Our newest segment of The Morning Show series “Home Grown” involves checking the pH balance of the soil in your vegetable garden.
During the last five weeks, we have been bringing you stories to show you how to grow your own vegetables at home and to provide more access to healthy food by giving you the tools to grow your own produce.
Your vegetables will not grow well if they do not have the correct nutrients in the soil, which fuels their growth.
Soil pH is a measurement of the acidity or alkalinity of your soil. Plants get 14 of the 17 essential nutrients they need from the soil and whether those nutrients are available for the plants depends on the soil pH.
Soil pH limits the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients, which is why it’s important the pH is balanced. The best range is between 6-7.
HOME GROWN: Planting the first seeds of our new series to help you grow your own food | It‘s time to plant. Let’s start with carrots, lettuce & broccoli | Watering your vegetable garden | What you need to know about thinning your vegetable plants
My mom, Mary Ellen Waugh, created and manages Grace Garden at BEAM (Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry).
Located in Jacksonville Beach, Waugh and a small arm of volunteers plant, grow, and harvest vegetables in 60 garden boxes. The produce is provided to BEAM’s food pantry clients.
BEAM offers financial assistance and food to families who live or work in the beaches communities.
Waugh has been managing the garden for a decade and has learned several tricks to getting vegetables to grow.
She said anyone can get their soil tested, for free, to check its pH balance.
“You can send a soil sample to the agricultural extension office. You call them and they mail you a bag, you put your soil in it, and mail it back to them,” she explained about the free service offered through the University of Florida. “You could also take it to your local plant store and they test the pH for you. It’s between a range of 1 and 10. I take ours to Plant Ranch.”
If your garden’s pH balance is off, a plant nursery can provide you with what you need to fix too much acidity or alkalinity.
You can reach the University of Florida Duval County Agricultural Extension to learn more about getting your soil tested by calling 904-255-7450 or email: duval@ifas.ufl.edu.