Monday, May 11, 2009

Acid or Alkaline?

Admittedly I am a little confused regarding plants and their soil needs.


I'm hoping someone can shed some light on acid loving vs. alkaline loving plants.


Are there any general rules of thumb?


I'd like to grow the following.


tomatoes, stringbeans, cabbage and maybe some other leafy vegetables. Are these acid or alkaline?


Also, in the flower garden, the annual variety, pansies, hollyhocks, datura, love lies bleeding, etc, are these acid lovers or are they alkaline.


Your knowledge is appreciated, thank you.

Acid or Alkaline?
the appropriate range for almost all plants is slightly acid - pH 5.5 to 6.5 or so. Very few can tolerate a pH past 8, which is fairly alkaline. I think most of the plants you've mentioned fall within the 5.5 to 6.5 range.





Also, most soils are generally slightly acidic - if you're told a soil is alkaline, I've found that that generally means it's just LESS acid than a regular soil.





The serious acid-loving plants are the ones already mentioned, plus a few others such as blueberries and holly. If you wikipedia a plant's latin name, and it says it's in the "Ericaceae family" it's a guaranteed acid lover - pH as low as 3.0 for some, up to 5.0.





And watch out for those datura. thay can seed heavily, and they're VERY poisonous.
Reply:Unless it's a plant that's really known for being acid-loving or that prefers being in alkaline soil, I'd stick with trying to keep your plants in neutral soil. Most vegetable plants fall into this category.





The primary plants that come to mind off-hand that like acidic soil are things like azaleas, rhododendrons, and gardenias. Conversely, hydrangeas can be in either, and change color depending on the pH of the soil (pink in alkaline soils, and blue in acidic soils). Most other plants will be fine in a neutral soil.
Reply:www.taoherbfarm.com/herbs/resources/acid...





www.sunset.com/sunset/garden/article/0...





bachmans.com/tipsheets/.../PlantsforAc...
Reply:Do a soil test, fertilize and make proper soil amendments and any of those plants listed should do fine. The flowers you list do exceptionally well in my alkaline North Dakota soil. RScott


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