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  • #1

    Pod Compost too acidic?

    The council delivered "pod compost" to our allotments at the start of the year. I personally have had no problems but a few on site are saying its "too strong" "too acidic" and giving very poor results.
    What should be the acidic reading? How do I measure acidity? How do I lower the acidicity if required?
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  • #2
    If it's acid, it'll have a low pH. It'll be good for eracious plants such as blueberries but bad for brassicas which like a more neutral / alkaline soil. You can get pH meters which measure it but I think a lot of the cheaper ones are unreliable, giving (for example) a neutral reading for vinegar. I tend to look at how my plants are growing and add things based on that. Not sure what pod compost is anyway, not a phrase I know but if you're only adding it as a mulch then the pH is less important as it won't make that much difference to the existing levels. What makes people think it's too acidic anyway, on what are they basing this?

    Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

    Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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    • #3
      Originally posted by Alison View Post
      If it's acid, it'll have a low pH. It'll be good for eracious plants such as blueberries but bad for brassicas which like a more neutral / alkaline soil. You can get pH meters which measure it but I think a lot of the cheaper ones are unreliable, giving (for example) a neutral reading for vinegar. I tend to look at how my plants are growing and add things based on that. Not sure what pod compost is anyway, not a phrase I know but if you're only adding it as a mulch then the pH is less important as it won't make that much difference to the existing levels. What makes people think it's too acidic anyway, on what are they basing this?
      Pod compost is the name used in our area possibly all Scotland for the compost made from household waste. The brown bin with garden & kitchen waste is treated ? Heated and returned to councils etc.

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      • #4
        I use the same but we call it.....compost never had a problem but suppose it is conceivable. As Alison suggests only way to tell is by testing it. Unless you are growing directly in it I cant see a problem again as Alison has stated.

        It might be a case of a bad workman blaming his tools?
        Last edited by Greenleaves; 25-07-2015, 09:38 PM.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Greenleaves View Post
          I use the same but we call it.....compost never had a problem but suppose it is conceivable. As Alison suggests only way to tell is by testing it. Unless you are growing directly in it I cant see a problem again as Alison has stated.

          It might be a case of a bad workman blaming his tools?
          Yes, I think you are both correct. As I said I do not have a problem. Bad workmen blaming tools may be accurate, but I won't tell them.

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