Soil pH Preferences for Common Vegetables

I received the following question from a reader of my newsletter about the Soil pH Preferences for Common Vegetables:

“Is there a chart which identifies what veg need acid soil and what prefer alkaline soil as l have chickens and their manure but also have a farmer giving us dung to over winter, then we also will have wood ash from the wood stove over the winter. I’m so confused as to what to put where when planning out my veg plot for next year. If l put them all in together does that make a good base in each bed?
Grateful for any advice please. “

I have a number of articles on Soil PH which will help answer this question. I’ve also created a Soil Acidity and Alkalinity Chart for Vegetable Growing below, showing the preferred pH range for common vegetables and whether they prefer acidic, neutral, or alkaline soil conditions.

Tips for Gardeners:

Test your soil using a pH meter or home test kit.
To raise pH (reduce acidity): Add lime (agricultural limestone) or wood ash (in moderation).
To lower pH (reduce alkalinity): Add sulfur, peat moss, or organic matter such as leaf mold.
Crop rotation and composting can help maintain balanced pH over time.

Soil pH Scale Overview

pH Range	Classification	Notes for Vegetables
4.5 – 5.5	Strongly Acidic	Suitable mainly for cranberries and blueberries
5.5 – 6.0	Moderately Acidic	Okay for potatoes, cucumbers
6.0 – 6.8	Slightly Acidic	Ideal for most vegetables
6.8 – 7.5	Neutral to Slightly Alkaline	Acceptable for spinach, garlic, peas
7.5+	Alkaline	May cause nutrient lock-out for many crops