North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Jim Fruth" <jimfruth@charter.net>]

John Weber wrote, "we are fencing and getting ready to prepare the ground 
for blueberries.  I have been told to use sulphur to make the ground more 
acidic.  I am looking any and all suggestions."

   It is best to prepare the ground a year or more in advance of planting 
your blueberries.  Why?  You mentioned using sulfur to acidify your ground 
and sulfur takes a long time to do its task.  If you are the impatient type, 
you spread your sulfur, till it in and plant.  Then, months later you learn 
that the ground isn't as acidic as it should be so you spread more sulfur 
but now you can't till it in without damaging your plants.  You can't leave 
it lay atop the ground; it has to be worked is, somehow.  You are dependent 
upon soil organisms to convert elemental sulfur to, ideally, sulfate which 
the critters do by respiration, binding oxygen ions to the sulfur.  You need 
to get the sulfur down to the root zone and, in lieu of tilling, the soil 
critters could take years to accomplish the task.  Bacteria don't have legs 
and move via cell division and that is rather slow!

   Buy a ph meter!  and some distilled water.  To a measure of dry soil, 
add the water to saturate and make a reading.

   I sent Pomona a chart of how much sulfur to add to what kind of soil. 
Here it is again, without a chart:  To lower pH by 0.5, add 2/3 pint of 
sulfur per 100 sq. ft. for sand or 2 pints for loam.  To lower pH by 1.0, 
add 1-1/3 pint sulfur per 100 sq. ft. for sand or 4 pints for loam.  To 
lower pH by 1.5, add 2 pints sulfur per 100 sq. ft. for sand or 5-1/2 pints 
for loam.  To lower pH by 2.0, add 2-1/2 pints sulfur for sand or 8 pints 
for loam.  To lower pH by 2.5, add 3 pints sulfur for sand or 10 pints for 
loam.

   Most soils contain a buffering agent so don't be surprised if you 
acidify your soil only to have the pH bounce right back to where you 
started.  How long do you need to wait?  Only your own soil knows for sure. 
Keep testing.  It could take years to achieve the desired acidity.

   And one more thing...................Do you have organic matter in your 
soil?  Bacteria need some form of humus to do their work.  3% or more , by 
weight, of organic matter is recommended.

Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN  56472
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