Table 26. Relative Tolerance of Vegetable Crops to Soil Acidity.

Slightly Tolerant
(pH 6.8-6.0)
Moderately Tolerant
(pH 6.8-5.5)
Very Tolerant
(pH 6.8-5.0)

Asparagus

Bean

Dandelion

Beet

Bean, Lima

Endive

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts

Potato

Cabbage

Carrot

Rhubarb

Cauliflower

Collard

Shallot

Celery

Corn

Sweet Potato

Chard, Swiss

Cucumber

Watermelon

Chinese cabbage

Eggplant

 

Leek

Garlic

 

Lettuce

Gherkin

 

Muskmelon

Horseradish

 

New Zealand spinach

Kale

 

Okra

Kohlrabi

 

Parsnip

Mustard

 

Salsify

Parsley

 

Soybean

Pea

 

Spinach

Pepper

 
 

Pumpkin

 
 

Radish

 
 

Rutabaga

 
 

Squash

 
 

Tomato

 
 

Turnip

 

Vegetables in the slightly tolerant group can be grown successfully on soils that are on the alkaline side of neutrality. They do well up to pH 7.6 if there is no deficiency of essential nutrients. Vegetables in the very tolerant group will grow satisfactorily at a soil pH as low as 5.0. For the most part, even the most tolerant crops grow better at pH 6.0 - 6.8 than in more acid soils. Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and molybdenum are the nutrients most likely to be deficient in acid soils.
Source: Knotts Handbook for Vegetable Growers. 4th ed. Don Maynard and George Hochmuth.



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