Tomatoes are known for their health benefits, especially in the brain, heart, and gut health. These vegetables are commonly used to add a sweet but sour flavour to meals. When it comes to planting these nutritious fruits, timing is everything. Every farmer should know the best months to tap into tomato cultivation for a higher yield. So, which is the best month to plant tomatoes in Kenya?
Tomato farming in Kenya is mainly done by small-scale farmers. It is one of the key sources of income for many households. However, most farmers who venture into tomato cultivation fail to employ the correct timing, resulting in losses.
Which is the best month to plant tomatoes in Kenya?
The best time to plant tomatoes in Kenya is during the onset of the rainy seasons. Usually, the short rains occur from October to December, while the long rains occur from March to May. However, practising irrigation in dry areas is recommended throughout the year.
How long do tomatoes take to mature in Kenya?
Depending on the variety of tomatoes you plant, they will be ready for harvest after 70 days of planting. To know if the fruits are mature, they will turn red and firm to the touch.
Which are the tomato growing areas in Kenya?
Tomatoes are mostly grown in Makueni, Narok County, Kajiado County, Laikipia, lower Kirinyaga and Southern Embu. In Kenya, Kirinyaga County is the largest producer of tomatoes.
What are the varieties of tomatoes grown in Kenya?
Below is an overview of the different tomato varieties grown in Kenya and their unique characteristics.
| Variety | Characteristics |
| Rio Grande | Its plant is slightly bushy and can be staked or left unstaked. |
| Roma tomato | Has a thicker fruit wall, fewer seeds and a denser but more grainy flesh. |
| Assila F1 | Produces oval-shaped red and heavy sweet fruits. |
| Cal J | Produces red blocky shaped fruits. |
| Kilele F1 | Kilele F1 is firm and elongated with a shelf life of 21 days. |
| Plum tomato | This is grown for sauce and packing purposes. |
| Anna F1 | This is an ideal greenhouse tomato. |
| Cherry tomato | This is a type of small round tomato with red, yellow, green, and black colours. |
| Rambo F1 | Bears uniformly set and firm fruits. |
| Tylka F1 | Has a good taste without a bitter after taste. |
| Marglobe | Marglobe is a good choice for canning and sauce-making. |
| Eden F1 | Has an excellent tolerance to Alternaria canker, nematodes and bacterial speck. |
Which diseases affect tomatoes in Kenya?
As a farmer, you need to know the diseases you will likely encounter to protect your crops against them. Below are some of these diseases.
1. Bacterial wilt
This disease causes rapid wilting and death of plants without yellowing or leaf spotting. You can quickly diagnose this by suspending a clean, cut section of diseased stem in clear water.
2. Early blight
Early blight is first observed on the plants as small, brown lesions, mainly on the older foliage. You can manage this by using crop rotation to eradicate the weeds. Additionally, space the plants and avoid wetting tomato foliage with irrigation water.
3. Septoria leaf spot
This disease usually infects the lower leaves near the ground after plants begin to set fruit. Proper sanitation and removal of crop debris will reduce the infection. Furthermore, repeated fungicide applications will help keep the disease in check.
4. Leaf mold
The initial symptoms of this disease are pale green or yellowish spots on the upper leaf surface that enlarge and turn distinctive yellow. You can easily solve this by staking and pruning to increase air circulation.
5. Fusarium wilt
This is a warm-weather disease caused by the fungus Fusarium oxysporum. The first indication in small plants is drooping and wilting of lower leaves, with a loss of green colour followed by wilting and death of the plant. To control it, grow plants in pathogen-free soil and use disease-free transplants.
Other diseases that might attack your tomatoes include anthracnose, fusarium wilt, blossom end rot, and buckeye rot.
Which month is best for tomato plants?
The best months to plant tomatoes are during the long rainy seasons from March to May, and during the short rainy seasons from October to December.
Which is the best month to sell tomatoes in Kenya?
According to Farmers Trend, the peak season for tomatoes is from December to March. However, prices tend to fall in the low season, from April to September.
How long before a tomato plant produces fruit?
According to The Spruce, a tomato plant typically starts producing fruit 60 to 100 days from germination to harvest. However, the timing can vary depending on the tomato variety and growing conditions.
Which is the best month to plant tomatoes in Kenya? As seen above, the best months to plant tomatoes in Kenya are during the long rainy seasons from March to May, and the short rainy seasons from October to December. With the information provided, you can now effectively time your tomato planting to achieve your desired yield.
[…] can be grown in areas with high or low rainfall. The best months to start planting in areas with high rainfall is from April to September, while in areas with low […]