From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Manchester,N.H.

What is the ideal ph for your water.

11/25/2004 9:37:49 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

If I remember correctly, from science class, doesn't pure water have a pH of 0? I don't know if pure water is what's best for pumkins, though. And, it's probably not very practical to use.

11/26/2004 12:13:51 AM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Sorry, I remebered wrong. I meant 7. 0 would be ridiculously acidic (did I at least get that part right?). You don't want that.

11/26/2004 12:16:56 AM

Itzetown City

PH 7.0 is neutral. Tapwater is often higher then 7.0 in due to soluble lime in the water. You can soften the water drive it trough a peat filter. I do it for the aquarium water.

11/26/2004 11:50:21 AM

Indiana

Sounds like alot of work for pumpkin water!!!

11/26/2004 11:53:53 AM

Manchester,N.H.

Well my ph is 6.4 is that good or bad.

11/26/2004 11:54:53 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

6.4 is fine. The buffer capacity of soil is high & here in New England we end up having to lime the patch soil periodically anyway.

11/26/2004 3:23:57 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

This might be an odd suggestion.

But, couldn't you neuralize water with a pH of 6.4 by putting in some alka-seltzer or baking soda? Tums, maybe. Plus, if you used tablets with calcium, that would be good for pumpkins, wouldn't it? Would you need too many tablets to make it worthwhile?

11/27/2004 2:44:43 AM

Ohio

What about well water, doesnt that have a lot of iron init? wonder what a normal reading is for well water is.

11/27/2004 3:30:03 PM

Indiana

iron content depends on where you live.

11/27/2004 4:12:19 PM

San Diego, Ca.

Say you have a water storage tank that you could use to irrigate your patch. You fill it with tap water, but the pH is high. In my area the pH of public water is at 8.0 which is made to be that high to help prevent tuberculation in water mains. Could you use pool chemicals to adjust the pH down to around neutral without causing harm to the plants?
I've often wondered about this.

12/11/2004 11:55:26 AM

Montoursville, PA

The more one messes with chemicals the more complex the situation becomes. Your patch hopefully with five or more percent humus is very forgiving. PH is also very forgiving while we admit a desire to have it somewhere between 6.5 and 7.2. Unless someone is in some strange out of line situation I would not add any adjustment to patch or water.

The basic soil tests indicate the PH. which is often quite fine where you find it within a rather broad range. Remember your soil tests are basic indicators only. Soil testing is not a high science worked to the nineth degree.

Building nice soil using manures and composts will do the greater good for most of us. A cover crop is the icing on the cake.

12/11/2004 2:22:39 PM