On 10/5/2008 10:07 AM, Vegegrower wrote:
I got a B&Q soil tester and it indicated the soil was about PH 9, dark
green on the package scale indicator.

I only grow vegetables such as potatoes, onions, leeks, turnips and the
like and I need to know how much sulphur per square yard or meter do I
have to add to reduce the PH of the soil to get it slightly acidic
which it seems is ideal for popular vegetables.

Can any one advise on the amount of sulphur to use please?

many thanks

I use about a handful per square yard about once or twice a year. It
takes a while for sulfur to acidify soil. Bacteria in the soil slowly
convert the sulfur into sulfuric acid.

However, I also use acidic fertilizers. These include ammonium sulfate
(very strong, use sparingly) and iron sulfate. I also use very slight
amounts of zinc sulfate around citrus and a gardenia and magnesium
sulfate (Epsom salts) around my roses. All of these work rather
quickly. Unlike plain sulfur, they can readily leach away and might
need frequent renewal.

Calcium sulfate (gypsum) is only weakly acidic. I use that to improve
my adobe clay, even around plants that prefer an alkaline soil (e.g.,
dianthus, iris, primroses).

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at http://www.rossde.com/garden/

I got a B&Q soil tester and it indicated the soil was about PH 9, dark green on the package scale indicator.

I only grow vegetables such as potatoes, onions, leeks, turnips and the like and I need to know how much sulphur per square yard or meter do I have to add to reduce the PH of the soil to get it slightly acidic which it seems is ideal for popular vegetables.

Can any one advise on the amount of sulphur to use please?

many thanks

On 05/10/08 18:07, Vegegrower wrote:
I got a B&Q soil tester and it indicated the soil was about PH 9, dark
green on the package scale indicator.

I only grow vegetables such as potatoes, onions, leeks, turnips and the
like and I need to know how much sulphur per square yard or meter do I
have to add to reduce the PH of the soil to get it slightly acidic
which it seems is ideal for popular vegetables.

Can any one advise on the amount of sulphur to use please?

many thanks


Don't know anything about turning alkaline soil back towards neutral
with sulphur. But maybe bulk quantities of manure would help? The
crops that you've listed would sure like to be well manured!

Even so, how are they doing in the alkaline soil that you have?

Ed

On Oct 5, 1:07*pm, Vegegrower
wrote:
I got a B&Q soil tester and it indicated the soil was about PH 9, dark
green on the package scale indicator.

I only grow vegetables such as potatoes, onions, leeks, turnips and the
like and I need to know how much sulphur per square yard or meter do I
have to add to reduce the PH of the soil to get it slightly acidic
which it seems is ideal for popular vegetables.

Can any one advise on the amount of sulphur to use please?

many thanks

--Sulfur Application Rate

Sulfur tilled in to 6” depth to adjust pH in lbs/1000 sq ft
Use elemental “agricultural sulfur” in a flaked or pelleted form
Existing pH Desired pH Clay Loam Sandy Loam
8.0 7.0 32 20 8
6.5 47 29 12
7.5 7.0 16 10 .4
6.5 32 20 8
7.0 6.5 16 10 4
6.0 32 20 8

Vegegrower

" how are they doing in the alkaline soil that you have?"

Not to good - as far as the onions go, it wasn't worth the effort of planting them.

I've read that with to high a PH soil , the nutrients are locked in the soil and can't reach the roots of the planted vege plants. So I intend to get some sulphur, sprinkle it over the soil and get the PH down over the next few months ready for next year's crops.

I got some leaf mulch to dig in as well!.

On 10/9/2008 10:05 AM, Vegegrower wrote:
I've researched the amount of sulphur I need for a 15' x 40' patch of
soil to get form PH8.0 to about PH 5.5.

I believe, based on Espoma product, I need about 13kg so I need to
find
a garden centre in the north east of England that sells in bulk.

Can anyone recommend a seller please?

Be very careful. If you add too much sulfur all at once, you might
overwhelm the soil bacteria that convert it into sulfuric acid. Then,
you will have sulfur doing nothing (not being acidic). Instead, apply a
little each month.

But if you have such a problem, do indeed buy in bulk. You will have to
repeat the treatment annually.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at http://www.rossde.com/garden/

I've researched the amount of sulphur I need for a 15' x 40' patch of soil to get form PH8.0 to about PH 5.5.

I believe, based on Espoma product, I need about 13kg so I need to find
a garden centre in the north east of England that sells in bulk.

Can anyone recommend a seller please?