When I first started gardening I tossed seeds in the soil and hoped they would grow. Over the years I’ve grown a bit more scientific and have added a pH testing kit to my set of tools.
The pH scale measures how acidic or basic something is. Seven is neutral–numbers less than seven are acidic while numbers greater are basic. An acidic soil is common in areas with high rainfall and is called sour while a basic soil is common in dry areas and is called sweet.
So why does this matter to gardeners?
– Many plants and soil life prefer either acidic or basic conditions
– Diseases affecting plants tend to thrive in soil with a certain pH range
– The pH can affect the availability of nutrients in the soil.
Plants generally get maximum benefit from nutrients in the soil when the pH is between 5.5 and 7. The majority of food crops prefer a neutral or slightly acidic soil (pH 7). If a soil is too acidic you can add ground limestone. This replaces calcium and magnesium washed away by rain. Amending the soil with compost to help the soil resist a change in the pH is also helpful.
For more information on pH testing click here.
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