26-04-2004, 11:04 PM
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veg garden ph
(Stew Corman) wrote in message om...
I had seen several posts long time ago about the benefits of using
fireplace ash blended into the vegetable garden as a means of
providing many minerals...we burn oak primarily. A recent search shows
that most plants like scallion and tomato need slightly acid
conditions, but the ash is obviouly basic in nature. I heavily mulch
the garden using rotted leaf mulch so there is plenty of organic
matter blended in. If upon testing, I need to lower the ph due to the
ashes, what is typical for this application ... I know that lime is
used to raise ph, but unlike grass lawns, a veggie garden is not
supposed to get past 7.0
I was thinking of spreading oak shavings from woodworking as a means
to add acid.
TIA for any tips
Stew Corman
it's more complicated than that. Ash pH is 10.4, and I actually give
ash to my tomatoes because it provides Ca, K and because the tomatoes
taste better that way (my soil is naturally acid - I disagree that
tomatoes prefer it acid. They will grow at any pH between 5.5 and 7).
Other plants, like beet, chard or onions, grow better with a bit of
ash and actually prefer it right around 7, and will pout at 6 or
below.
You can use wood ash as a substitute for lime, and as you say, if you
mix it with woodchips or coffee grounds you can get a near neutral
soil amendment. Also ash is fairly rich in micronutrients, essentially
providing everything except N, P and S. Mixing anything with leaves
will generally bring the pH towards neutral. I give ash and wood chips
to the tomatoes, garlic, radicchio and fruit trees, and ash manure and
leaves to most everything else. I give woodchips and coffee grounds to
various cranberry lingonberry and blueberries.
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