Author Topic: what is alkaline soil? (Read 2815 times)

waterbuffalofarmer · « **on:** November 18, 2014, 10:48:38 am »

You may think this a bit of a stupid question, but how do you get alkaline soil? Am about to buy a Violette de Bordeaux fig tree, but have been told the soil needs to be slightly alkaline.
Help please?
Thanks

clydesdaleclopper · « **Reply #1 on:** November 18, 2014, 04:18:20 pm »

You need to PH test your soil to find out what the current acidity levels are. If it is acidic you will need to apply lime or gypsum depending on whether it is sandy or clay. That will make it more alkaline.

Womble · « **Reply #2 on:** November 18, 2014, 09:53:36 pm »

Hi WBF, I have all the kit here that you need to test soil pH, so if you fancy posting me a small soil sample, I'll gladly give you a rough idea of what your pH is like at present.

pgkevet · « **Reply #3 on:** November 19, 2014, 12:11:41 am »

Before i moved here i grew my (brown turkey) fig in a fig pit I dug and lined with flagstones as per the advice of that era. It worked well, lovely juicy figgies - and while my ordinary harden soil was OK in that location then a fig pit can always be filled with bagged stuff. Pit was a metre cube - probably a bit large.

The cuttings Hester sent me - 5 doing well in the greenhouse still - will probably get scattered around the curtilage in appropriate looking places - sadly no south facing suitable wall - and likely be allowed to do their own thing, bar pruning.

Fig cuttings are easy so spread the love

Carse Goodlifers · « **Reply #4 on:** November 20, 2014, 06:25:26 pm »

You would also be able to pick up a pH test kit in your local garden centre from the cheap to expensive ones.

john and helen · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2014, 07:11:09 am »

we just did ours, the PH came out at 7 ..its easy to test, just takes up to 24 hours...

Backinwellies · « **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2014, 07:32:42 am »

Quote from: john and helen on November 21, 2014, 07:11:09 am

we just did ours, the PH came out at 7 ..its easy to test, just takes up to 24 hours...

Lucky you .... average of 5.4 here!!

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #7 on:** November 21, 2014, 10:22:23 am »

Thanks for the replies guys, and the offer womble, I might get a PH kit of me own. I was really thinking of planting it in a very large patio pot, but wanted to use me own soil.