Planting some tomatoes this season? Maybe some peppers? Discover the best soil type and proven soil improvement tips to have your vegetable garden thrive in South Western Ontario (Plant Hardiness Zone 5B). Learn how to grow your healthiest, most productive garden—starting from the soil up!
🏆The best soil for growing vegetables?
Loamy Soil! Loamy soil is ideal because it:
- Holds nutrients and moisture
- Provides good drainage
- Encourages healthy root development
Loam is a balanced blend of sand silt, clay and organic matter.
🧪 How to Test Your Soil Before planting?
The squeeze test (soil texture test by hand)
🌱 How to Do the Squeeze Test:
Take a handful of soil from about 10–15 cm (4–6″) below the surface.
Moisten it with water—just enough so it holds together but isn’t dripping wet.
Squeeze it firmly in your hand.
🛠 How to Improve Your Garden Soil
- Add compost or aged manure
- Mix in coarse sand or leaf mold
- Avoid walking on wet soil (prevents compaction)
- Add compost, coconut coir, or peat moss
- Mulch to retain moisture
- Fertilize more frequently
- Rotate crops annually
- Add mulch to suppress weeds and retain moisture
- Use cover crops (green manure) in the fall
pH and Nutrient Testing:
When it comes to testing the acidity of your soil, you can use a basic pH meter or soil test kit:
or send a sample to a certified Ontario lab such as A&L Canada Laboratories Inc.
The ideal soil pH for a home vegetable garden is between 6.0 and 7.0, which is slightly acidic to neutral.
🌿 Optimal Soil pH Range for Common Vegetables
| Crop Type | Ideal pH Range |
| Tomatoes, Peppers | 6.0 – 6.8 |
| Carrots, Beets | 6.0 – 7.0 |
| Beans, Peas | 6.0 – 7.5 |
| Lettuce, Spinach | 6.0 – 7.0 |
| Broccoli, Cabbage | 6.5 – 7.0 |
| Potatoes | 5.0 – 6.5 |
🧴 Why pH Matters
- Nutrient availability: Outside 6.0–7.0, essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium become harder to absorb.
- Microbial activity: Beneficial microbes thrive in this range.
- Plant health: Correct pH prevents root rot, yellowing leaves, and stunted growth.
🧴 How to Adjust Soil pH
To raise pH (reduce acidity), add Dolomitic Lime:
To lower pH (increase acidity), add:
Retest your soil 3–6 months after making changes as compost-heavy soils may drift toward alkalinity over time + excess compost can raise pH due to accumulated base cations.
Best Soil Mix for Raised Vegetable Beds–
If you’re building raised beds, use this 3-way Mix soil blend:
OR, you can make your own of:
40% topsoil, 40% compost, 20% peat moss or coconut coir, and you can add:
Feed Your Soil to Feed Your Garden
No matter what you choose, improving your soil will improve your harvest. Start with a good soil base, add organic matter, and practice sustainable gardening habits.
Healthy soil = healthy food = healthy you
1728 Gore Road,
London, ON.
N5W 5L5
Weekdays: 8:30 am – 6 pm | Weekends: 8:30 am – 8 pm
Phone: 519-455-2646
www.vanluyk.com
Sources:
- Soil data | ontario.ca
- University of Minnesota Extension (2021): https://blog-fruit-vegetable-ipm.extension.umn.edu
- Penn State Extension: https://extension.psu.edu