Soil which has a pH level of 7.5 is considered mildly alkaline soil. Soil pH is important since it impacts the form that nutrients from the land will take, in addition to their availability to plants. Most vegetables have a pH tolerance range from mildly acidic to neutral to mildly alkaline. For vegetables which may tolerate light alkalinity, a pH of 7.5 might function as their top limit. Vegetables which thrive in an mildly alkaline environment include vining plants, cruciferous vegetables and a few root vegetables.

Vining Vegetables

Pole beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), English peas (Pisum sativum) and tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are all vining plants which can tolerate slightly acidic soil. These vegetables may withstand a variety of soil pH, from mildly acidic to mildly alkaline. A soil pH of 7.5 might be the top limit for all these vegetables. These plants need a great deal of direct sunlight to thrive, in addition to loamy, well-draining dirt. If these other states are not satisfied, a soil pH of 7.5 might be too much for these plants to manage, leading to poor growth.

Cucumber Family

Also vining plants, members of this cucumber or gourd family, the Curcurbitaceae familyroom can grow successfully in somewhat alkaline soil. Vegetables within this family which endure a soil pH of 7.5 include pumpkins (Curcurbita maxima), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), summer squash (Curcurbita pepo) and crookneck squash (Curcurbita pepo). These vining plants may spread out on the ground or they can utilize supports to lift their vines and fruit from their ground. The thin, tender tendrils of this plant will wrap around any support they can find, including posts or a trellis.

Cabbage Family Pills

Cruciferous vegetables — members of the cabbage family — do well in soil that is slightly alkaline. Choices include Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var gemmifera), cauliflower (Brassica oleracea) and kale (Brassica oleracea). Hardy and versatile, cabbage family plants may tolerate cool weather nicely and the vegetables might taste a little sweeter after a light frost. Due to this, you can grow many of them throughout winter in mild climates.

Below Ground and Other Vegetables

Other vegetables which may tolerate a soil pH of 7.5 include garlic (Allium sativum) and beets (Beta vulgaris). While garlic gains from being planted the season before, beets can be planted early in the growing season for an early autumn harvest. Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), while not grown below ground, is among the few plants which can tolerate alkaline soil, with a tolerance to pH 8. A perennial cool-weather crop, it rises at U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 9.

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