Soil PH Explained For Veg Gardens.
Every soil has a pH level,imagine it is scales,the middle of the scale being pH 6.5 which is the average or most common soil normally associated with a loam or clay loam soil.At one end of the scale is acid soil this will be a peaty or sandy soil with a soil pH from 5.0 to 5.5 and at the other end of the scale an alkaline soil this will be chalky soil with a soil pH of 6.80 to 7.
Different crops are suited or adapted to grow in different soil pH cabbage need a higher soil pH more alkaline and asparagus need a lower more acid soil to grow well.You must manage you soil starting each year with a soil pH test.
If you find your soils pH is to low i.e acid to grow the crops you wish then you can add lime or spent mushroom compost that includes lime in the form of chalk or if you soil has a pH that’s to high i.e alkaline then you can add farm yard manure and ammonium based fertilizers to lower the pH.
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