Gardeners have been urged to check their soil pH before planting this season and can use a household kitchen staple that doesn’t cost more than 50p. Most plants prefer a pH level of acidity or alkalinity in the soil, measured by a scale ranging from 0 (extremely acidic) to 14 (extremely alkaline), with the middle point being 7, considered neutral.
A popular TikTok hack when it comes to vegetable gardening is to test your soil type. With over 391k views under the hashtag #SoilTesting, soil prep is proved to be an important gardening task. The testing checklist includes checking the type, pH, and nutrient makeup before planting.
Gardeners can mix some of the soil with vinegar. If it bubbles, it means the soil is alkaline. It can also be mixed with baking soda, and if it bubbles, the soil is acidic.
If you test your soil pH using either of these two ingredients and it doesn’t show any reaction, the soil is probably in the neutral range.
If gardeners don’t test their soil, they are risking over or under-fertilising their plants, leading to potentially harming them, as well as the environment. Testing the soil provides a guide to the plant’s nutrient needs by helping maximise yields efficiently.
Some of the effects of plants being grown in poor-quality soil include:
By following this simple and quick method, gardeners can rest assured that their gardens will produce beautiful and healthy plants all year round without worrying about the potential risks that might occur if done otherwise.
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