Crop guide · Solanum lycopersicum
Tomato: what to measure and why
Tomatoes are Kenya’s most widely grown greenhouse crop and a mainstay in the open field. Like capsicum, they reward steady water and punish heat and humidity swings.
Also known as Nyanya
Growing conditions
The ranges tomato cares about
General agronomic ranges. A soil test and your agronomist decide the final numbers for your variety and site.
| Factor | Range | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Day air temperature | 21–27 °C | Best fruit set |
| Night air temperature | 15–20 °C | Warm nights reduce set |
| Heat stress | above ~32 °C | Pollen fails and flowers drop |
| Relative humidity | avoid long periods above ~85 % | Leaf mould, grey mould and blight pressure |
| Soil pH | 6.0–6.8 | Typical target range |
| Salinity tolerance | moderate (~2.5 dS/m) | Yield begins to fall above this |
Risks
Where tomato loses yield
Blossom end rot and cracking
Both follow irregular watering. Consistent root-zone moisture is the fix.
Late blight
Cool, wet, humid spells drive blight. Humidity and leaf-wetness records tell you when protection matters.
Heat
Midday greenhouse heat costs set; staged ventilation keeps it in range.
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