I love my acid loving Rhododendrons, Azaleas and many other ericaeous plants. So no wonder I have a ‘kit’ to test my soil for the level of alkalinity or acidity. Having said that I think it is a waste of time and money in the majority of cases. I now try to use commonsense instead.
Prized plants get appropriate compost and dare I say it ‘Peat treats’. Peat goes in any planting hole and is worked in around as a mulch. Feed and fertiliser is often chosen because it has been formulated for ericaeous plants. The acidity of the soil is not a fertilizer in itself but is a conduit that allows the plant to use what food is available too much lime locks food into the soil and plants will suffer.
I try to avoid making matters worse so no lime in the garden where my best Rhodos live. Blueberries are failing in my Fruitery because they can’t get nutrient out of the soil. So it is my intention to pot them up into good pots with better ericaeous compost.
I spread some lime on the area where I will be growing brassicas as they perform much better in a slightly alkaline soil.
pH soil levels start from 1 to 14 from pure acid to pure alkali. Normal levels for soil are around 6.4 to 7.1. More acidic soil would be 5.3 to 6.5. Alkaline soil would be from 7.2 to 7.6.
Soil can leach out the soluble acids or alkalies to move to neutral conditions unless the surrounding geological conditions dictate.
If you still intend pH testing you can buy chemical tests or a meter similar to that below
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Towards the end of June, I received some seeds from Dobies to trial. I chose varieties that could be sown later in the year, but at the point at which they arrived I didn’t have a garden. The paving was finished, but the raised beds weren’t yet built. I chose to sow only the nasturtiums – Princess of India and Alaska.
This is a really fun video (12:24 long) from Adam Savage’s Tested series, in which a chef tries to help astronauts on the ISS eat nicer meals by combining foods they already have in stock. Chris Hadfield is their astronaut guinea pig, and demonstrates very effectively why it’s so hard to prepare meals in space!
While I have been writing The Peat-Free Diet I have also been conducting some small experiments on the side. One of those was on seed germination and seedling development in different growing mediums. It was time to sow some more seeds for plants later in the year, so I sowed two identical batches of seeds – one in 100% coir compost with no additives and one in a 50/50 mix (by volume) of coir compost and vermiculite.
It’s common to hear Americans talk about their exciting experiences at Space Camp. It’s not often that students in the UK get to work with astronauts on a space experiment, but that’s exactly what’s on offer next summer at Mission Discovery – King’s College London 2023.
A strong, comfortable and reliable pair of wellington boots is essential for every gardener, whatever the time of year. Whether you’re looking for the best wellies for walking, digging or weeding, we’ve tried and tested a range of styles to bring you clear advice on the best wellington boots for you.
Join us for an exclusive conversation with the nation’s head gardener, Monty Don, recorded at BBC Gardeners’ World Live. Hosted by presenter and broadcaster, Nicki Chapman, the live audience listened in as Monty gives behind-the-scenes insight into filming Gardeners’ World TV. You can buy tickets for the next live show, BBC Gardeners’ World Autumn Fair here.
There’s nothing like a tall,green hedge to create a little real estate intrigue, and the best neighborhoods in Santa Barbara are lined with them. The coastal California community is known as one of the country’s favorite beachside retreats, and for its many homes that look as though they were plucked straight from a storybook—if you’re lucky enough to catch a glimpse through thick green foliage.