Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Soil pH Requirements for Vegetables

Member George writes~ I grow hot peppers as a hobby. And try to learn by making mistakes. To me, there is a mystery. The information I have states that peppers need an acid soil, most vegetables for that matter. And it also states that they need lots of lime. Lime is an alkaline. They neutralize each other. I do not understand it. Do you?

A. This is the table I go by and recommend for growing veggies. I do not recommend adding lime to the soil of hot peppers. Sorry, I do not know why this was written except for a very acidic soil. If it tests below 5.0, you would need to add lime. Buy a soil tester kit at a local garden center, and also test you water.