Blueberry culture - Ask Extension
I have a PH test kit & I tested my soil around my blueberries. 6.0 was the result. While the PH is in the range for blueberries would my plants ...
Knowledgebase
Blueberry culture #879532
Asked July 31, 2024, 9:10 AM EDT
I have a PH test kit & I tested my soil around my blueberries. 6.0 was the result. While the PH is in the range for blueberries would my plants do better if I added some sulfur? I have aluminum sulfate but I've been afraid to use is since I read it will burn the roots that and the instructions are for bigger gardens than my blueberry patch where the application is listed in pounds. what I'd like to do is mix the aluminum Sulfate with rain water then apply that mix to each plant (I have just four plants + some wild plants). The quandary is how much to mix in ~3-gallons of water to lower the PH to around 5.0.
Itasca County Minnesota
Expert Response
Use elemental sulfur or Epsoma soil acidifier instead. Using aluminum sulfate can cause a build up of aluminum and aluminum toxicity.
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-do-i-lower-soil-ph-blueberries#:~:text=Answer%3A,reacts%20slowly%20with%20the%20soil.
https://blueberries.extension.org/soil-ph-for-blueberry-plantings/
https://www.espoma.com/product/soil-acidifier/
I use espoma and it keeps my blueberry leaves greener longer than using elemental sulfur. The directions on the bag are clear too. If the leaves of my bushes become light I put one tablespoon of vinegar in a gallon of water and water them with it not more often than once a month.
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/how-do-i-lower-soil-ph-blueberries#:~:text=Answer%3A,reacts%20slowly%20with%20the%20soil.
https://blueberries.extension.org/soil-ph-for-blueberry-plantings/
https://www.espoma.com/product/soil-acidifier/
I use espoma and it keeps my blueberry leaves greener longer than using elemental sulfur. The directions on the bag are clear too. If the leaves of my bushes become light I put one tablespoon of vinegar in a gallon of water and water them with it not more often than once a month.
