top of page
Search

Day 26 Acid Loving Plants

Updated: Jul 11, 2020

Maasim ang lupa dito! Most farmers perception of maasim na lupa or acidic soil is that it is bad for crops. However, there are some crops / plants that thrive in acidic environment


If you are an absolute beginner in gardening, we suggest that you plant the following acid loving plants directly using cuttings in your harvested Bokashi compost :

  • kangkong (upland variety) - by direct sowing of seeds

  • kamote tops - by cuttings

  • OKRA - by direct sowing of seeds

  • Mulberry - direct transplanting of rooted cuttings

The above are highly recommended for those who are just starting in gardening. Its hard to kill these plants and these will survive throughout the year, regardless if it is dry or wet season in the Philippines.





The following are acid loving plants, but may need extra care, be planted at the right climate/season in the Philippines - refer here for guidelines-

All kinds of tomatoes

All kinds of beans

All kinds of peppers

Broccoli

Cauliflowers

Roses

Potatoes

Tomatoes

Onions

Parsley

Bunching onions

Corns

All kinds of berries

Does bokashi compost increase your soil acidity?

Bokashi pre-compost and bokashi tea are both acidic. The pH of the bokashi pre-compost and bokashi tea can be around 3-4; fairly acidic. This acidity elimates fruit flies, rodents and pathogens from the bokashi compost.

Many gardeners ask whether adding bokashi tea and bokashi pre-compost to their gardens will increase the acidity of the soil. In the short term, yes, the acidity of the soil adjacent to the bokashi pre-compost will rise slightly. However, the soil web will quickly work to neutralize the bokashi. Tests show that within a week or two of burying the bokashi, the soil pH neutralizes completely creating an ideal environment for your plants to thrive.

Effects of Acidity on Plants

Acids in soil promote the distribution of nutrients that are important to vegetable plant growth. Different levels of acidity affect plant nutrients in different ways, making it easier for some to get to the plants and slowing others down. Without them, necessary substances, such as phosphorous and other nutrients, are prevented from moving through the soil to the plants that need them the most to survive. Phosphorous is highly affected by the amount of acid in the soil, but at very low or very high pH concentrations, it cannot move around freely in the soil. There is a very narrow margin of acidity, between 6 and 7, in which this nutrient is released and made the most readily available to vegetable plants.

MAASIM /ACIDIC

Acid loving plants prefer a soil pH of about 5.5. This lower pH enables these plants to absorb the nutrients they need to flourish and grow.

3 categories based on their ability to tolerate acidic soil.

Thrives Best in Very Acidic Soil

Watermelons, white and sweet potatoes tolerate the broadest range of acidity,

Thrives in Acidic Soil

while beans, carrots, corn, cucumbers, English peas, peppers, radishes, eggplant, garlic, squash, tomatoes and turnips do best in slightly sweeter soil.

Thrives in Slightly Neutral soil

Asparagus, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, canteloupe, onions, spinach and Swiss chard require an acidity level that is closer to neutral.

Read more at Gardening Know How: Acidic Soil Flowers And Plants – What Plants Grow In Acidic Soils https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/acid-loving-plants.htm

MATAMIS

Soil that has a pH level of 7.5 is considered mildly alkaline soil. Soil pH is important because it affects the form that nutrients in the soil will take, as well as their availability for plants. Most vegetables have a pH tolerance range from mildly acidic to neutral to mildly alkaline. For vegetables that can tolerate mild alkalinity, a pH of 7.5 may be their upper limit. Vegetables that thrive in a mildly alkaline environment include vining plants, cruciferous vegetables and some root vegetables.


From Don Bustamante of UCOG

Paano malalaman ang soil.ph ng lupang ginagamit sa halaman.

1. Kumuha ng lupa sa lugar na pinagtataniman kung ito ay plot o bakanteng lote. Kung container ang ginagamit o paso ay kumuha ng lupa bilang sample bago pagtaniman. Ilagay sa dalawang magkahiwalay na tasa na may parehas na dami.

2. Maglagay ng kalahating tasa ng suka sa unang tasa na may lupa at obserbahan kung magkakaroon ng maliliit na pagbula at mahinang tunog na kahawig sa sizzling plate sa restaurant . Kung nangyari ito, ang lupang iyong ginagamit ay alkaline. Hindi makukuha ang eksaktong level nito pero ang importante ay malaman niyo na ang lupa ay alkaline.

3. Kung walang pagbabago o reaksiyon pagkatapos ng isinagawang eksperimento, buhusan ang ikalawang tasa ng malamig na tubig na galing sa thermos o kaya ay nabibiling distilled water. Haluin hanggang mag mala-putik. Lagyan ng isang kutsarang baking soda. Kapag nagkaroon ng maliliit na pagbula at mahinang tunog na hawig sa sizzling plate sa restaurant ay ang lupang iyong ginagamit ay acidic.

4. Kung walang pagbabago o reaksiyon sa dalawang eksperimento na ginawa, ang lupang iyong ginagamit ay balanse.

Ano ang alkaline at epekto nito sa halaman?

Ang alkaline ay ang tamis ng lupa. Ang mataas o mababang bilang ng alkaline ay nagkakaroon ng epekto sa halaman. Bagama't ang 3 pangunahing nutrient na kailngan ng halaman para mabuhay ay nitrogen, phosphorus at potassium, ay malaking tulong din ang mga micronutrient na kagaya ng iron, zinc, manganese at copper. Kapag mataas amg alkaline o sobrang matamis ang lupa, natutunaw ang iron at hindi mapakinabangan ng halaman. Maaaring ang maging epekto ay distortion sa mga dahon, sanga at sakit sa mga ugat. Maaaring ikabansot din ng halaman dahil sa kawalan ng copper at zinc.

Ano ang acidity at epekto nito sa halaman?

Ang acidity ay ang asim ng lupa. Kapag acidic, tumataas ang level ng aluminum sa lupa. Ang aluminum ay toxic sa halaman. Kapag may presensiya ng aluminum, napipigilan nito ang pagiging malusog at pagkalat ng mga ugat ng halaman. Nagiging sanhi ito ng madalang na pagbunga, pamumulaklak, paglaki at pagkakaroon ng hindi normal na kulay sa mga dahon. Kaya sa madaling sabi, ang balanse ng alkaline at acidity ng lupa ay kailangan. Pero sa kabila nito ay mga halaman na sadyang akma o mas gusto ang acidic na lupa.

Paano gawing alkaline ang acidic na lupa?

Budburan nyo po ng apog (agricultural lime) or dinurog na egg shell.


Action item:

  1. Take an inventory of the vegetables that your family eats on a daily basis


2. Find out if those vegetables thrive on acidic/ alkaline / neutral soil - procedures from Don Bustamante of UCOG(Urban Container /Organic Gardening) at the end of the blog article


3. View this video - Climate Types at Cropping Calendar


4. Create a 3-month planting calendar based on what your family consumes and what will grow best based on the Climate Types as mentioned by The Agrillenial. Also, take into consideration how much time you have for this project


5. Submit your planting calendar to your mentor

(indicating whether these vegetables thrive in acidic/alkaline/neutral soil)

 
 
 

Comments

©2022 by Bokashi Pinoy.

bottom of page