pH and Nutrient Basics
Soil pH determines which nutrients are available to your plants. Even if nutrients are present in the soil, the wrong pH locks them up.
The pH Scale for Gardens
| pH | Classification | What grows well |
|---|---|---|
| 4.5–5.5 | Strongly acid | Blueberries, azaleas, native Australian plants |
| 5.5–6.5 | Slightly acid | Most vegetables, herbs, fruit trees |
| 6.5–7.0 | Neutral | Brassicas, legumes, root vegetables |
| 7.0–7.5 | Slightly alkaline | Asparagus, some Mediterranean herbs |
| 7.5+ | Alkaline | Few food plants thrive — amend with sulphur |
Most vegetables prefer 6.0–7.0. If your pH is outside this range, nutrients like iron, phosphorus, and manganese become unavailable even if they're in the soil.
Following the pH Test Method
The "Soil pH Testing — Indicator Solution Method" on Libre Grow guides you through a simple liquid indicator test. When you create the activity and link this method, you'll see observation templates for:
- Soil pH (numeric, 0-14) — the primary measurement
- Soil Moisture (scale 1-5) — context for the reading
- Notes — any observations about colour, smell, recent amendments
Put It Into Practice
Create a soil baseline for your garden:
For each bed or zone:
-
Create a soil sample element (type: Soil, label: "Bed A Soil — [date]")
-
Create a "Soil pH Test" activity:
- Method: "Soil pH Testing — Indicator Solution Method"
- Input element: your bed
- Output element: the soil sample
- Record pH, moisture, and notes
-
Create a "Jar Test" activity:
- Method: "Soil Biology Assessment — Jar Test"
- Input element: the same soil sample
- Record sand%, silt%, clay%, organic matter, soil type
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Write a journal entry: What did you learn about your soil? Were there differences between beds? What amendments might help?
Your beds now have a soil baseline. The soil sample element links to both test activities. Next season, create new soil samples and repeat — the comparison will show whether your regenerative practices are working.