The miracle of organic matter
Did you know that organic matter will act as a buff er in soils that have acidic pH readings? So, instead of changing your pH, just add organic matter in the form of compost and well-rotted manure and the plants will still grow and come to fruition. For the home gardener, it’s important to know what your soil pH is, but as long as it’s around the slightly acidic to neutral range you should be right to grow most vegetables — with a bit of tweaking for those that like it a bit more acidic or slightly more alkaline. Grouping your edibles with similar growing needs seems to be just common sense, but of course there’s a lot more to successful planting arrangements than just pH and family groupings. There are numerous other soil-based issues that may need addressing, soil profile understanding, organic matter levels within in the soil and, of course, the world of companion planting.
