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When I moved into my garden I assumed that the clay soil was neutral or acidic, particularly since there are azaleas in front gardens a few hundred yards away. It has become clear though, that it must be alkaline. The brassicas grow really well and the annual veg grows just fine in raised beds full of composted cow manure, but perennial veg like globe artichokes and particularly fruit trees just seem to sulk in the ground and hardly grow. Raspberries, kiwis and blackberries just go yellow and die. Late last summer I tried feeding ericaceous feed to these, and they really seemed to perk up and grow. But is that a long-term solution? I’m a bit confused as to where to go from here. Will adding manure every year gradually correct it, or do I need to do something more with it? I don’t think I can live without fruit trees! Is it worth having a laboratory analysis of the soil, or are the garden centre kits just as good? Any advice would be much appreciated!
Hi Wendy, this is confusing because artichoke and blackberry do not mind alkaline soil – for example mine have always done well on pH7.4 or higher. Only kiwi of the ones you mention is reckoned to prefer acid soil but a friend grew lovely kiwis on alkaline soil.
Maybe try bulkng up the organic matter with manure on top, give ericaceous feed to the kiwi, and see. Maybe try a pH kit but as I suggest, the ranges given for plants are often inaccurate as other factors play a part.
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