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PH testing

DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,102
in Tools and techniques

Hi, we've moved house and I'm digging a new veg patch - I thought I'd check the PH level and have bought a kit - it doesn't say but I assume that in a hard water area like this one I ought to use rainwater, not tap water, to dissolve the powder in?


Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





Posts

  • UnknownUnknown
    Dovefromabove wrote (see)

    Hi, we've moved house and I'm digging a new veg patch - I thought I'd check the PH level and have bought a kit - it doesn't say but I assume that in a hard water area like this one I ought to use rainwater, not tap water, to dissolve the powder in?

    Good question...*distilled water should be used for the reasons you suspect. Rainwater isn't ideal because of atmospheric acids it may contain, but is preferable to tap water.

    *Melted ice from your freezer/fridge is a good source of distilled water.

  • UnknownUnknown

    Old wives tale maybe, but I've always believed it to be so because it has been heated & condensed as part of the refrigeration process.

    Either way, I still think it adequate for a soil pH kit....which was my point.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,102

    Thanks , that's great - as we've not got the water butts connected yet I've left a little tub outside all weekend to collect some rainwater - and it's not rained since - good job I'm not in a hurry image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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