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San Diego

I am sure that most of you have seen my soil test results I posted a while ago because I am annoying and ask too many questions. Since then I have done everything suggested and retook the test to see what has changed (I am very late, but still have time if I start soon). I was totally amazed how fast I was able to change everything...except the pH. The pH is now at 8.4 which is lower but still super high. The sulfur I put in a while ago would have been working now, but I think I washed most of it out since the sulfur level is much lower now too.

The problem is that I now have absolutely no time to wait around. Would it be a bad idea to use a little aluminum sulfate? What I have gathered so far is that the negative affects could be aluminum toxicity or soil shock. What do you recommend?

5/21/2015 9:40:38 PM

San Diego

Aluminum ppm did not come with the test*

5/21/2015 9:42:01 PM

aurora, IL

You should contact Western Labs for help on this issue.

5/21/2015 10:36:57 PM

Torrance, Ca.

Walk down the street, watch what Vince does and get a great pumpkin. He's been growing longer then anyone down there and knows how to get a nice kin to the end.

Don't worry about all the little things when its this close to planting. Get um in the ground and have some fun!

5/21/2015 11:14:06 PM

Whitehall Montana

I would hit it with sulfur again,till it in and get my plants in the dirt.I used aluminum sulfate my second year and it only dropped 2 tenths of 1 percent.This year I added 8 lbs sulfur to 840 sq ft and dropped it from 8.4 to 7.2 in 2 and a half months.

5/21/2015 11:40:48 PM

San Diego

Alright...I will put the sulfur in and hope the heat makes it work faster. Next year I will be ready >:/

5/21/2015 11:55:41 PM

San Diego, Ca.

I wouldn't put anymore sulfur in. Our soil hasn't had that much heat this spring to warm the soil up so the conversion is going to take longer than if the soil was warm. It takes several months for the soil bacteria to fully break down the sulfur. During the breakdown process the soil pH will start to come down. I would stay far away from trying to add aluminum sulfate. If you want to lower your pH quickly I would add 2-3 inches of peat moss over the patch and till it in. Your soil pH will drop right away and your soil will be nice and fluffy and hold moisture much better. Once you've done that...get that pumpkin growing!
Relax, it takes TIME to get your soil balanced so in the meantime get your plant going and enjoy the season.

5/22/2015 12:35:31 AM

San Diego

I can't pay for peat moss this year.
Either way, I am starting this weekend. Thanks for the help.

5/22/2015 11:04:43 AM

East Jordan, MI

I agree with gourdzilla don't add any more sulfur, it will start working as time goes on.

5/22/2015 8:22:12 PM

San Diego

Yeah, I had already decided not too, however, do you think it is a possibility that I washed it out with my flooding? The sulfur ppm was half what it was before flooding.

5/22/2015 8:37:31 PM

Germany

You don´t wash out sulfur, you wash out sulphate.
The sulfur you´ve added is basically not soluble in water, and it doesn´t show up in soil analyses. Sulphate (from gypsum, epsom salts etc.) is the "sulfur" that´s tested in soil analyses and which gets washed out. Your elemental sulfur will, upon soil has warmed up, be converted into suplate (in this case into sulfuric acid), and this will lower your soil pH and will add some new source of sulphate.

5/23/2015 3:04:38 AM

San Diego

Aaaaaah... That is good to hear.
Thanks for the answers.

5/23/2015 12:36:49 PM