<%@ Language=VBScript %> <% Option Explicit %> <% Response.Buffer = True Dim strTown, strMonths, strIndexes, strIndexesMedian, strDisplayMonth, arrIndex, arrMonth, arrAlpha, strOneMonth, strMonthsMedian, strCookiePresent strMonthsMedian = "Median,January,February,March,April,May,June,July,August,September,October,November,December,October,early May" strIndexesMedian = "0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12" 'store strMonthsMedian in array arrAlpha which will be accessed by the numeric in arrMonth in order 'to get the alpha month value. arrAlpha = Split(strMonthsMedian, ",", -1, 1) 'Get the cookies. "TownValues" defines the where in the calendar a particular month lies for the area 'it relates to. '"MonthValues" is sequenced to permit relacement of the median month (hardcoded throughout) with 'the month number for the current area. strTown = (Request.Cookies("WeatherTown")("Town")) strMonths = (Request.Cookies("WeatherTown")("TownValues")) strIndexes = (Request.Cookies("WeatherTown")("MonthValues")) strDisplayMonth = (Request.Cookies("WeatherTown")("CurrentMonth")) arrIndex = Split(strIndexes, ",",-1,1) 'Has the user eneterd a location - if so use relevant months, if not use median months. If Request.Cookies("WeatherTown").HasKeys then arrMonth = Split(strMonths, ",", -1, 1) arrIndex = Split(strIndexes, ",",-1,1) strCookiePresent = "Y" else arrMonth = Split(strMonthsMedian, ",", -1, 1) arrIndex = Split(strIndexesMedian, ",",-1,1) strDisplayMonth = arrMonth(11) strCookiePresent = "N" end If '888 = UK: 999 = USA; 111 = Australia '888 = UK: 999 = USA; 111 = Australia 'For cases where there is a UK cookie but it is superceeded by a USA cookie If strTown = "999" then strCookiePresent = "N" end If 'For cases where there is a UK cookie but it is superceeded by an Australian cookie If strTown = "111" then strCookiePresent = "N" end If 'For cases where there is a UK cookie but it is superceeded by an Australian cookie If strTown = "111" then strCookiePresent = "N" end If %> <% 'USA section 'USA section, median last frost is 11 (mid April), first frost is 29 (early October) Dim strTownUSA, strMonthsUSA, strIndexesUSA, strIndexesMedianUSA, strDisplayMonthUSA, arrIndexUSA, arrMonthUSA, arrAlphaUSA, strOneMonthUSA, strMonthsMedianUSA, strCookiePresentUSA, strHardinessZoneUSA strMonthsMedianUSA = "Median,early January,mid January,late January,early February,mid February,late February,early March,mid March,late March,early April,mid April,late April,early May,mid May,late May,early June,mid June,late June,early July,mid July,late July,early August,mid August,late August,early September,mid September,late September,early October,mid October,late October,early November,mid November,late November,early December,mid December,late December" strIndexesMedianUSA = "0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36" 'store strMonthsMedianUSA in array arrAlphaUSA which will be accessed by the numeric in arrMonth in order 'to get the alpha month value. arrAlphaUSA = Split(strMonthsMedianUSA, ",", -1, 1) arrMonthUSA = Split(strMonthsMedianUSA, ",", -1, 1) 'Get the cookies. "TownValuesUSA" defines the where in the calendar a particular month lies for the area 'it relates to. '"MonthValuesUSA" is sequenced to permit relacement of the median month (hardcoded throughout) with 'the month number for the current area. strTownUSA = (Request.Cookies("WeatherTownUSA")("TownUSA")) strMonthsUSA = (Request.Cookies("WeatherTownUSA")("TownValuesUSA")) strIndexesUSA = (Request.Cookies("WeatherTownUSA")("MonthValuesUSA")) strDisplayMonthUSA = (Request.Cookies("WeatherTownUSA")("CurrentMonthUSA")) strHardinessZoneUSA = (Request.Cookies("WeatherTownUSA")("HardinessZoneUSA")) 'Has the user entered a location - if so use relevant months index, if not use median months index. If Request.Cookies("WeatherTownUSA").HasKeys then arrIndexUSA = Split(strIndexesUSA, ",",-1,1) strCookiePresentUSA = "Y" else arrIndexUSA = Split(strIndexesMedianUSA, ",",-1,1) strCookiePresentUSA = "N" end If '888 = UK: 999 = USA; 111 = Australia 'For cases where there is a USA cookie but it is superceeded by a UK cookie If strTownUSA = "888" then strCookiePresentUSA = "N" end If 'For cases where there is a USA cookie but it is superceeded by an Australian cookie If strTownUSA = "111" then strCookiePresentUSA = "N" end If %> <% 'Australia section 'Australia section, Melbourne last frost is 26 (mid September), first frost is 15 (late May) Dim strTownAustralia, strMonthsAustralia, strIndexesAustralia, strIndexesMedianAustralia, strDisplayMonthAustralia, arrIndexAustralia, arrMonthAustralia, arrAlphaAustralia, strOneMonthAustralia, strMonthsMedianAustralia, strCookiePresentAustralia strMonthsMedianAustralia = "Median,early January,mid January,late January,early February,mid February,late February,early March,mid March,late March,early April,mid April,late April,early May,mid May,late May,early June,mid June,late June,early July,mid July,late July,early August,mid August,late August,early September,mid September,late September,early October,mid October,late October,early November,mid November,late November,early December,mid December,late December" strIndexesMedianAustralia = "0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36" 'store strMonthsMedianAustralia in array arrAlphaAustralia which will be accessed by the numeric in arrMonth in order 'to get the alpha month value. arrAlphaAustralia = Split(strMonthsMedianAustralia, ",", -1, 1) arrMonthAustralia = Split(strMonthsMedianAustralia, ",", -1, 1) 'Get the cookies. "TownValuesAustralia" defines the where in the calendar a particular month lies for the area 'it relates to. '"MonthValuesAustralia" is sequenced to permit relacement of the median month (hardcoded throughout) with 'the month number for the current area. strTownAustralia = (Request.Cookies("WeatherTownAustralia")("TownAustralia")) strMonthsAustralia = (Request.Cookies("WeatherTownAustralia")("TownValuesAustralia")) strIndexesAustralia = (Request.Cookies("WeatherTownAustralia")("MonthValuesAustralia")) strDisplayMonthAustralia = (Request.Cookies("WeatherTownAustralia")("CurrentMonthAustralia")) 'Has the user entered a location - if so use relevant months index, if not use median months index. If Request.Cookies("WeatherTownAustralia").HasKeys then arrIndexAustralia = Split(strIndexesAustralia, ",",-1,1) strCookiePresentAustralia = "Y" else arrIndexAustralia = Split(strIndexesMedianAustralia, ",",-1,1) strCookiePresentAustralia = "N" end If '888 = UK: 999 = USA; 111 = Australia 'For cases where there is an Australian cookie but it is superceeded by a UK cookie If strTownAustralia = "888" then strCookiePresentAustralia = "N" end If 'For cases where there is an Australian cookie but it is superceeded by a USA cookie If strTownAustralia = "999" then strCookiePresentAustralia = "N" end If %> Soil pH explained. Acid and alkaline soil techniques

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Your weather dates <% If strCookiePresentUSA = "Y" then Response.Write "are set to the " & strTownUSA & " area in the USA, hardiness zone " & strHardinessZoneUSA Response.Write ".
Your first Fall frost will be in " & arrAlphaUSA(arrIndexUSA(29)) Response.Write " and your last Spring frost will be in " & arrAlphaUSA(arrIndexUSA(11)) else If strCookiePresentAustralia = "Y" then Response.Write "are set to the " & strTownAustralia & " area in Australia.
" Response.Write "Your first Autumn frost will be in " & arrAlphaAustralia(arrIndexAustralia(15)) Response.Write " and your last Spring frost will be in " & arrAlphaAustralia(arrIndexAustralia(26)) else If strCookiePresent = "Y" then Response.Write "are set to " & strTown & " in the UK.
" Response.Write "Your first Autumn frost will be in " & arrMonth(13) Response.Write " and your last Spring frost will be in " & arrMonth(14) else Response.Write " have not been set. They have defaulted to medium UK / USA settings.
Click here to set the weather dates to your area of the UK or USA." end If end If end If %>

Test For Soil pH

Soil Test Kits For Acid or Alkaline Soil Types

Picture of soil - acid or alkaline soil type? Your soil type can be acid, alkaline or neutral (mid way). This acidity or alkalinity is commonly called the 'pH' of a soil. The 'pH' is simply a measurement of how much lime there is in the soil.

The most acidic soil types are given a rating of 1 with the most alkaline soil type a rating of 14; a neutral soil type has a pH rating of 7. Almost all soils however fall within the range of 5 to 9. Note that alkaline soil is often referred to as a lime soil. See the table below.




pH Acid/Alkaline
14 Most alkaline
13  
12  
11  
10 Very alkaline
9 Alkaline

8

 Slightly alkaline
7 Neutral
6 Slightly acid
5 Acid
4 Very acid
3  
2  
1 Most acid

The majority of plants do best in a 'pH' of about 6.5, but a range of 6 to 7 is acceptable for most. If your soil type is outside these limits, or you want to grow plants which prefer and alkaline or acid soil type, you will need to adjust the 'pH' of your soil.

Measuring the 'pH'
soil type test kit for pH The only practical way of accurately testing the pH of your soil is to buy a soil testing kit from your local garden centre - they are cheap and surprisingly accurate. Most pH test kits work on the same principal of adding a small amount of soil to a syringe which has a filter in it. Add some of the special 'pH' testing fluid to the syringe and squirt the resulting mixture into a test tube. Compare the colour of the mixture to a colour-coded chart and you will then know the 'pH' of your soil.

The kit in the picture is a chemical one, but there are also easier and cheaper versions, click here to buy one of these from our recommended suppliers.

The other alternative is to ask your immediate neighbours who may have carried out their own tests on untreated soil.

Raising The 'pH' - Make Soil More Alkaline 
The 'pH' of a soil can be raised by adding lime. Their are several types of lime available each one doing the job, but in different ways. 

Slaked Lime - the most commonly available, it does the job well. Often simply called 'garden lime' on the package. Lasts about two years.
Ground Limestone - this is slightly better than slaked lime because it lasts longer in the soil (three years or more) and also contains magnesium. Often called 'Dolomite Lime'. More expensive than Slaked Lime.
Calcified Seaweed - similar to Ground Limestone, but it also contains more trace elements. The most expensive.
Hydrated Lime - often called 'Builders Lime'. It is cheap and does the job, but needs topping up each year.

When applying lime, follow the instructions carefully, too much and the plant roots will be scorched. It is better to apply smaller amounts at shorter intervals than too much in one go. Remember that altering the 'pH' of your soil is not an exact science, so absolute accuracy is not important.

Apply the lime about a month before sowing or planting and don't apply lime at the same time as manure - the result will be lots of ammonia gas which will deplete the soil of nitrogen.

Lowering The 'pH' - Make Soil More Acid
Adding compost and/or manure to the soil is the only practical way to naturally lower the 'pH' of your soil. It is rare that a soil type is so acidic this will not work.

If you really want to grow acid loving plants in an alkaline (chalky) soil, you will need to resort to raised bed system plant cultivation. The idea is that the chosen area of soil is isolated from the rest of the garden by enclosing it with a barrier such as railway sleepers. The barrier is placed securely on the ground and filled with acidic peat and soil. As long as the soil is kept acidic by regular additions of compost and manure, acid loving plants should grow well. 

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