Hmmm...my first response is go get a soil test. Unless your soil is composed of lemon juice it's not 2. The soil forum has a lot of good information about lime applications but you need to know your real ph first.

Use soil sulfur to lower the pH, and lime [I prefer dolomite to hydrated, but your mileage may vary] to raise the pH.

Take a soil sample to your local extension office and let them test it. They can tell you what soil amendments to add, as well as the pH test.

And yeah I think your test was flawed. Soil with a pH of 2 would burn your hands just holding it.

If you are using one of those stupid garden probe things with the meter on the head, throw it away. It does nothing.

A simple home test is to take some of your soil, and put it in a glass of distilled water. Give it a stir, then let it sit for a few hours. Test the pH of the water with a piece of litmus paper or befriend a hydroponic grower and borrow their pH meter.

Has anyone tried one of those $20 battery powered pH meters with a probe they sell at garden stores? If so, how well do they work?

If I get one, I will calibrate it against some test solutions I make up with vinegar or baking soda and measure against litmus or a pool tester. Neither is probably very precise, but I would like them to both be in the same ball park.

Rick,
I have two. One doesn't work at all. It always shows 7ish. The other one matches the results that I got from testing at the State Extension. I agree that I might as well throw it away even though it works right now since I wouldn't do anything without a test from the extension anyway.
Rick

mine was 7 dollars at home repot!

Joe,
If it shows 2, you got ripped off at $7. Get a soil test through your extension.
Rick

A Ph of 2 will kill most plants.....either your plants are dead or your meter is.

Ok, lessen learned.... Don't buy cheap meter from home repot! And buy a test kit:)

Joe,

Out of six responses above, four of them specifically reference/recommend getting a soil test done. These are easily done through your cooperative extension service. I had three done last year (by Va Tech) and they cost less than $10 each. There's a wealth of info in these reports and generally include recommendations on correcting any issues. So I'm a little confused by your last post:

"Ok, lessen learned.... Don't buy cheap meter from home repot! And buy a test kit"

It doesn't sound like much was learned at all.

I guess I'll have another cup of coffee and read this thread again - maybe it's me lol.

jmho

I think he was talking about getting a soil test. I got my collection kit from the Coop Ext office in C'ville, but I think it was sent to VA Tech to be analyzed.

Ok, to start with, I work third shift. After getting some sleep, I realized by my self, that my PH probably wasn't really 2! I was trying to be funny in my last post too!
Now with that being said, what I don't need is someone on a forum telling me I'm not learning much at all! I am an engineer and would probably embarrass you daily!
Now for the rest of you! Thank-you so much,I'm growing indoors right now and ALL these answers are transferable when I plant outside.
I will do ALL things considered when the time comes. Oh and yes.... I guess I really need to pay attention before posting. God forbid someone making a mistake.... On a pepper forum!

Oh contrare my mensa friend.

Inside gardens are a lot different than outside ones.
More variables.

You can plant the guy next door in your outdoor garden to adjust the ph and fertilse your garden.
You might fit his cat or their snotty kid in an indoor container garden, max.
Might get really wierd in your hydro tank with a cat or kid floating in there too.
Talk about a gnat problem...

Nobody can embarrass me.
I do just fine all by myself.
Besides I just don't care what someone I don't know thinks about me anyway. :)
I work graveyard shift too.
See ya at dark thirty out in the garden. LOL

I wonder what happened to the people next door,haven't seen them for a while.
Peppers sure are bloomin though.

Anyone for Black Dalias?

Joe, youÂre amongst friends here. Like your joking statement, we all succumb to the urge of joking and occasionally taking a friendly shot now and then.

But be warned, fools (not thinking you are BTW) and those who post without reading previous responses are not suffered well LOL. I got the jist of your comment good lock with the test kit! LOL. IÂm sure others did as well.

One word of warning thought your post woke up smokemasterÂs dark side!!!!!

No one is immune to his pepper humor. I still chuckle thinking about his pondering on crossing a Peter Pepper with a ? pepper to get a (censored) Pepper. ROFL.

Yes, third shift sucks no shift sucks more!

Let us know what test kit you buy. IÂll get one myself to compare notes with you.

Peace,

Bill

Sorry for the second post but I just found the thread I referenced re. Smokemaster and Peter Pepper cross.

Smokemaster, you're... never mind.

Here is a link that might be useful: Smokemaster

we cant see you wink
or stick your tongue out
or catch changes in your inflection
in a textual medium

so im sticking my tongue out at you guys and throwing peppers at you

PEPPER FIGHT!!!

I suggest dolomite lime over hydrated mostly for the extra micronutrients it brings to the table. It often comes pelletized so you may wish to grind it into a powder. Or not. I don't; I just mix it in.

And honestly, while being mostly a hydro grower, I consider dolomite lime a "magic bullet" for soil/soilless mix growing, kind of like epsom salts.

I figure out how to keep your Country Girl/Kisser peppers from crossing with the Peter Peppers.
Put these paprikas between them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kondom Paprika

Smokemaster, you sleigh me I canÂt compete.

But IÂm not smart enough to not tryÂ

Sounds like cheap eastern latex to me looks good but breaks down when it counts! Cover up those girls!!!

Shelbyguy!

so im sticking my tongue out at you guys and throwing peppers at you

Oh ya!

In the immortal words of Monty PythonÂs French soldiers (in The Holy Grail)Â "YouÂre mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries."

Take that!

PEPPER FIGHT! LOL

joeknowsjolokia said "I am an engineer and would probably embarrass you daily!"

No need to do that Joe. As Smoke stated so eloquently:

"Nobody can embarrass me.
I do just fine all by myself."

This is evidenced by my SNARKY post above. I just re-read it and I thought it was in poor taste myself, and I wrote it! I have no idea what possessed me.

My apologies Joe - that's definitely not my style.

(But you should get a soil test done hehe)