So here in Austin our the pH out of the tap is 9.6 since we get our water out of a limestone aquifer. The first time I measured it I thought my pH meter was broken but the water quality report verifies it:
So the problem I have here is at my garden I don't really have access to power so I can't use my nifty DIY fertigation system I built a few years ago and we don't get enough rain during the season so I have to water pretty much constantly. I'm thinking about trying to add some kind of soil amendments to counter act the high pH of the water or maybe even building a raised gravity feed drip system where I can adjust the pH of the water. I'm pretty clueless when it comes to growing in soil, I am way more comfortable with hydro or soilless mixes.
In the past I've just watered this bed straight out of the hose which I think is probably why I've never had as good of luck growing plants in this bed as I do when growing in containers. I haven't had any signs of nutrient deficiency really but the plants just never get very big.
So anyone have any ideas on what I should do to offset this high pH water?
So the problem I have here is at my garden I don't really have access to power so I can't use my nifty DIY fertigation system I built a few years ago and we don't get enough rain during the season so I have to water pretty much constantly. I'm thinking about trying to add some kind of soil amendments to counter act the high pH of the water or maybe even building a raised gravity feed drip system where I can adjust the pH of the water. I'm pretty clueless when it comes to growing in soil, I am way more comfortable with hydro or soilless mixes.
In the past I've just watered this bed straight out of the hose which I think is probably why I've never had as good of luck growing plants in this bed as I do when growing in containers. I haven't had any signs of nutrient deficiency really but the plants just never get very big.
So anyone have any ideas on what I should do to offset this high pH water?
