How to use the information in the chart. To make the best of the above lists, group plants with similar soil requirements. Also, avoid planting trees, shrubs, vegetables, flowers and herbs in an unsuitable pH. For example, lilac bushes won’t do much if their feet are sitting in acid soil, while potatoes will be dotted with scab if the soil is too sweet. (Note: Don’t use them as your only guide because other factors may lead to poor performance.)
Plants are listed here in columns according to the pH level they prefer.
Note that some are very sensitive to pH levels outside their tolerant range, in which case they will appear in more than one column even though they are colored yellow as being "sensitive".
This green background means that this is an ideal pH for this plant.
This background is the ideal pH for this sensitive plant
This background means that this plant is very sensitive to the pH level of the soil.
"The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patient in the care of the human frame, in diet and in the cause and prevention of disease" ~ Thomas Jefferson
4 thoughts on “Soil PH Preferences for Garden Vegetables”
Great chart. However, please explain how to read it. If a plant is colored as “very sensitive” why is it in more than one column? For example, chart says Cauliflower likes pH anywhere between 6.0 and 7.5, but Bilberries only want 5.25. I would think the more sensitive means more finicky and particular, so it would be the Bilberries that would be very sensitive and not the Cauliflower. Please help me understand. Thanks!
Great chart. However, please explain how to read it. If a plant is colored as “very sensitive” why is it in more than one column? For example, chart says Cauliflower likes pH anywhere between 6.0 and 7.5, but Bilberries only want 5.25. I would think the more sensitive means more finicky and particular, so it would be the Bilberries that would be very sensitive and not the Cauliflower. Please help me understand. Thanks!