Pasi's Grow Log 2026

[Pasiasiainen]

Thanks for the links and help Stonecarver. I’m placing my bets on calcium or iron deficiency. Last season I had (probably) absorption issues with my plants and epsom salt spraying fixed that. I tried to prevent same situation this season by tossing some epsom salt to soil when transplanting. Could be that I did not put enough of it. I sprayed the plants with epsom yesterday, so I’ll wait couple of days now and see how this goes. I don’t want to start adding more fertilizers yet.

 

[StoneCarver]

In human digestion, calcium and iron compete for absorption; usually the calcium wins out and then the person's hemoglobin gets low.
Idk if the same is true for plants and soil chemistry in regards to competition for absorption. that's why this can be a tricky one to solve.
Throwing some rusty nails on to your soil probably won't help. I'm pretty sure something more sophisticated will be needed. /s

 

[deluxestogie]

The soil pH significantly influences the absorption of most essential nutrients by tobacco roots.

"Tobacco is able to adequately absorb required nutrients from the soil if the soil acidity has a pH in the range of 5.8 to 6.2 (max 6.5). Outside that range, the tobacco will show signs of various nutrient deficiencies even if they are present in adequate concentrations."

Bob

 

[Pasiasiainen]

if the soil acidity has a pH in the range of 5.8 to 6.2 (max 6.5)

Oh, this I did not know. I have not measured soil pH from my plot, but this time I know it fairly well, as all of the soil in this raised bed is store bought. It should be 6.4, and now that I added some ash, that means It is even higher….

 

[StoneCarver]

If the ashes weren't soaked and rinsed in water, then yes it could raise soil pH. Soaking ashes in water is an old time way of making lye. yes, the rinse water can dissolve your skin; so be careful. Soaking and rinsing ashes can remove the chemical components that contributes to high pH. I think they are hydroxyl groups, not that its important to remember.

 

[Pasiasiainen]

@StoneCarver I just sprinkled the ash and mixed it with surface soil. So not much I can do about it anymore…‍

Well, one-sixth of the problem got ‘solved’ when a pine cone hit one of my six Samsuns right on the growth tip and broke it off. I can’t believe my luck.

 

[Alpine]

Ah… the perils of growing under Pine trees…

pier

 

[StoneCarver]

I just sprinkled the ash and mixed it with surface soil. So not much I can do about it anymore…‍

Its possible you can find a way to lower the pH of your soil. Acids and bases react with each other. I doubt its as simple as watering your plants with diluted vinegar but maybe something like that? I think sulfur amendments of some kind is what is usually used to lower soil pH. Actually now that I remember, I use some stuff like that for lowering soil pH for my blueberries. I buy it from a bigbox hardware store. Something like this:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Espoma-Soil-Acidifier-Organic-Ph-Balancer/5013199909

Of course, it would be a good idea to go ahead and measure your soil pH to get an idea of what's going on before doing anything else to the soil.

 

[Pasiasiainen]

Of course, it would be a good idea to go ahead and measure your soil pH to get an idea of what's going on before doing anything else to the soil.

Yeah, this would probably be the way to go. I just checked whether similar acidifier products are available here in Finland. They are available online, but they seem to be more of a specialty product here, as soil in Finland is typically acidic.

My plants already look a bit better, so I’ll patiently wait a couple more days. Anyway, my next stop is the hardware store to get a pH meter. Gadgets? Yes please.

Then, if the pH is too high, I was wondering if a very light citric acid solution could be a quick remedy, followed by a longer-lasting effect from this fertilizer that is easily available here: “Biolan Conifer and Rhododendron Fertilizer is specially formulated for rhododendrons, conifers, blueberries, azaleas, and other plants that prefer acidic soil conditions.”

I have tried to keep Samsun fertilizing to a minimum, so this would just be the planned additional fertilizing.

 

[The Haroo ln]

Its tough to have a quick solution to lowering/raising soil PH. Your best bet might be to add a little ericaceous compost (used for roses and blueberrys etc.)to your normal soil. Thats what i did around 1 week before i transplanted and it worked to bring the PH between 5.5 - 6.0. But be warned, use sparingly and mix well with your normal soil. Using too much will dip the PH way too low as its designed to have a PH of around 4 i believe.