F1 is an excellent determinate and hybrid tomato produced by Royal Seeds Company. It is with perfect oval shape and wilt tolerant variety.

Type: Determinate

Maturity Days: 75 days from transplanting

Fruit weight: 150 grams

Yield potential: 30 tons per acre

Resistances / Tolerances: High bacterial wilt tolerant, Fusarium Wilt, Verticillium Wilt, Bacterial Spot, Nematode

The indeterminate varieties include

Anna f1 Tomatoes in Kenya

It is a fresh market cultivar that performs admirably in greenhouses but is also capable of performing admirably in open fields. The fruit is oval-shaped, firm, and deep crimson in color. 

Type: Indeterminate

Maturity Days: Matures in 75 days

Yield potential: Yield up to 73tonnes per acre with average of above 30kgs per plant

Resistances / Tolerances: excellent tolerance to nematodes, Verticillium, Fusarium wilt, and Alternaria stem canker

Prostar f1Tomatoes in Kenya

Prostar f1Tomatoes in Kenya is the highest yielding tomato variety compared to others tomatoes varieties. It requires a space between each other of 60cm to 45 cm. Ideal climate for growing this variety should be warm weather.

Type: Indeterminate

Maturity Days: Takes 80-85 days to mature after transplanting.

Yield potential: Yields up to 180tonnes per acre

Resistances / Tolerances: Tolerant to bacterial wilt and leaf curl virus

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Ecological Requirements for Growing Tomatoes

Soil; Well drained loam soils with a pH of 6- 7.5.

Temperature; Moderate to hot temperature.

Rainfall; Low or moderate rainfall.

Tomatoes Crop Care and Management

Nursery Establishment and Management; Tomatoes Farming in Kenya

A nursery bed dimensions are 1 m long by 10–15 cm drill. For small seeded vegetables, the drills should be 3–4 cm deep to promote quick and even germination.

It's crucial to utilize fine, well-composted manure (from goats, cows, and pigs) mixed properly with the soil to improve early, and vigorous seedlings.

Veg farms Note: Due to the extremely high quantities of nitrogen in chicken manure that can prevent good root growth and establishment, it is not advised to use it in nurseries. The top dressing step is the perfect time to utilize chicken manure.

It is advised to tomatoes grow seedlings in the nursery bed for 3–4 weeks before transferring them to the main field when they are pencil-thick.

Note: Transplanting tomatoes seedlings into smaller poly bags two weeks after germination and then onto the main field two to four weeks later can significantly lessen the transplanting shock and speed up establishment in the main field.

Apply insecticides (Actara) to the nursery bed to ward off early plant attacks from sucking and soil-eating pests.

Early to mid-morning watering is advised for tomato plants in the nursery, but not at night. Watering in the evening promotes phythium activity, which results in dumping off.

Land Preparation in Tomatoes Growing in Kenya.

Although it is known that tomatoes can grow in a variety of soil types, for the best production they should be planted in deep soils that will allow for strong root penetration. Since they take up a lot of nutrients from the soil, tomatoes need to be replenished on a regular basis by adding manure or fertilizer, but in the proper amounts based on their needs and the soil's deficiency.

Note: To help identify elements in shortage, confirm soil nutrient levels by soil analysis.

Transplanting stage

It is typically advised to perform tomatoes transplants in the early morning or late afternoon when the sun is not as intense. As a result of the seedlings' evapotranspiration, this helps to lessen transplanting shock.

In a hole where the tomatoes young plant is planted, it's crucial to have well-composted manure mixed with a compound fertilizer, especially with enough phosphorus. This aids in the tomatoes production and establishment of roots more quickly, hastening tomatoes plant growth and preventing potential recurrent gapping.

Spacing of Tomatoes

Standard spacing usually vary with the growing system and the variety;

Determinate (bush) varieties: 60 x 60cmfor staked culture growing and 90 x 60cm for on-ground growing

Indeterminate: 60 X45cm for staked or under support growing

Apply an Actara insecticide to seedlings while they are being transplanted to stop aphid, whitefly, thrip, and cut worm attacks before they ever begin.

Tomatoes Spray Programme

Week 1-4

On days 7 and 14, spray Redomil Gold, and on days 14 and 28, top dress with 50gms of urea. Because of this will accelerated tomatoes development and larger leaves, This means there is a larger surface area available for photosynthesis.

Week 5-8

Spray dynamic 10ml/20l plus sticker along with thunder 10ml or belt 4ml in 20l of water once a week to manage aphids, thrips, whiteflies, leaf miners, bollworms, and Tuta-absoluta. Neem extract, along with ginger, garlic, red pepper, and fermented cow urine (100ml in 20L of water), can be sprayed on crops by organic farmers to suppress pests.

Spray contact fungicides like Redomil Gold 50gm, Milor 50gm, or Milraz 40ml along with systematic fungicides like 20ml of Score plus sticker in 20L of water to prevent early and late blight/tuber blight, Powdery mildew, leaf spots, and Botrytis till the end of the harvest. Because treating fungus diseases is expensive, Veg Farms advises preventing tomatoes by spraying before any symptoms appear.

Tomatoes Fertilizer Application Programme

Fertilizer requirement: Transplanting stage

When planting tomatoes in Kenya, use basal fertilizer rich in phosphorous, such as N: P: K at 10gms per hole as a general application, or utilize manure to enhance the soil with nutrients.

Top Dressing

It is advised to top dress the tomatoes plants with fertilizer containing nitrogen, such as CAN or an equivalent, at a general rate of 10 gms per plant, 2-3 weeks after transplanting, and then with N.P.K fertilizer, such as 17:17:17, at a rate of 5 to 10 gms per tomato plant, depending on the soil fertility levels, after 2 to 3 weeks from the first top dress. 

Fruit formation is aided by this. Boom Flower-style foliar fertilizer spraying is a complete waste of money because tomatoes flowering is primarily regulated by hormones rather than nutrients. As a general rule, a spilt top dressing of N:P:K should be applied after every three weeks to long cycle growing tomatoes varieties in the greenhouse or in the open field, especially indeterminate kinds, to ensure ongoing production of high-quality marketable yields.

Foliar Fertilizer

Foliar fertilizers can be used in addition to soil-applied fertilizer, particularly at times when the tomatoes crop is under stress, such as when it's hot outside or when there are heavy downpours that prevent proper nitrogen uptake through the roots.

Spray Calmax, a calcium-based foliar feed, after every two weeks with a suitable weeding to make sure the plant can easily absorb calcium and water to avoid blossom end rot. Spray Omex foliar, which contains boron, at the beginning of flowering with a two-week gap to prevent flower abortion.

Tomatoes Pruning

In order to increase the tomatoes leaf-fruit ratio and boost sunshine penetration, which speeds up ripening and provides an unfavorable habitat for pests like aphids and thrips, this is the removal of dead, old, and superfluous leaves or stems from a plant. Make sure to clip all of the tomatoes leaves below the plant as you harvest above it.

Strong and large-sized tomatoes can be produced with proper pruning. Both tomatoes grown outdoors and in greenhouses are trimmed.

Tomatoes De-suckering

Only undesired suckers in greenhouse tomatoes should be removed in this manner. Only one or two stems should be allowed per tomato plant to reduce fruit size variation and eliminate food competition.

After pruning and de-suckering each tomato plant, make sure your scissors have been cleaned with a disinfectant to stop the spread of illness.

Stacking Tomatoes Plants

While costly, staking helps determinate tomatoes and indeterminate tomatoes crops optimize quality potential and production.

Lower tomatoes leaves on the mature plant will inevitably start to wilt and become yellow. Pull these from the tomatoes plant as soon as they appear; they are entirely normal. It will help fend off disease and keep the tomatoes plant healthy and attractive.

To “growing tomatoes in a greenhouse”, attach a barbed wire 2 or 2.5 meters above the tomato plants, place a peg at the base of each plant, and tie a nylon string loosely between the peg and the barbed wire. The tomatoes should then be staked around the string.

To avoid straining the tomato plant as it grows and obstructing the easy flow of water and nutrients, avoid tying the string directly at the foot of the tomato plant. This will result in a slow rate of growth, little fruits, wilting, or even death for the tomato plant. 

When the tomatoes reach the barbed wire, gently lower them so that the clipped portion is on the ground to encourage upward growth rather than downward growth, which frequently results in crop destruction.

Veg Farms Tips; In order to support the projecting suckers on outdoor tomato plants and prevent the fruits from rotting from contact with the soil and shattering the harvests due to overpowering, we frequently employ two or more 1 m sticks. The maximum height that these tomatoes can reach is 1 m.

Watering in Tomatoes Farming in Kenya

Throughout their growing season, tomatoes require a continual supply of moisture. In the field, tomatoes need between 2000 and 6600 m3/ha of water each season to yield a high-yielding crop. Each plant in the greenhouse consumes about 1-2 liters of water per day, which equates to about 10,000 m3/ha annually.

However, too much water will result in anaerobic soil conditions and root mortality, as well as delayed, less abundant flowering and fruit set. After the tomatoes fruit has set, too much water causes many fruit problems, most notably cracking.

Low moisture stress has a negative impact on tomatoes flowering as well. Low water uptake causes low calcium uptake and distribution, which in turn causes blossom end rot (BER), which also becomes a concern.

To maximize the amount of dry matter in the tomatoes fruit and reduce soil compaction during harvest, tomato processing crops typically stop receiving irrigation 2-4 weeks before harvest. Pruning

Side shoots, aged leaves, sick leaves, and laterals should all be pruned. To get rid of side shoots before they grow, do this every week. Suckers that appear at the junction of two branches should be removed. These suckers never produce tomatoes fruit; instead, they drain the plant's energy. 

This can also be done on the other plant components, but take care not to remove any portions that are useful.

Weeding in Tomatoes Farming in Kenya.

Weeds compete with tomatoes crop plants for water, nutrients, space, and light, hence weeding is important. Farmers use a variety of techniques to get rid of weeds and limit their growth. Before planting tomatoes crops, tilling aids in uprooting and eliminating weeds, which could otherwise dry up and combine with the soil.

Tomato Pests and Diseases

For many tomatoes farmers in Kenya, bacterial wilt is a significant challenge. It is important to state unequivocally that no tomato variety possesses resistance. They have tolerance, that's all. Simply said, tolerance is the capacity to bear or endure the effects of the illness. 

It will still be impacted, but the extent of the harm will depend on the level of tolerance. No one should tell you that using nematicides will help because there is no treatment for it.

This has a worse impact. The sole remedy is to do a soil test prior to planting to see whether the soil contains wilt-causing bacteria. There is yet hope, but it will cost you. This is how to grow tomatoes in greenhouses in Kenya that have bacterial wilt.

Below is a list of the various pests and illnesses that can affect tomato crops.

Major Tomato Diseases	Major Tomato Pests
Damping-off	African Bollworm
Late Blight	Red Spider Mites
Early Blight	Tobacco Whitefly
Bacterial Wilt	Root-knot Nematode
Tomato Mosaic	Thrips
Blossom-end Rot	Tuta absoluta
Fusarium Wilt

Other challenges

Flower abortion is caused by the following conditions;

1. Irregular watering/inadequate water.

2. Thrips infestation

3. Blight

4. Boron deficiency

5. Conc. Fungicidal spray especially those with mancozeb and methalaxyl as their AI.

Harvesting Tomatoes in Kenya.

Tomatoes can be harvested 70 days after sowing. Additionally, it varies on the breed grown. While some types mature more quickly than others, some take longer.

For determinate types produced in more northern latitudes, maturity periods range from from 60 to 70 days to more than 95 days when a longer, single season harvest period is adopted.

Total Yields of Tomatoes in One Acre

The average tomatoes yields depend on the variety. spacing, soil characteristics, water availability etc.

The table below of Total yields of tomatoes in one acre

Select Varieties	Maturity Period (days)	Yields (Kgs/Acre)
Kilele F1	75	30,000-35000
Cal J	75-85	11,000-13000
Rio Grande	75-85	18,000
Eden F1	75	40,000-50,000
Rambo F1	75	30,000
Assila F1	75	23,000
Fortune Maker F1	70-75	30,000-35,000

Market for Tomatoes in Kenya

There is a huge market for tomatoes in this Kenya. You'll always have a market for your produce if you're a farmer.

Tomatoes can be supplied to supermarkets, establishments including schools, hotels, and restaurants, as well as local open-air markets and grocery stores.

Depending on the size of the tomato, the local price for one tomato ranges from Ksh 5 to Ksh 10. A kilogram costs Ksh 50.

Cost of Production in Tomatoes Farming in Kenya.

We all farm for financial gain. Our main objective at Veg Farms Kenya is to empower farmers so they may profit from their farming endeavors. The majority of our customers have been asking for information on Kenyan tomato farming costs. 

In this table, Veg Farms will examine the cost of production tomato farming industry. Additionally, it's important to emphasize that with farming, anything is possible, even a 100% loss or profit.

The table below of Cost of Production in Tomatoes Farming in Kenya.

ITEM/TASK	ITEM QUANTITY	TOTAL COST (Ksh.)
Leasing	Land 1 Acre	3,333.33
INPUTS
Fertilizer	D.A.P 200kg	14,000.00
	N.P.K 200kg	14,000.00
	C.A.N 200kg	14,000.00
Chemicals	Score 1Litre	920.00
	Redomil Gold 1kg	900.00
	Thunder 1Litre	6,000.00
	Dynamic 1Litre	1,200.00
	Calmax 5Litres	3,500.00
	Omex 2.5Litres	3,000.00
Farm Yard Manure	Manure 8 Tones	4,800.00
	Transport	5,000.00
Stakes	Stakes 11,0000 Pcs	22,000.00
	Transport	4,000.00
Capital Investment
2” High Pressure Pump	1pc	15,000.00
2” Pvc Pipes + Connections	20pcs	30,000.00
Harvesting Crates	6pcs	3,600.00
Labor
Ploughing	–	6,000.00
Planting	–	6,000.00
Weeding	2 Times	10,000.00
Fertilizer Application	–	2,000.00
Chemical Application	–	5,000.00
Staking And Pruning	–	4,000.00
Irrigation	–	10,000.00
Fuel	–	10,000.00
Transport	–	10,000.00
Consultancy	–	45,000.00
Other Costs	–	15,000.00
= 268,253.33 = ±50,000.00

Tomatoes Farming in Kenya Profits

The figure can be more than or even less than the figure. This is due to;

• The capital investments are there or not?
• Is land leased or not?
• Source of water and are there pandemics like hailstones, flooding or even landslides
• Availability of manure
• Are seedlings raised at the farm or outsourced?

Profit;

To calculate profit Veg farms take the worst case scenario on dry and rainy seasons

Each tomato plant bears maximum 4kg

The maximum farm gate price is Ksh 10.00 per Kg

Now;

Total Harvest =11,000 Plants × 4kg = 44,000 Kgs

Revenue = 44,000kgs × Ksh 10.00 = Ksh 440,000.00

Profit = Total Revenue-Total Cost

=Ksh 440,000.00- Ksh 268,253.33= Ksh 181,746.67 ±50,000.00

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F.A.Q

What is the highest yielding tomato variety in Kenya?

Prostar f1Tomatoes in Kenya is the highest yielding tomato variety compared to others tomatoes varieties. Yield potential: Yields up to 180tonnes per acre

How many kilograms of tomatoes per acre in Kenya?

Kilele F1 Maturity 75 Yield 30,000-35000 Cal J 75 -Maturity 85 Yield 11,000-13000 Rio Grande Maturity 75-85 Yield 18,000 Eden F1 Maturity 75 Yield 40,000-50,000 Rambo F1 Maturity 75 Yield 30,000 Assila F1 Maturity 75 Yield 23,000 Fortune Maker F1 Maturity 70-75 Yield 30,000-35,000

What is the best tomatoes grow in Kenya?

Kilele f1 Tomatoes in Kenya Elongated tomatoes fruit, they have 21 days shelve life hence giving ample time for market search and Good for drier and humid areas Type: Determinate Maturity Days: Matures 75 days -85 days after transplanting Yield potential: Yielding up to 35tonnes per acre Resistances / Tolerances: Tolerant to yellow leaf curl