pH Soil Testing - Naturally

Normally, you would measure the pH of soil with a purchased chemical kit from a garden nursery or have it professionally tested in a science lab. However there are simple and natural ways of testing the aproximate pH of your soil in the vegetable garden.



Observing the existing types of plants growing naturally in an area can be a guide of what your soil pH is. Common weeds such as sorrel, plantain and bracken normally indicate an acidic soil. The flowers of the hydrangea plant will be pink if the soil pH is alkaline (range of 7 to 7.5) and blue if it's acidic (between 4.5 and 5).



A simple way to determine soil pH is using purple cabbage. Here is how you do it:

1. Boil 500g of purple cabbage in 1 litre of water until the water turns a rather dark purple colour. Drain the water into another bowl and put it aside.


2. Mix two teaspoons of the soil you want tested in 200ml of distilled water and stir it vigorously. Allow it to settle overnight.


3. Fill a clear glass three quarters full with the purple cabbage water, then with a syringe, suck up and inject 50ml of water from the soil you mixed in with distilled water into the glass of purple cabage water.


4. The colour of the cabage water will change giving an indication of your soils pH. Colour indications are:

Colour = pH

Magenta = 3

Violet = 5

Blue = 7

Blue-green = 9

The above is a rough guide, showing you what your pH is in your own patch. Of course you can obtain a commercial testing kit of you warrant an accurate diagnosis. Enjoy.