Soil amendments for changing pH

An earlier post discussed the importance of soil testing, which tells you, among other things, about the pH value of your soil. The more rain your soil gets, the more likely it is to be acid. Dryer climates (such as the Western U.S.) have more alkaline soil, while here in New England, we generally have more acidic soil. Most plants (including veggies) grow better in slightly acidic soil. On a scale of 1 to 14, with being the most acidic and 14 being most alkaline, the optimum pH level is between 6.5 – 7.0.