What did you do in the garden today?

[chickadoodles]

In the kumquat soil, or in the kumquat fruit? If your pH meter read 2 in the soil, I think your meter is defective.

I think your right. I used a paper test strip and it registered 5 in my kumquat soil.
It needs to be 6.5 ideally. I don't know how to get it to the 6.5. Can you help?

 

[jerryse]

I think your right. I used a paper test strip and it registered 5 in my kumquat soil.
It needs to be 6.5 ideally. I don't know how to get it to the 6.5. Can you help?

Google how to raise soil PH . Agricultural lime should do it .

 

[cavemanrich]

Google how to raise soil PH . Agricultural lime should do it .

I agree that adding Garden Lime will raise the PH.
Here are 2 copy and paste bits of info I thought would be useful. I have used Gypsum in the past, but it does not change PH. (good stuff BTW)

A number below 7 is acidic (sometimes called “sour”); a number above 7 is alkaline (“sweet”). Most plants prefer nearly neutral soil with a pH between 6.2 and 7.2. Some (such as azaleas) prefer a more acidic soil. A soil test determines whether your soil is acidic, neutral or alkaline.

Applying lime to a soil will raise the pH. The other product we think of with respect to calcium is gypsum, a hydrated form of calcium sulfate (CaSO4). Gypsum is neutral in pH, and since it has no carbonate ion as part of its makeup, it will not neutralize acidity.

 

[chickadoodles]

Thanks Jerry and cavemanrich.
I have some dolomite I can use.
I appreciate your help.

 

[jerryse]

Trying to catch up on weeding . I watered some to make pulling them easier .

 

[pennyJo1960]

My garden as you know is all in tires have 4 to replant as we have used what is in them
need to plant spinach not sure what other yummy seeds may have

 

[LittleMissCountry]

I had to pull out two tomato plants today. I found a giant black widow on one, and an empty egg sac. On that one and the other plant, there were thousands of baby black widows.

I am not scared of spiders, but the thought of thousands of baby black widows right next to my house creeps me out. I checked the other plants around them, and we ended up putting pesticides on the others, which I had been hoping to avoid, but we don't want more black widows. Now I feel all crawly.

 

[cavemanrich]

In my area, there are 2 species of Poisonous spiders. Black Widow, and Brown Recluse. I have never seen a Widow here (Chicago Metropolitan) but did see quite a few when I was in Phoenix. The Brown Recluse is also rare in the Metro area. It does show up in rural areas in barns.
Those are the only spiders I would consider destroying due to the danger they pose to people. All other spiders are fine by me as long as they are not inside home.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I agree there BF said someone found 100 brown recluse in someones house

 

[chickadoodles]

We get brown recluses in our house all the time. We get them as soon as we see them. But they are at least a weekly visitor here.
They are not so bad in the warmer months due to the critters that keep their numbers down but come fall I have to spray monthly.
I have only seen 2 black widows here and got them both.