My raised bed mix hit a 6.8 pH reading and everything just took off

I was checking my soil after adding some compost last month, just to see where things stood. The little meter showed 6.8, which I guess is that sweet spot for a lot of veggies. Honestly, I wasn't really paying close attention to pH before, just mixing dirt and hoping. Now my tomato plants have doubled in size in about two weeks. Has anyone else seen a big change from just one small number like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

felixfisher9d ago

Didn't a gardening book say that pH unlocks the nutrients? Makes total sense now.

the_logan9d ago

Yeah that's the whole key to it. My hydrangeas were totally yellow and sad last year. The soil test came back at like 5.2 pH. Added some lime to bump it up, and now they're actually blue. So what specific nutrient gets locked out at low pH that turns leaves yellow? Is it the iron?

anna_fox712h ago

Totally thought it was just a nitrogen thing for years. That "locked out" part you mentioned is exactly right. Acid soil ties up the nutrients so the roots can't grab them. It's iron for sure, but also stuff like phosphorus and calcium. The plant starves even if the food is right there. Seeing your hydrangeas bounce back like that proves it.